Folk

     Crisis brings out best/worst in folk, they say; six inch wet early spring snow amounts to Emerald City crisis; halts Eugene life.  Few anecdotes, no particular order, follow: quite a time.
     Fireside easy chair ensconce big snow morn, notice upper part pickup cab stop at Swett Lodge corner: window/seat position allows only partial view.  Pickup has extreme difficulty pulling away, figure ice/no truck bed weight.  Few tries later fella gets out cab; recognize Tony - local package store clerk - we share casual jibe relationship.  Get up, go to door, 'bout to yank open, give Tony slip/slidin' pickup raspberries; broad view reveals Tony's pickup tows by chain, full size sedan.  Not sure Tony's ethnicity - American Indian, Hispanic? - but approaching door see car/pickup loads Samoan like clan members disembark, slip truck assist: quietly slink back fireside easy chair - that's my speed today!

     Early Wednesday morn recognize snow fall muffle quiet, awake to small Swett Lodge roof thump - surmise new chimney snow cap dumps on roof - followed by loud crack: close!  Swett Lodge curtain peek: neighbor's backyard power line enmeshed pine snaps.  Call later,

find he's OK, no sizable damage either house/auto, down electric wire still provides electricity - don't touch that tree 'til power company has at it - will await utility company attention. 

Awake, another loud crack nearby: huge elm limb crash down on basket ball hoop cross street.

More distant reports follow: hundreds Emerald City trees - especially flowering ornamentals - wet snow damage; four MLK park alone.

     Midst morning meal; surprise; unmet - but known - in the area for years cane leaning neighbor knocks. 'Gotta help'; 'couldn't think of anyone else capable enough'; 'just need some advice'; 'wanted to introduce myself, hear ya playing blues, should jam some time'.  Put oatmeal down, winter accessorize, grab hand saw, neighbor's home snow trudge - park benefit: bunches neighbors.  

     He goes on: 'used to be strong, in shape; can't do much now'; 'I've got ladder', 'pushin' fifty'; 'cable's threatened - if we lose that we lose it all'.  Through fence gate into backyard, size up situation: main electric wire snow laden limbs surround, threaten not; few flowering ornamental branches vaguely threaten cable wire.  Beckon ladder, he retrieves from fence hold up duty, sets up, back legs rot/crumble at once, attempt use steps, they crumble; lay ladder on side, 2'x3' plywood leg strengthener atop - stool; hand saw few limb ends: all I'm good for.  

     And on: 'got sixteen track recording set up'; plays his electronic run of the mill sampled music creation; 'in transition'; 'gear for sale'; 'I'm bored to death' .... assure cable not direly threatened, break away, sludge home, finish cooled breakfast.  Don't think I'll be blazing over there any too soon to jam: really, you don't know anyone else capable enough??  How 'bout the father of the two young kids, lives in the big house in front of you, doesn't work??   Cable goes you lose it all??  You're bored ... how interesting.  If you had any sense at all ...... !#*@^>!

     Box grocery store clerk alerts fellow clerk, myself to meat packing pal's prurient practice, aver therapy session long overdue: pork looks awfully appealing.  By golly, it is - stove top dutch oven roast yam, onion, jalapeno, carrot, garlic, pork: yum.

     Snow blanket ignites adventure sense, follow through Gateway Mall movie hike plan (settle for MI:Ghost Protocol, pleased Cruise acquainted with humility): ten plus miles slushy/puddly sidewalks.  Bundle up well, don donated year ago never used nearly new ankle high Sketcher's, snow slog Dr. Zhivago like, feet early on/constantly soaked.  Drying wet gear festoon row theater seats, enjoy show.  While tromp, reflect, decide Teutonic goose step propensity born sloggy conditions: jack step, plant heel only way gain slush footing.  Army so trained definite advantage over slip/slide masses.  Winter Willamette.

     Despite journey's obvious negative aspects; nice, catch Emerald City gone white, pretty much locked down.  HO train scape never as successful as God's hand/real thing.

      Have feeling commune hippies - The Hive - down the street; won't cotton Swett Lodge corner curmudgeon.  Thursday afternoon clean up crews out; enjoy fireside, neighbor companionship, 'bout one Hive hippies bow saw, extension ladder descend still hung up branch across street.  Junk elm not good fire wood, not claim hurry, understand liability disallows private sawing on public property.  Once wood safely to ground by crews, available for citizens.  City official drives up, stops hippies, strings 'Caution' tape round limb.  While later, city crew comes along, dislodge snag, chunk limb; about 3pm move on, take down, chip other dangerous MLK park leaner.

     Relax, still not anxious deal big chunks wood.  'Bout seven another wood burning neighbor appears: 'I'll bring my wheelbarrow, help me load, we'll split'; sure, why not?  Load huge multi hundred pound chunks into wheelbarrow he - 6'3", maybe 250lbs - muscles nearly block home.  Chain saw mince few pieces, haul smaller branches over to Swett Lodge wood pile - even rile another neighbor with few last minute chainsaw dices round eight thirty.

     Friday breaks sunny, warm, snow melts well: music practice front porch in sun's warmth.  Music time = me time so when hippy walks up says 'we had deal with city for wood cross the street', tell 'em 'no big deal to me, take what ya gotta have' figure that'll end it.  Saturday continue garage side dirt cleanup/grade; grade round house, 

blood up from work; hippies show to claim wood.  Hardly believe it; launch into my side story, work/general intensity scare young guy half to death; let 'im know lay of the land - first come first serve after woods safely aground.  Mention during conversation if they really gotta have it - gonna freeze to death or ...  - young guy nearly lunges to take wood.  Come on! - thousands board feet trees down, readily firewood available, all ya gotta do is haul: Swett Lodge keeps these twigs.  Our culture advances itself through these mechanisms.  Continue amazed actually works: wouldn't be more direct if folk communicate/learn from one another stead constantly attempt recreate wheel? 

     Finally understand super thick callous exacerbates deep painful finger crevices.  Moisturize ineffectually, decide removal in order.  Spend thirty minutes, 50 grit floor sand paper abrade fingers, result: inch square, eighth inch deep pile callous powder.  Getting better.....

     Soot scarcity burning kiln dried wood causes chronic floppy - no, not that - flue damper: rifle Swett Lodge hardware; locate axle press on cap nut; hack saw off cap's top; press onto damper shaft tight to flue.  Draft now micro manageable, revolutionize stove use: door/draft open, adjust draw, allow steady, slow burn highly combustible brush, kiln dried wood - more heat stays IN Swett Lodge.  Sweet.

     Remove number wheelbarrows fill garage side haul to back porch/yard area.  Nice level slow drainage from dark stump between buildings to front street gutter.  Pink flag marks Latvian neighbor jasmine bush donation.

And from back towards front.  Slab jut out from underneath garage readily visible.  Remove clay soil length of 'drain', gravel refill; should make consistent effective rain run off.

      Quick check under house during snow melt reveals ground water continuing issue, seepage controlled by new grade.  Grass growing on new fill, surface water running away from house in time will aid keep under house dry.  Garage 'water feature' mostly eliminated too.  Swett Lodge changes seem minor, sensitive perceptible.  

     Scrap man did some yard work, ended up with about one yard unwanted sod/fill.  Stop his place way to grocery; shovel/load sod/fill, scrap wood onto his pickup.  Next morn he rolls round, off load truck.  Shovel mince sod, level back yard next stump; strategically - below roof drip line, around crawl space entry - place few clumps sod 'starts' in new house side fill.

     Set hefty walnut branch stove side to dry: will shape, replace metal axe handle finally broke from too much flex below head while pry roots loose.

     Procure caulk; reinstall parting stops, stops; seal four front room windows; order/pick up bath/middle room panes.  Seal kitchen windows, glaze couple east side windows all remains 'tween me and west side rot assault - gettin' there.  Glance cross street assures Emerald City once again fulfills name, sole storm reminder well bent basket ball hoop.

    Not quite out the woods winter wise yet, fortunately firewood on hand still: be safe, warm.

Peace

Bond

     Feel sailor like, ladder scramble, shimmy up batten board, straddle slick linoleum roof peak, gale flap white truck salvage tarp one hand, hammer other; wind howl, rain pelt: ten year's 'fore the mast!  Got 'er weather proof time more winter weather - apparently PNW's privilege enjoy such weather exclusively this spring.  Retrieve floorboard batten, toe molding board replace: solid nail new batten into rafter lower roof edge, scale roof, arrange half wind blown tarp under batten upper free end, secure nail.  Back side repeat, tar few spots: good another bunch of months.  Final replacement realistically within next couple years, don't see bandage money spend.

     Weather's not all bad: beautiful cloud formations, peach light often fill evening air.  Guy doesn't work up too much of a sweat working outside this weather.  Awake one more pleasant morn to chain saw buzz, spot lumberjack belted forty foot up pine tree stump: top all chopped, roped to ground; he cuts firewood length rounds, lowers running saw roped to belt, lifts round, tosses to ground, repeats 'til no more tree.  Still couple nice pines in their yard.  Rumored three guys morning's work tree removal cost: $1500.

     Front porch firewood history, now mine garage adjacent back yard stash.  Half hour file, restore ceiling plaster/lathe abused chain saw teeth sharp; shed pallet let 'door'.  Preponderance Swett Lodge fire wood, 'popcorn' wood: fast, hot burn kindling.  New Swett Lodge chimney possesses stronger draw than brick chimney, no surprise: brick chimney square corners, flue pipe elbows cause smoke eddies, slow smoke emission.  Straight up round metal chimney presents no such obstacles: better draft.  Hot fire, crack door, stove sounds like jet take off: hot air/smoke rush up pipe, resonate metallic.  Generally speaking greater draw, better: less interior smoke issues.  Fine when burning 'real' wood - wood cut from trees with 25% or greater moisture content: need heat, draw burn.  Kindling - lathe, pallets, brush - with 10% moisture content which Swett Lodge has been burning exclusively this year burns quickly, even more so with better draw: use more wood.  That's OK: program part rid this stuff.

 

      Winter weather continues - mention that yet? - desire dry firewood retrieval feet, throw down few ex chimney brick; get carried away, burn hour laying temporary path: plumbing waste pipe runs here.  Nice older brick don't have holes as do new: paver perfect.  Bond..., James .. er no, perhaps loose herringbone paver's bond.  Some how chimney decorative/functional reuse reassures Swett Lodge corner's turned: new/reworked definitively replaces tired/worn out.

Bond?

     Use afternoon broad leaf weed purge back yard.  Wonder bar undermine, hand extract weeds; approach full container ('bout five gallons), quitting time; neighbor comes by.  'Whatya doing those weeds?'.  Informs dandelions all kinds quality food, takes bucket full muddy, wet dandy plants with roots - says he'll sort, wash, dry, grind - off my hands, might's well finish back yard: do by about 7.30 pm.  Day or two later see him again, 'got others clammering for those weeds...': one man's dross, other's gold. 
     Yard weed free, begin grade behind garage.  Next door back building/addition much newer than Swett Lodge.  Rather than properly grade along Swett Lodge garage, 1x10 leaned against wall, dirt allowed pile up, cover couple courses siding; result: interior garage water feature during rain, rot.  Many heavy wheelbarrow loads mar fresh grade.

Shovel scrape couple inches top gravel layer up aside neighbor's house; slab/foundation as leveling guide, dig out about six inches clay soil; load wheel barrow,

haul foundation side low spots: corner by porch - funnels most run off under Swett Lodge through foundation crack,

along west wall.  Leave shelter area under back stoop, mound dirt to same level along foundation: water'll run off now.

Sculpt earth around crawl space entry, encourage run off not into crawl space.

 

Mound around water pipe though underneath foundation reroute early priority Swett Lodge west side rot removal.

Blanch - well, pretty much bury - garlic, strawberries house side: figure they'll push through.  Freshly worked weed free soil puts bit o' spring planting in mind - intend plant garden bulk post June travel return.

     Excavation reveals garage slab extends garage east about one foot.  Remove couple rusted jutting out foundation bolts from slab extension, unearth 4 inch circular cement gutter downspout drainage tiles: leave in situ, saved gravel recover.  Scrape, dig, load about three foot section per time, net couple wheel barrow loads fill, gravel recover, wheel over fresh gravel, begin next section.

Between front corner, west side; guesstimate move nearly two yards (55 plus cubic feet).  Few remaining loads backyard round old tree stump destined.  Look from behind garage car park toward front (Gertie's hiney lower right).  Definitely evener grade, inspection post rain reveals water runs off nearly entirely, good: best if water meanders off, rather than rushes off - water lawn, avoid erosion.  One visit to Kate's lake place will return with fern transplants for this spot. 

     Push Earth stove with might - hold on: who's photographer?  Ah, just couple work dampened fitted/shaped gloves stove top dry.

     Nudge up on further under Swett Lodge rot removal.  Invest few minutes tighten up front window with good result, plan follow suit other windows: finally replace wood stops, molding; caulk where applicable - still wood to save this season.  Plant short season stuff in fresh fill.  Then back down under.
     Details here.
     Be well. 

Fun House

     Here at Swett Lodge creative, innovative problem solvers: refresh, enlarge term 'porta potty' Siri Chand Kuar visit prep.  Salvage Kate attempt institutionalize backyard chem visitor toilet - apparently offspring laugh off - wheelbarrow home, thorough clean, garage install.

On the day, daughter's Raynaud's - "vasospastic disorder causing discoloration of fingers, toes" - kept her near well stoked Earth stove as much as possible.  Can't blame her: fingers become icy white once during visit - looks painful enough.  Lucky one such afflicted ventures north this time of year at all.  Swett Lodge proprietor sleep garage apartment, daughter main lodge.  Totally support her New Mexico ambition post Massachusett's General Hospital nurse practitioner training: May finish.  
     Aside burn tons firewood, Earth stove door off, enjoy clan Tia greet/burrito bar Swett Lodge get together; father/daughter fireside chats; take in totally inappropriate father/daughter - for anyone for that matter - theater fare: Project X.  Way misogynistic first act nearly drives from theater; agree at pix end pyrotechnics, absurdity live up to movie going experience.  Both suspend morals adequately, enjoy: fun together - nice.   
     Siri Chand Kuar - Tia's taken Sikh name - has vowed to live Sikh.  Their morals seem little different from Christian, outer affectations - turban in public, uncut hair - limn god's primary importance.  Meditative chants, vegetarian diet, exercise important Sikh disciplines.  Nice to learn 'tween daily practices, grueling study schedule she continues enjoy TV fantasy entertainment: something we share. 
    Short but sweet thirty six (who's counting???) hour first Swett Lodge house guest visit ends too soon early Wednesday morn: nice spring day, decide install Metalbest insulated metal chimney.  Atop Swett Lodge ridge, poke through two - not one as earlier reported: missed thin mid century forest green shingles - layers composition shingles, layer cedar shakes into new chimney roof framing.  

Balance five gallon tool bucket next chimney, collect shingle, wood scraps: look around 

reveals not in Kansas anymore.

     Roof's not too steep, easy climb, straddle ridge while working.  Eight inch insulated pipe outer diameter requires two inches clearance all round from flammable materials: framing hole twelve inches wide, long enough allow ample clearance on slope.  Utility knife score, remove shingles, shakes where chimney roof support metal flanges sit on roof slats.  Carefully check level throughout process - nothing more unsightly than crooked chimney - position chimney once.  Retrieve flashing from atop chimney 'workbench', fit; cut away more shingles/shakes at support flange, move chimney slightly further from peak so can bend flashing over peak, provide excellent weather resistance.  Roof slightly steeper pitch than flashing design, tin snip couple small triangle vents down hill side top of flashing at pipe, allow steeper flashing pitch.

Slick installation of slick product makes relatively easy work.  Eighteen inch chimney section hung from roof, screw three foot section atop, lock with band, install flashing, storm collar, cap. 

     Inside, chain saw ceiling hole - wide decorative black ceiling band covers lots of slop -

screw three more three foot sections below roof, lock with screwed bands.  Two screw install black ceiling decorative band.  (Who's that all squished up, camera in hand?)

Stuff inflammable fiberglass insulation round chimney at ceiling: fireproof installation.

     Remove stove pipe from old chimney, measure carefully: well placed pipe cuts now leave ample straight pipe for final stove installation directly below chimney.  Meanwhile, reshape somewhat used six inch stove pipe elbows requires getting up close and personal with 'em: one arm hug to chest, other manipulate joints.  Cut damper section at previous holes - happen to be just right length - drill new holes, reinstall cast damper with fire softened steel pin.  Patient fitting, move stove bit results: functional, attractive 'in between' installation.  

     Swett Lodge sports double functional chimneys a moment.  Broad leaf weed purge back yard from porch/garage to old tree site; brick pile ready.

     Friday breaks clear, gentle: old masonry comes down.  Sand all remains 95 year old mortar, bricks nudge apart.  Two bricks at a time walk ridge toward Swett Lodge back throw bricks wood pile adjacent 'til can't reach further down into attic.  Get personal, climb into attic through hole, stand on chimney, stack one brick at a time atop ridge.  Full load, climb back on roof, throw pile to ground, back into attic, stack brick to stand on, then stack on ridge one by one.  Partial load gets away slides down west roof, 'lumberyard' retrieve sixteen foot quarter round, persuade errant bricks over roof edge, gather from garden, pile.  Move ladder inside house, carry couple six foot 2x4s, few short 1x into attic nail together small ladder; take remainder bricks to attic floor up through roof hole, stack on ridge, climb to roof, throw brick to ground.

     Hand dredge old flue, back alley haul couple five gallon buckets masonry debris, wet/mud spot spread.  Remainder bricks remove through kitchen.  Figure twelve plus feet old chimney, six bricks per course, four courses per foot - roughly 25 brick per foot - remove about three hundred brick at about five pounds a piece from Swett Lodge.  Without ton preload on few kitchen joists floor feels more solid: sweet.  Plug ceiling hole couple pieces well fit foil back one inch styrofoam,

nail inexpensive color correct small linoleum pieces over chimney roof hole; silicone caulk nail heads, storm collar: install operational.  Scrape, sweep, vacuum clean house; thorough wash nasal cavities, face, skin: minimize system dust load, keep running smooth.

     Generally not huge metal chimney aesthetics fan, feel it's a good Swett Lodge look, certainly better than ancient crumbling masonry.

     Besides rooftop work thrills, spills; remember salvage Gertie rear view convex mirror lounge kitchen shelf, 

capture Swett Lodge fun house views, computer proper orientation flip.  Stove piped to old chimney, metal chimney installed.

East side.  Radio surmounts temporary insulation/sheet rock work table.  Enjoy claw foot view: sold, out the door, $250.

     Couple contact Tia visit prior, want tub, arrange post visit pick up.  Corpulent ailing gal, hubby show in huge white diesel pickup, struggle tub cross front porch into open tail gate truck bed, preponderance work my end.  No foolin'.  Done, guy says 'broke my ankle', pull up pants, reveal softball size ankle, 'guess should see doctor'.  Geez.  People sure are interesting: want period appropriate tub for rental.  Do renters really want claw foot tub experience?  Not here.  Course, might be a good spot to soak that blimp on your leg ....

     So go Swett Lodge days, nights.  East side carport double flood lamp illuminate.  New chimney better draw, go through wood bit quicker, but easier to light, immeasurably safer: very good thing.

     This AM awake to gusty March winds, 'bout to tackle day, 'clunk' alerts batten blown off garage roof, wood grain ex front room linoleum 'roof' flops in gale.  Organize new battens, tarp, nails slippery lino roof monkey like ladder climb, arrange, batten down tarp, tar where necessary: work out replacer.  Hope prophylactic measure buys time: least year 'til garage reroof ready.

     Broad leaf hunt/purge remainder back yard 'bout all remains, Swett Lodge west side rot repair prior.  Not hugely knee grinding, under house work anxious; certainly won't mind work being done though.  Hold extensive month long, May, east coast tour, visit family/friends, attend daughter Boston graduation, brother St. Paul wedding, carrot front of nose.

     Experience roller coaster here!

     Enjoy.