April

     After brutal March, April doing it's best to be, well, April like.  Definitely spring: abundant daffodil, tulip blooms; rain.  Desire as dry under Swett Lodge work experience as possible, vaguely procrastinate, remove last few wheel barrows fill aside carport/neighbor's - few stumps left rot, worry over time - plaster/cement chunk level;

finish grade behind back porch corner.  

Fill, grade round house assists water run off, dry crawl space; joins structure more completely to landscape; reduce grade/floor steps; foster inhabitant/surroundings interaction.

     Kate good enough return from her lake place with ferns for Swett Lodge, though she had her hands full dealing with storm damage.  Seem to like new home, shady area between buildings, dryer vent warm air waft.  Hope ferns proliferate here, use as nursery, spread 'em all over Swett Lodge grounds.

     Contemplate Wednesday mall/movie hike; before breakfast, decent morn, layout back brick patio herringbone bond.  Decide spend my day my way: irresistible urge set brick patio succumb.  Course hellacious weather ensues: cold rain, sleet, wind.  Don rain gear, four inch putty knife cut soil couple inches deep around each brick; knife scoop out dirt - mud really - wheel barrow toss; plant brick; step on, squish into ground.  Wet weather actually assists laying brick: stead chunky, dry intractable earth; clay mud oozes mortar like.

Tread laid brick repeatedly during construction; add mud dab under tippers, subtract mud under high brick; ultimately create smooth, walkable surface.  Grass grown between widely spaced brick, herringbone bond promote under eave water meander off, provide solid clean footing.  Replace few cement block/pads, continue bond between cement slabs; leave corner between steps, area between slab/house open as planters.

     Attractive, practical chimney - keeping Swett Lodge warm month ago - brick reuse.  Delay set brick alongside garage until rework waste plumbing runs underneath ground there.  Fireworks man ride by, demands likeness; bubbles on 'bout cheap, original parts procured for his '66 Mustang over the weekend.

     Sweet complete visible, aesthetic, permanent project.  One begins to see brick walk, carriage lamp, paint freshened, back entry area functional, welcoming, civilized.

     Sort brick, figure, save whole brick to complete walk.  Mop bucket (roughly eight gallons) load partial brick, haul east side crawl space entry, dump in.  Five loads brick pieces, another couple loads various unearthed rocks cached behind garage clears yard of rocky debris, fills crawl space entryway.  Don under house gear - coverall, knee pads, water proof vest, rain coat - struggle past brick debris into crawl space.  Brick by chunk toss all debris under center beam into 6-8 inch low spot.  Arrange debris into French drain - essentially debris fill gully, give water drain, allow surface remain dry - couple five gallon buckets mortar remnants cover. 

 

     Crawl space leveling begun, decide important from drainage perspective complete job.  Collect remainder crawl space partial block, rock chunks; fill low area under center beam.  Wonder bar break fill loose, level floor.  On knees, wonder bar as grader, pull wheel barrow load size pile dirt toward myself, back up repeat, pull fill cross floor to low spots.  Move 'bout yard of fill, get good 'n grubby.  Photos don't reveal much: picture undulate, ravined landscape; pancake replaced. 

     As child belong to quasi Scout group: Indian Guides (IG).  Dad's IG name: Big Hawk.  Bro's: Little Hawk.  Me: Little Round Hawk.  Time's passage acquaints with totem animals, realize mine: owl (little round hawk?!) - run silent, deep.  Oregon's duck home, and some odd ones at that.  When it comes to folks coping mechanisms this odd ball would most likely classify ostrich; not owl/duck: head in sand.  That being the case don't usually get too good a look at other oddities out there.  Once in a while though: in your face - can't miss 'em.   Ornithological cornucopia and not just in OR: smack dabblers. sex dabblers, meth heads, prozac preeners to mention few.  Each bunch has its groupies/wannabees; haven't even gotten to alkies: pot bellied beer suckers, whiskey whiners.  Seemingly as many disconnect choices as folk.  Of course disconnect too: admit sex dabbler envy even though more than one good night's sleep next group sex party suggests no such interest.  My path clearly laic, never for a second wonder why others choose paths - AAA, religion, etc. - limiting exposure to world's vast expanse imbecility.  It's bird brains out there!
     Take few moments, sunny Sunday front porch, whittle ax handle.  Inherit sturdy walnut branch,

circle saw halve four inches one end, utility knife shape branch fit ax eye.  Drive ax head onto carved branch, hammer branch wedge section into halved handle, lock head: on the road again.

     Peel few siding boards off west side, remove rotten perimeter joist, front porch toss with handle carve scraps, few 'lumberyard' culls (right).

 

Good news: yes, front two joists rotten all the way across, all joist ends well rotten; rot hasn't migrated into sub floor/wall. 

West side piece of cake compared east side: replace two front joists with three, 2x6 stub joist around perimeter - that'll do it. 

 

Revealing, gaping, unsightly hole siding removed; 

board/nail bond couple pieces siding together; cover opening between work shifts.

    In front room, look past banjo hung on temporary west supporting wall, notice about eight inches below finish floor surface, sunlight limns foundation.  Yes, breezy now but knowledge spring's springing, not too many days work separate from Swett Lodge rot expulsion, warms heart's cockles.

     Box lumberyard store procure few necessary boards - treated 2x6 sill plates, 2x6 perimeter joists; retrieve hardibacker - beneath tile cement board for bath - panels spoken for on CsList; leaves nothing but to go ahead and rework west side joist system: barely contain excitement - will be so nice to get into Swett Lodge visible projects.  Yeah, done with the place looking/feeling like a dump. 
     Beat goes on.
     Enjoy.

Calm

     Recent Swett Lodge activity witness must infer nuclear winter lay ahead: squirrel like, attend winterization.  Partial tube silicone caulk remains after chimney installation, cheapest painter's caulk ($1.5/tube) augment; caulk glaze needy living space panes; reinstall sashes/stops, caulk shut.  Expect front/back door, east front window provide adequate summer ventilation.  If not, caulk's cheap. 
     Remove window sashes improve ventilation early stage Swett Lodge cat stench purge.  Odor well under control now, expect plaster removal west side end issue: seal drafty windows up.  Take apart old timey wood double hung (upper and lower sashes slide) windows: remove inner trim/stop (right both sash grooves) allows inner sash removal; pry square parting stop out past upper/lower sash mating lip on inside bottom of top sash, allow upper sash removal.  Result: remove stops one side window only.  Kitchen west window north side, both sashes removed; storm, parting stop, trim/stop in place.

     Other side (south) west kitchen window; stops, sashes removed.  Originally each sash had stout cord either side, run over pulley behind molding, attached to heavy cast iron window weight: open/close assist.  Cut cords initial sash removal, scrap weights during gut.

     Window cleaner scrub panes; caulk glaze - won't traditional putty knife oil base glaze - as needed.  Caulk inside perimeter storm top/sides allow bottom edge moisture migration.  Reinstall upper sash, parting stop, lower sash.  Lock sashes tight together, caulk along perimeter, install trim/stop.  'Bout tight a window as could be hoped, cost: buck, maybe two.  No doubt eventually upgrade Swett Lodge windows, won't mind snug 'til then.

     Replace bath, middle bedroom panes east side; run remainder caulk out, glaze east side panes: one undone. 
     Older than traditional age - 'bout twelve years - return college study fine art; philosophy course - aesthetics - fill liberal arts elective.  Unlike art history prof who - god bless his soul - undertook teach old dog coherent writing; aesthetics prof: squishy.  His chime throughout course: aesthetic valuation arbitrary; therefor meaningless, irrelevant.   Final paper assert arbitrary aspect aesthetic valuation no reason throw baby out with bath water: arbitrary or not, aesthetic valuations create aesthetic sensibility; not hard as rock, certainly edifying/enriching.  Include time, human mass: sensibilities might even illumine human condition.  Fear not - stand!
     Rainy week this, calm before under Swett Lodge west side rot removal storm.  Actually quickly foray under house, slither low spot mud under center beam, measure length wire required bond electric system/water line post west side faucet standing aside garden removal (bonded to electric system with dual ten foot spaced eight foot copper ground rod wire along house side); allow siding removal, perimeter joist access.  Probably poke faucet through perimeter joist after renew.  At buck/foot, #6 copper dear Swett Lodge purchase: rather safe than sorry.  Photographically blued white plastic half inch water line plug - couple fun guitar picks - makes under house ready.

 

     Sort, knock mortar off, stack chimney brick: backyard 'patio/walk' save whole; couple five gallon buckets rubble, partial brick ready fill crawl space low spots. 

     Continue receive pleasant positive comments re posts: careful - write impetus.  Kind regular reader/wag easily avoids Swett Lodge comprehension issues: spoken word recite posts a la jazz poetry - compliment accepted!   :)     

     Major squirrelization begins Thursday eve: neighbor whose pine came down on power line, experiences brown outs, utility disconnects - what's next?  Assistance offered, he calls.  Willing rework electric service with him, decide hire contractor more timely avenue.  Friday mid morn contractor/estimator appears, tells Stan 'have guy here in half hour'.  Like back neighbor Stan, not sure why, perhaps brother like cluelessness/likability.  Prepared assist remove pine firewood, arrange with Stan after estimator leaves; return home for rain gear, saw; postpone breakfast: gotta get tree down while power's off.  Rain, head back to Stan's; there he is monkey like very top tree, brush loppers cutting small branches; old eighteen inch inoperable Homelite chainsaw sitting next garage.  Coax monkey out tree, chain saw dismantle lower limbs while he Swett Lodge back yard hauls wood.  Little saw dice away tree 'til power line threatening branches/upper branches all down.  Enable electrician commence service reconnect.

     Stan asserts 'I'll get that old saw running...', retire home for breakfast, he wrangles wood.  Relax, rejuvenate, feed: Stan's.  He still wrangles wood - certainly plenty of it.  Gonna need bigger pine trunk saw, could borrow Spud's, tell Stan: 'keep after wood, I'll saw monkey'.  'OK'.  Gas prime starts saw right up, dies.  Remove air cleaner cover, remove carb top plate, check fuel pump membrane for leaks, clean fuel screen, reinstall carb top plate.  Stan's not 'do things' oriented: few odd sockets, multi tool 'outfit' his garage but oddly enough package circlips perfect retain errant air cleaner cover screw sits on work bench.  Saw continues reticent, open gas tank, check fuel uptake filter, come away partial fuel line, filter in hand.  Guess that's why no run - deteriorated gas line, no gas.  Identical problem small saw, still have short section fuel line on hand: retrieve, install: old Homelite rarin' to go.  Stuff like this affirms correct path: hate go any where for anything, saw, perfect saw parts, firewood few feet from door: guess some body wants me here!

     Saw running, take 'er home sharpen nearly worn out, missing half teeth chain in dry/warm.  Back at Stan's, get going on larger branches, tree trunk; big old Homelite chugs through round after eighteen inch round; takes old pine right down to ground, chain all but played.

     Stan grew up in house he's in now, avers planted potted Christmas tree 'bout fifteen years ago.  Count rings dates it bit older, substantial near inch/year growth none the less.

     Soaked, everything bucked into rounds, Stan hauls nearly all Swett Lodge backyard; small branches all litters yard: call it a day.  Stan, grateful tree mostly removed, mechanically disinclined, doesn't foresee chain saw need, offers saw as tree dice payment: works for me.  Next years firewood door delivered, big log capable saw handy.  Mind you: don't crave handle heavy, wrist wasting saw - actually prefer easier dice, ignite smaller/kiln dried wood for this climate's heat - big labor saver when necessary.  Little saw much more my speed: in a pinch can one hand man handle.

     Weed purged lawns filling in nicely; camera angle aided front,

rear, have emerald, spring complexion.

     April looks like Swett Lodge down under month.  No garden work 'til June return clears west side rot removal path.  Ready.  Follow here.

Peace

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.