While our two weeks off were well spent with Central Area’s conference, logistics (of course), and what might have been dysentery; we are three days into the first build trip! This trip features Bill and Jotham, who know how to build things, and of course Philip who is back with Read more…
Well, as I noted in the last post we are down to just the small chainsaw. That means these last few work days we haven’t been milling, but more just preparing for milling on the next build trip. We’ve been cutting down trees and bucking them into logs cut to Read more…
I have never been this long without Steve since we are married. It seems strange but I do get used to it, I get into a routine for myself and for Oscar and it works. But it’s hard work to be the one always responsible. So I am definitely looking Read more…
Well, the “milling” part of our milling trip is now officially over as our second large chainsaw is now refusing to work. It started yesterday when my only reward for laboring constantly at the pull cord was a resounding backfire, which at least was entertaining for the spectators involved. All Read more…
I nearly died today, or at least mangled a limb, but I didn’t get a single scratch, which is pretty neat! So you recall that gravy train tree I was talking about in our last post? Well the bottom of it (which is lying on the top of the hill) Read more…
Today we got to mill the gravy train tree! A massive behemoth, too wide for us to cut normally, so we had to get creative. So this tree is way too big to just cut up into logs, plus it’s situated on a spur of the mountain with dropoffs on Read more…
Today was fun! I had no idea it would be fun, but the fun came anyway! Normally, the people like to rest on Sunday, fine by me. But today when I woke up I was surprised to see the place was packed. Folks from every village were here, and not Read more…
Well, we’re off again into the wild blue yonder and looking forward to what this next trip has for us. Today has been a little quiet as the rain rolled in early in the afternoon and we’ve retreated to our tent house. Still though, we were able to get our Read more…
The pile of wood we have is modest, but it includes the most difficult pieces of wood to cut. The ridge beams, for example, are each over 10 meters (32 feet) long and it took nearly a full day just to prepare the log for those cuts. But, once things were ready, they came one after the next (though the cut was so long we would have to refuel midway).
Milling posts. That has been the focus for the past few days and today just might be our last day of it! The prospect of being finished with house posts is especially pleasing since the sort of tree the posts are made out of are a little bit nasty! What makes them annoying is the needle-like fibers in the bark of the tree which get stuck in our clothes and just cause constant itching. But, apparently they last so long they are passed from parent to child, so that’s neat.