Good morning!!!!

[wngsprd]

37 going to 54.

David, congrats on your wellness exam. I'm way behind schedule for mine.

RNG, I didn't finish watching that smoke machine video since it went to a commercial part way through, but that guy doesn't need a machine since he just smokes the tires on that mustang.

Regarding that lightning tree I cut down, Randy I'd never heard of lightning dust, and Don, will look for sparks when I burn it, probably next year. Mostly, it is a yellow poplar (tuliptree), which is the biggest growing tree in the eastern US, and makes fair firewood. Since they are big, fast growing especially in places where you don't necessarily want them, split easily, and dry pretty fast, I like cutting them. Eric, I noticed it didn't have leaves this past summer, so am guessing it was struck in the summer of 2018. I brought up as much to the splitter as would fit on my carry all box and FEL bucket and once all split today, will make a trip to get one more load before the rain today (I hope). RNG, I can get the tractor backed into within 10 yards of what's pictured, but not across the creek. The spot across the creek had an active beaver dam when we moved here, so is somewhat of a soft moist filled-in area that gets flooded in big rains. I'll have to carry rounds across the creek or take a splitting maul to make them lighter.

Drives, my wife was watching a home shopping show when I got home yesterday while folding laundry...they were shopping on Whidbey Island, so of course showed the big ferries...very pricey waterfront homes and of course, beautiful views. My son and I took the ferry from Whidbey over to Port Townsend after coming down from Friday Harbor and the ferry to Anacortes.

 

[Bird]

While I know that a lot of people seem to be obsessive about their location and that is their business,
I'm not overly concerned about it myself.
It wasn't that long ago that your full name and address was in the phone book with your phone number.
Myself I was an elected Town Councilman for many years, my phone number and address were public information.

And many, if not most, police officers had an unlisted number. You could contact the phone company and have your information left out of the phone books. At one time that "service" as free; later there was a small charge. It was quite common to have someone I was arresting to tell me, "I'll catch you off duty some day and kill you" or "I'll find out where you live and rape your wife and kill your kids." It might feel a bit odd at first, but you get used to it. And I never had an unlisted number; always in the phone book.

 

[Thomas]

22F upper 30's for high.

Outside chores done E muffin time. :licking:
Plans for today....Trip to town for mineral block,tighten up plastic chute on snow blower, slow walk about in the woods,doing little poking around.

Enjoy the day all.

 

[wngsprd]

My wife had her Yogettes here yesterday for yoga, so I took Coconino to Shenandoah. Hiked up to the top of Hawksbill again...so different in the winter...bare hardwoods are so pretty, and don't hide the views all around like when they are clothed in leaves. The National Park was near deserted...saw very few vehicles and only 2 people on the AT. It was so quiet, still some snow on the ground in shady areas from last week's snow, and some nice ice flows. Saw a few deer and birds like nuthatches, a pileated woodpecker and a couple of flocks of robins.

BEF, I found out the secret of how the NPS keeps Big Meadows so open...two big John Deeres pulling batwing bush hogs...they don't have the elk to graze it any more, or the sheep herders taking flocks up there, or the Indians burning it like hundreds of years ago.

Usually, it is 8 or 10 degrees colder up on the Skyline Drive, vs. the piedmont below, but yesterday it was the opposite, with south winds and clouds.

 

[Thomas]

My wife had her Yogettes here yesterday for yoga, so I took Coconino to Shenandoah. Hiked up to the top of Hawksbill again...so different in the winter...bare hardwoods are so pretty, and don't hide the views all around like when they are clothed in leaves. The National Park was near deserted...saw very few vehicles and only 2 people on the AT. It was so quiet, still some snow on the ground in shady areas from last week's snow, and some nice ice flows. Saw a few deer and birds like nuthatches, a pileated woodpecker and a couple of flocks of robins.

BEF, I found out the secret of how the NPS keeps Big Meadows so open...two big John Deeres pulling batwing bush hogs...they don't have the elk to graze it any more, or the sheep herders taking flocks up there, or the Indians burning it like hundreds of years ago.

Usually, it is 8 or 10 degrees colder up on the Skyline Drive, vs. the piedmont below, but yesterday it was the opposite, with south winds and clouds.

Would the area be known for early settlers which lead to cellar holes?

 

[check]

Utility grade birds might be missing a wing (totally useless) or a leg. They put them on sale in honour of Chinese New Year. They sell gooses and rabbits, too. All of them undressed and gutted.

L4N was that Hi-Test duck a King Cole duck? We eat them and they taste excellent. You can even find them in Loblaws on occasion.

 

[txdon]

Good morning! Blue skies after the dry Norther, 34˚F frost.

Wngsprd, I've only seen the excessive popping on lightning struck hardwoods, but let us know your observations. The pic of the woods looks like ghost are roaming around.

I think the only time I drank that much water was when I was building fence in 100+ temps. I remember stopping because I was spending more time drinking water than working.

 

[toppop52]

The old adage of 8 glasses a day is no longer true. Instead, think about how much you weigh and divide that number in half. That's how many ounces of water you should drink per day. For instance, a person who is 200 pounds, should drink 100 oz. of water per day to be adequately hydrated.
America's Walking: Drinking Water

That is for those with healthy kidney function.

 

[toppop52]

37 going to 54.

David, congrats on your wellness exam. I'm way behind schedule for mine.

RNG, I didn't finish watching that smoke machine video since it went to a commercial part way through, but that guy doesn't need a machine since he just smokes the tires on that mustang.

Regarding that lightning tree I cut down, Randy I'd never heard of lightning dust, and Don, will look for sparks when I burn it, probably next year. Mostly, it is a yellow poplar (tuliptree), which is the biggest growing tree in the eastern US, and makes fair firewood. Since they are big, fast growing especially in places where you don't necessarily want them, split easily, and dry pretty fast, I like cutting them. Eric, I noticed it didn't have leaves this past summer, so am guessing it was struck in the summer of 2018. I brought up as much to the splitter as would fit on my carry all box and FEL bucket and once all split today, will make a trip to get one more load before the rain today (I hope). RNG, I can get the tractor backed into within 10 yards of what's pictured, but not across the creek. The spot across the creek had an active beaver dam when we moved here, so is somewhat of a soft moist filled-in area that gets flooded in big rains. I'll have to carry rounds across the creek or take a splitting maul to make them lighter.

Drives, my wife was watching a home shopping show when I got home yesterday while folding laundry...they were shopping on Whidbey Island, so of course showed the big ferries...very pricey waterfront homes and of course, beautiful views. My son and I took the ferry from Whidbey over to Port Townsend after coming down from Friday Harbor and the ferry to Anacortes.

I’m pretty sure that lightning dust, was Grandpa Knowles invention.

 

[daugen]

Billy, nice picture.

First two apple trees starting to wake up.

landscapers hard at work installing big drainage ditch tile back near barn, so I can ride across to other side for the first time.
Will get more pics later