River keeps a talkin' ...

    
     Know good reader seen one rectified under house pillar seen 'em all, spare raise house half inch by half inch pictorial trial.  Difficult imagine what prompted builders install 3 2x10 wood center beam post two foot square approaching 45 degree angle slab edge, no wonder second cockeyed slab/post necessary couple feet over - wouldn't mind smoking their stuff.  Swett Lodge acts as unit: jack one point; go next, jack - half inch gain seems 'bout max then creaks/snaps/pops, difficulty pumping jack: move next raise point.  Plan to raise one Swett Lodge side independently, repair, raise other side; now think both sides and middle most likely have to raise together, maintain structural integrity: see how it goes.  Two afternoons under house stretch straightness guiding line - like straight string illuminates crooked guitar neck - beam vertical mid point end to end; appropriate jack; attain straight, original height plus maybe half inch center beam.

Bulge, shatter, split cement over lath wall treatment above kitchen door,

front door,

beside Earth stove center wall;

above foundation compression bulge, rot (lower east {right} front) limn tremendous strain raise Swett Lodge incurs.  Close look Swett Lodge front reveals section door west (left, lamp) front wall high point: door runs down east, picture window runs down west: only front wall section perimeter joist not rotten.  

Stainless kitchen sink donater, ex vo-tech construction teacher calculates extra Swett Lodge roof layers add couple Buicks worth weight.

     Center beam raise takes weight off prophylactic repair/support 4x12 beam east wall parallel.  Jiggle beam make sure still weight free: bottom one joist literally falls away, red saw dust/rot pours out - cartoon like!  Least one joist completely rotten - shell only remains - many still solid two plus inch thick by 10 inch, straight grain old growth fir: very strong.  Tub siphon/drain water heater, disconnect, remove to 'lumberyard': Kate's ex deck materials jack support stud wall prepare - need work space, not full water heater's 400 plus pounds.

     Gateway mall hike beautiful Wednesday $1.25 movie day, find no movie feel worth two life hours - yeah including 'Thor', Sizzler dine, hike home - enjoy good stretch, cross train, beautiful views, 'bout ten mile RT hike.  BIG SWETT LODGE NEWS: Danny's new squeeze.  Peeled eye spots Craigslist Yamaha FG75 red label guitar ad.  Pounce, bring home 1972 lightly played, well kept Yamaha classic Martin 00 turn of last century parlor guitar copy - sure made 'em sweet (solid spruce top {oops - my bad: ply top w/great sound}, ivory bridge) - for c note; setup, worth two; sounds like two k.  Small 'parlor' guitar body armchair doodle excellent.  Special acoustic guitar string bike trip, spend $8 - seems high, soap/water/scrub brush thorough clean guitar, shave bridge - lower action, string, find heavier gauge bronze acoustic strings unbalance guitar tone/feel.  Extra light electric guitar - same strings as my electrics, .009~.042 - restring: like just off 1935 shelf, parlor guitar's heyday.  Probably didn't even make bronze acoustic strings back then.  May erode Swett Lodge time, none the less: super sweet! - haven't had a guitar make me wanna play so for awhile.  Of course take craft custom, expensive guitar stand time - knock off does original proud!

     Some ways rebuild/refine past?: '78 Toyota wagon; '72 Yamaha guitar; look for cast iron (big) rutabaga,

turnip

stew appropriate stove top dutch oven; answer Craigslist Kirby ad.  Told Buffet's boys when they came by would buy Kirby again in heartbeat - for $20, not $2500 current model asking price - come home with guy's granny's years stored Tradition only (no attachments) nearly identical to one Mil & I bought new, Skye/Tia sprouts.  Difference: bag converted - would've preferred bagless.  Sucks good like Kirby should. 

     Learn main Swett Lodge sewer line from back alley indeed recently (within 5 years) redone.  City only enforces homeowner (at his/her expense) repair leaky smoke tested sewer to home's foundation - inside house up to homeowner: consequently interior Swett Lodge plumbing remains original.
     Fit garage stockpiled free back storm door, ascertain need latch, closing hardware: thrift store eyes open.
     Install all six garden 0-360 degree adjustable sprinkler heads, entire garden sprinkle adjust, not on grass - grows 'nuff as 'tis, Earth stove warm soaked hypothermic bod.  Course it's been cool, damp.  Eaten garden cucumber, raw beet; green beans come good; Hubbard squash taking over the world.  Beet, turnip supplement gallon kale steamed by finished cooking/melding rice/lentils/jalapenos/garlic, evening's repast.  Of course garden graze beans, peas, greens too: wonderful time of year. 

     Couple late notes. (a) cylindrical beet, turnip (photos above) salt, steam: yum! (b) how many times dug front porch adjacent garden soil?  Spy crusty pliers - workable still - atop soil, midst plants!

 
     River, guitar, travel - no Gertie road trip, plane to Chicago 8/15~9/15 - render Swett Lodge quiet: rest assured will catalog progress.  Be well.  Enjoy - season's motto!  Peace.
 

Summertime

     Plan mere guideline warm weather here (different from year's balance, right?!).  July Fourth opens summer.  Wednesday Fourth prior Chicago sis Laurel successfully Eugene airport retrieve; check out SwettLodge's, Kate's layouts.  Kate lake bound loads her Suby - including rack mounted futon mattress, frame inside - with Laurel, her stuff; me, my stuff - yeah guitar too; on way out of town hike Spencer Butte high point south Eugene; Lakeside roll.  Friday prep, evening folks descend.  Sordid details discussed not here - what goes down Lakeside stays down Lakeside: allow imagination conjure twenty five people, three days, 200 beers, half dozen water craft, lake, sunny weather, fishing gear,

Lakeside municipal fireworks, mega home fireworks display/neighbor joust, tents, eagles, ospreys, king fishers, dogs, one child, fifteen pounds ribs, quantities other victuals/spirits/inebriants, guitars, new shore side campfire, no cop visits - whew - results!  Kate's largest Lakeside Fourth gathering yet.  Good times!
     SwettLodge.blogspot.com following may be spottier coming up: plan Chicago August road trip visit daughters at parents Labor day, mom's ninetieth Galena IL celebration week after; Wisconsin friends.  Gettin' Gertie ready: brakes gone through, tires new, tuned up - '78 Toyota 2TC semi hemi's 'bout ready for a run. 
     Jack garage side back porch roof, unearth pad originally poured to support back porch corner, porch corner post support repurposed, for fifth Swett Lodge center beam support pillar.

Couple cement drain pipe sections replace - not pretty: temporarily adequate.

Materials at hand - sepia tone photo eery, somehow apocryphal;

get house under; walk slab, blocks, tools, lamp house front; level pad; double twenty ton jack house lift off meager rotted beam end vertical treated 4x4, cement brick previous prophylactic support treatment; install cement block, cement brick pillar couple feet inside front wall.  Right feels right.  Center beam now entirely on good pillar supports, can begin slow raise.  (Main house steel water supply pipe below beam.)

 
     Buttttt ..... it's summer, myriad details call.  BIG DEAL: absentee timed garden watering system - better refine so soon good to go.  Vice grips open old valve - it works! - activate four eventually found sprinklers garden front center.

Fourth sprinkler's front zone end (pulled mostly inedible radishes - 'cept fer greens! - surround),

exhume garden back end center sprinkler (note dry soil),

sprinkler next center of garden confirms three back sprinklers front sprinklers separate.

Find back zone's supply pipe by garage; amazed: successfully remove rusted tee - intend supply garden sprinklers here.

Plastic fitting garden hose/steel pipe confirm back sprinkler function; cap rear most out of garden sprinkler; ten foot plastic pipe join front/back garden zones;  plastic capped risers replace old brass sprinklers, pressurize system (read: turn water on) - no leaks, plastic fitting not long term use durable, brass garden hose/steel pipe fitting replace.  Attached, buried hose emerges by garage,

runs up to old back porch laundry supply line.

Drill small sprinkler holes near tops six newly installed risers: uncontrollable.

Another - plastic pipe, fittings; brass hose/steel pipe fitting; more plastic pipe fittings, plastic pipe - box store bike trip: sprinkler heads.  Find front sprinkler supply more pressure than back porch laundry supply: will accommodate timer, rework supply line; fully adjustable sprinkler head replace some sprinklers.  Way everything's growing could harvest travel prior - good thing plan large late July fall crop planting.

     Answer Craigslist free gas stove ad out side town; pick up retrieve; two gas tanks, gas can in truck all empty run out edge of town returning.  Kate gracefully rescues.  Nice Magic Chef range turns out non natural gas to LP gas convertible - plan crawl space small LP tank stove supply - couple days later hand over to scrapper.  More thorough next time!
     Kitty corner bike shop put out large free pile one morn.  Feel like a meth head - in LA they're always bike tweaking seems - rummage pile; find aluminum seat post, old Sting Ray semi high rise handlebars: maybe improve Schwinn's ridability?  Drive longer slightly larger aluminum seat post into frame, won't go far enough, extract, hacksaw shorten, file, reinsert: works.  Sweet: needed 'bout half inch extra height to hyper extend legs.  Take a shot at handlebars: too small for Schwinn's carrier.  Talk to bike shop boys, suggest shim.  Cut small piece copper pipe, hacksaw split, plier wrap round too small handlebars: charm!  Remove kickstand, drill hole, install kickstand stop screw, reinstall kickstand: bike now stands alone.  'Tweaks' render old Schwinn more responsive, powerful, enjoyable ride.  
     Free pile salvage small workbench vise; fixed blade Stanley utility knife; hacksaw blade; 30 inch across nail loaded fir round, ax split, wheelbarrow home: warming wood always welcome. 

     St. Vinnie's comfortable chair spend actual money ($30).

     Friday Kate Lakeside; launder, good clean shower, shave, remove pound or so bushy thick hair: self inflict ear lowering (remember that's a mirror image!) her place.  One day Swett Lodge will be more accommodating......

     Hone sprinklers; legalize OR residency, Gertie's ownership; mind oral health: major road trip prior foci.  Comfortable chair, warm sun, cool open house breeze days sap ambition - fortunate Swett Lodge reasonably structurally stable: no reconstruction rush.  Work accomplished, sundry events cataloged here.  Peace.  
 

Buffet

     Monday pm decent post near final, door to door salesman - Warren Buffet's Kirby acquisition revivified - accost, computer crash, lost words.  Second pass.

     Cougar hot springs solstice road trip ready, awake, discover Gertie's front right tire low - brake check hubcap/wheel removal caused degraded valve stem leak.  165/13s - as specified on tag in wagon's glove box - worn to wear bars decide 155/13 - easy on linkage; no horse big, heavy 165s power steering - replace all four.  Young counter guy gives no ground, older gent installing new stemmed, balanced tires agrees: '78 tire sizing more random, specially SR - Gertie's type - designation.  Hour Terwilliger (Cougar) hot springs cream puff drive - straight, smooth, goat like road hold - though tire changer points out rear brake cylinder leak; degraded back brake shoes, front brake hoses: brake job soon. 
      Huge firs (above, much grander live) line half mile reservoir edge car park/hot springs walk.  Clothing optional, photography unwelcome springs - five pools native rock built, rustic log/shake changing lean to over watched - 105 degrees hottest pool soak, cold water douse alternate.  Chat, relax, one/two families, few nymphs, recognizable regulars - only been once before mind you - body: noodle.  Locs into full swing, desire leisurely homeward, depart well sunset prior.

     Underneath Swett Lodge earlier remove center post

circle saw/masonry blade score its unlevel slab to split - one pad here, one under beam house front.  Dig out slab - persuades easier than expected - make no head way breaking, reconsider: level whole slab.   Subtract earth, get slab level; double

block, cement brick cap pillar realize not centered under beam segment - for best results redo entire job move slab/pillar eight inches.  Finalized pillars will have rot resistant treated wood where wood/cement contact.  One more pillar to go!

     Last summer Kate almost single handedly replaced her lake house's extensive

wrap round two sides second floor level deck.  We load Spud's truck with Kate's

lake wants, Lakeside roll.  She's had the place few years now, continues

improvements; current project: bedroom convert two basement rooms.  While Kate attacks drywall; organize, denail slight end rot single short term Swett Lodge use perfect old deck boards behind house woodshed,

under deck ramp stashed.

Boat putter 'bout Ten Mile lake enjoy scenery, homes, sunset.
     Beautiful over boat house morn view, grab broom cobweb/cedar tree fallout

clean porch - Fourth's next weekend!
     Making Kate's taping more difficult, Dennis - RIP - ran phone wire through this under deck phone junction box's bottom; few feet over, through wall; screwed into dangling wall jack in ex work room, bedroom to be; regular phone jack wire through wall into water heater closet; taped/spliced to standard phone house wire; through wall into another closet; through wall into second basement bedroom to be; through ceiling hole into broom closet above; through wall; between drawers; through wall to jack kitchen phone adjacent.  Refine: phone wire through this box's back into water heater closet; into not yet sheet rocked stud space above 'bedroom' door through ceiling into baseboard mount kitchen phone adjacent jack.  No drill bit available, improvise: remove baseboard by phone; long shank phillips screw driver bit 'drill' through floor; commandeer heavy rotisserie spit, hammer drive into screw driver bit pilot hole through ceiling below, through 2x4 stud above door in basement; vice grips twist/remove spit; coat hanger fish phone wire: Kate's taping will look more professional sans various wires through plastered holes.

     Kate comes up tape shy boat town runs.  Perfect temperature sunny ridge top above lake few mile walk affords Kate's Ten Mile lake finger,

wildflower (purple foxglove) views.  All manner thoughts roil hiking mind: remember reading 'A Course In Miracles', info bypassing intellect, directly penetrating subconscious - penning that capably'd be nice, eh?  In the woods here!

      Denail more boards; load truck - long boards first, couple sheets ex basement door plywood, layer short boards across, web strap/ratchet secure; circle saw buck, firewood shed wheelbarrow remainders.

     Brought along Spud's float boat - two inflated pontoons supporting rowing seat - haul down, into boathouse; screw metal hooks into rafters; suspend.  No matter how many times up ramp to house, back down for some forgotten/little something: beautiful day.

     Truck ready; Kate's stove top chicken breast, corn, fridge remainders dinner gobbled; speedy shower to make go to ocean when at the coast date homeward.  Both worked hard, got lots done; as you can see, happy.  Catch ocean sunset, uneventful night time 'back way' drive home - loaded, shun freeway; Florence, Veneta - well under speed limit, excessively long load red bra marked: mishaps unwelcome.

     Saturday morn retrieve truck/load,  Swett Lodge 'lumber yard' sticker/stack - get 'em good 'n dry 'fore using 'em - most raise Swett Lodge lumber needs now on hand.  Deal at Spud's truck premium refill cost.

Procure brake parts, install new back cylinders/shoes.  Finish job next day: install front brake hoses, bleed system.  Tires, brakes good; systems checked; chassis lube, replace final old heater hose will make many miles ready - good thing: summer's here!  Hubbard squash diggin' life; bean, corn replants catching earlier starts (first corn darn near knee high!), tomatoes, watermelon, sweet potatoes (yay!), lemon cucumbers, one armenian cuke healthy.  Turnips, rutabaga, beets tuber - carrots???  Good times!

 Enjoy!