Good Morning!

[CurSedVoyce]

Tre Cute!

[brendonv]

Another cloudy mixed day here this morning.

I'm suppose to be working for my bro, but I've been fed up with it for the last months/year. Just too many reasons.......

Sooo I told him I'm not working today. I'll probably do a bid, wash the dirtbike, and putz. I've got to call "strikermike", he was interested in some spurs I had. Make the same amount of money doing that than going to work with him. :roll:

[MasterBlaster]

Day-um!

[brendonv]

Oh, and I woke up to a raccoon in the trap I set last night.

I'm a softy so I'm still getting over the cruel way of bullet in head at point blank, and the gurgling through his mouth. :(

[MasterBlaster]

You can't release it somewhere?

[brendonv]

Not at this point. Just the fact that it pulled mass murder on 7+ of our chickens was one of the reasons. I didn't want my hands anywhere near a growling coon anyways.

[MasterBlaster]

Yea, I guess I'd have wasted the sucka, too.

[rumination]

I'm off to volunteer at a kid's Tree Planting Camp today. It's definitely a good thing, but I'm surprised anyone signed up for it. If I was a kid it sure wouldn't sound too exciting to me...

[stehansen]

There might be chicks there. Reason enough for the young man to go. I have to take my wife to visit her brother in Palo Alto at the VA hospital this morning.

[MasterBlaster]

Haha.

[Strikermike]

I did not think raccoons would attack chickens. I would not feel bad about killing it though. You might want to contact the DEP though still a bit of rabies in the coons in our state. Thanks about the info at vermeer

[rumination]

Beekeeping class today! Hopefully the thunderstorms stay away till later today. Bees get cranky when they can't be collecting nectar.

[stehansen]

There were a bunch of honey bees working on the palm trees that I trimmed yesterday. Carpenter bees too. I am resuming a clean-up job today.

[rumination]

Yeah, when some palms are in full bloom it can turn into a real cloud of honeybees around the crown. They pretty much shouldn't bother you, though, they're too intent on getting nectar.

[stehansen]

Yep, they didn't bother me a bit. The stuff was piled up in the HO's driveway waiting for me to hook the truck back up to the chipper they were still working on it there.

[CurSedVoyce]

More grass awaits... Going to a job today a guy I referred to them was told not to bother coming back.. I dot think it was all his fault. She was trying to prioritize the job for him and I know even listening to this customer can be confusing. So we'll show up, take out about 3 acres of fields around the house and save the day :P Moneys decent but I have to run interference between her and anyone that is working.. Try to keep her out of everyone's hair and in the house:lol:
Also going by the local shop to final tune that weed eater I slapped together last night. 8)

[Paul B]

Cursed, do you always use a weed whacker or do you have a PTO mower or flail or something, I cant imagine weed whacking 3 acres... yuck.

[CurSedVoyce]

I have a DR (2 actually). The walk behind is 17 horse 2wd 4 speed with reverse. 3 acres is easy for 3 guys on brush cutters this time of year.. But that DR does at least the work of two if you have the right terrain. I also charge mo fo it :D I have to use the walk behind only right now as the grass is so dry and I can run a string head with 155 or 170 mill line. Don't want to start a fire with a steel blade. The three of us did about 4 acres today in 6.5 hours with the help of the DR.

[stehansen]

My uncle started a fire yesterday. He was mowing grass with a 8' bush hog. It burned up a couple of piles of posts, a cow corral, and some grass of course.

[Dave Shepard]

Dang, never had to worry about burning the place down mowing around here. It's so dang soggy, you can hardly walk anywhere off the driveway.

[CurSedVoyce]

Gun shot started the last fire up here that took 30,000 acres, 30 plus homes and cost 30,000,000.00. So a blade is definitely out of the question.... I don't need that kind of claim against me. Fires can be started with just a hot muffler now let alone a blade on rock....

Least your uncle did not lose a house or neighbors house with that boo boo. Did he cut his outside line first? That way you have a fire line....
We always have the guys on Brushers/Weed Eaters spot for fire also... Fire extinguisher is on hand also for the equipment....

[stehansen]

Actually I just found out from my cousin that my uncle called him and asked him to "come down to the river corral and bring a couple of shovels". My cousin heads down there, (it's about a mile down a driveway and then a dirt road) as soon as he passes the buildings by his house he sees the smoke and calls the fire dept. on his way down there. The Air Resources Control Board also sent down a couple of guys to investigate to see if it was an "accidentally intentional" fire and decided that it was accidental.

[CurSedVoyce]

I hope he did not get a ticket or charged for fire dept services;)

[stehansen]

Nope, he's in the clear. Even if he wasn't in the clear he was a fireman in that dept for 40 some years so they would have taken care of him.

[CurSedVoyce]

Very cool... The Dept. should always take care of their own even if they are retired. They do up here too.. Unless it gets extreme...

[stehansen]

The unwritten rule is: if something accidental happens they will watch your back if the ARB or some govt agency wants to be stupid; however, if you do something intentional and want the fire dept to cover you then you have abused this privilege and they will probably tell you that this is the last favor you will get, you will be on your own from now on.

[CurSedVoyce]

ARB is the wild card and what I was mostly worried about (for your uncle) as it was accidental.. They are nothing but a bureaucracy looking to make revenue of late... I found out the other day that we were still able to burn by permit up till last week.. Somebody lost one and they shut it down.. I stopped burning by permit after the first week of May... My tradition as the winds play havoc with you by then. If I start tending more fire than clearing etc., it is time to shut it down... Besides I hate chasing fire..
Besides... Fugs up the trees if you lose one or have it scorch.

[Paul B]

Cursed, sorry to be dense but whats a DR? :)

[CurSedVoyce]

Nick named the beast... Here ya go Paul
http://www.drpower.com/EmailProdImages/F0556_275.jpg
http://www.drpower.com/EmailProdImages/F0409-250.jpg

I have the 17 HP 30 inch deck...

http://www.drpower.com/TwoStepModelDetail.aspx?Name=FABCommercial17HP&p1Name=field-brush-mower-w&Page=fabmodels&ln

[thattreeguy]

nice tool , better than the goofy llooking one i have
old rental yard unit looks like giant bike tires on it

[CurSedVoyce]

We had to redo the deck a few times... The mountains tear up the runners and the welds pretty good... But adding some extra metal did the trick:evil:
The tow behind I have is pretty much the same in HP and such but is really only good for high thick grass and small brush you can run over.

One day, crew of 6 took out 12 acres in 7 hours with both machines and brush cutters/weed eaters.

I am off to do a 1/2 mile of drive way and a heliport... Have a great Sunday everyone... BBL

[CurSedVoyce]

Going up the street to the fire zone this AM. Cut some weeds around a old family cabin (someone else's) and try to talk her into scheduling a bull pine that is over it. She keeps meaning for me to remove it but..... This has been going on a year. See what I can finagle... :D

[stehansen]

I have a bid at 9:00 and another at 10:00 this morning. I was going to pull a Paul and take a picture of my breakfast this morning, but I broke one of my eggs and then burnt my toast. Then I have a clean up job I have been working on off and on for a week to finish.

[Paul B]

no room for burly tree men in the kitchen :P

my wife has been getting on my case about the food pics, after I plate it goes to the table and I keep saying' "just a sec honey, I have to grab my camera.." usually the reply is a rather lengthy sigh, or 'you're a geek' or 'I cant believe you are posting pictures of your food all the time"

I like to keep her on her toes, not sure how long I will keep up the pics thing, I gotta find something new :/:

[woodworkingboy]

Could it be that you only post pictures of the food when you've done the cooking? That might be bothersome to the Mrs.

[Paul B]

actually thats not entirely true, I do try to mention when she has helped prep supper. for instance today she made the pasta salad, oops, you caught me, I didnt mention it! lol, my bad.

[MasterBlaster]

Next time, just say "Woman, stifle yourself, and bring me my tea."

[Paul B]

Will do. If you dont hear about the results, fare thee well for she has ended me. :)

[MasterBlaster]

Just get you another! ;)

[squisher]

Going to be a scorcher here today. in the 90's by your guys's temps. I'm afraid I'm gonna melt.:(

[sotc]

101 here. Gotta small removal with the bucket this am

[Stumper]

Paul, Stop making her wait and start snapping pics of her and the food as she puts the first bite in her mouth.:evil:

[CurSedVoyce]

Brought Levi home from camping last night and him and his sister are playing away... Seth won't be home for at least another week. Already feeling warm here. Just want to go get this shat done and come home... TG I have tree work tomorrow I am going buggy:|:

[CurSedVoyce]

Good morning and happy 4th all. Going to try and get a half day done to get home in plenty of time to BBQ. The guy and his wife are supposed to be home today to meet up with me to schedule some trees :D So I am going to give him his CDF cut while I am there.... BBL.....

[stehansen]

I gotta go borrow the neighbor's levee maker thing and make my levee to irrigate this afternoon. Going to my other neighbor's Mom's house this afternoon then to a potluck at a friend's.

[MasterBlaster]

What in the world is a "levee maker thing?" A shovel?

[stehansen]

Here is a picture of the levee maker thingy which I think is really called a ridger. And a picture of the levee or ridge that I made with it to contain the irrigation water within my boundries.r

[rumination]

Will you leave that ridge there permanently, or do you have to build it up and take it down every time you need to irrigate?

[Paul B]

do you irrigate with a flooding method Ste? Sorry if you mentioned it, I havent been paying attention :D

[stehansen]

If you leave it up you have to spray the weeds on it but it can be done. It will develop cracks and gopher holes after a fashion so I knock it down everytime I disc. Also I need to turn my little caterpillar around over where the ridge is so another reason why I take it down everytime. Yeah we flood irrigate here Paul. Very inefficient as far as water usage but that's that method the district was designed for when it was constructed. Any water that goes beyond the root zone ends up in the groundwater so I guess it's not really wasted.

[rumination]

My area is all flood irrigation as well. However, people construct permanent ditches to channel the water and then open up little side ditches to flood as needed, or just partially block off a larger ditch to cause it to overflow into a certain area. Food irrigation does compact the soil a bit, but has lots of other benefits if done correctly.

[stehansen]

Most of the laterals have been pipelined here.

[stehansen]

What kind of soil do you have there.

[rumination]

Thick clay in most places, sometimes mixed with ridiculous amounts of rocks. If you give it a good soaking it will hold quite a bit of water.

[stehansen]

Ours on the east side lf the valley is sandy loam with hardpan in places, and the west side is clay loam. Not many rocks. The east side uses flood and the west side uses furrow irrigation. And both sides use some sprinklers.

[rumination]

Sounds like good soil, aside from the hardpan. Is that your walnuts you're irrigating there? How often do you give them water?

[stehansen]

Yep, about every 3 weeks from april to august. The soil on the west side is better but the water supply is much better here.

[Skwerl]

Good morning, folks. Another sleepless night here, I think I managed an hour or two between 4:30-6:30. I'm going to have to see somebody about my back this week. I have an LMT coming over at 11 today and will ask for a referral from her.

[MasterBlaster]

Damn! See the doc, my friend. You don't wanna cripple yourself.

[brendonv]

Dropped off some parts at the machine shop this a.m. for the truck, should be finished by noon. Stopped at Vermeer and picked up a couple pruner poles, mine keep shrinking and I can't reach them inside the storage tube anymore. :|:

[rumination]

Shrinking pruner poles is a frustrating phenomenon for sure. I forgot to move my fiberglass pole saw the other day and dropped a branch on it, putting a good dent in the pole.:whine:

[MasterBlaster]

Crikey, that bites a big one. I'm flirting with rain here. The crane job was canceled because of it, but I'm hoping to do something else.

[GASoline71]

I'm already at work mang... :morning:

'mornin' y'all...

Gary

[MasterBlaster]

Dang! That's early!

[lumberjack]

I've been awake since 330 for no good reason. Dropped my car off to get the rear bumper replaced (someone hit me in a parking lot), grabbed some Sonic, and I'm watching it drizzle. Thinking about crawling back in the bed. :)

[Skwerl]

Hey Brendon, you might try shoving an old rag or towel down into your storage tube. That might take up a few inches in the front as well as provide some cushion for the pole ends.

[CurSedVoyce]

Hope you get that back figured out soon Brian..
Been up since 3:30 trying to get back to sleep myself. Lilly had a rough night/morning. So I am off to do mistletoe here shortly waiting on coffee for a jump start...

[rumination]

Didn't sleep so well last night myself. The moonlight on my face woke me up. I've got to figure out a curtain for the skylight.

I'm off to do some hiking today. Hopefully no thunderstorms roll in while we're above tree line.

[stehansen]

When I was a teenager and into my twenties moonlight or any light would bother me, but now hardly anything bothers my sleep. Good luck with the back Brian. I'm getting a slow start here, my guys are fashionably late once again.

[Paul B]

hmmm, maybe some sort of blue moon? Bub was up at about 0430 screaming his lungs out. I got out of bed and hit the couch next to the couch my wife was cradling him on a few minutes later, for moral support, the three of us half slept the rest of the time till 0715 when it was time to start getting ready for the day.
They just left, Bub goes to my parents place on Mondays so the wife can get to workin, I have a crummy job pulling weeds and such, its raining a bit, the first rain in a few weeks. But its money and thats what the man wants! :pimp:

[woodworkingboy]

Dreamt that a huge pack of lions got loose in San Francisco and were attacking everyone. It sort of freaked me out. :(

[MasterBlaster]

That was probably elicited from tomorrow's upcoming MJ "funeral."

[woodworkingboy]

Could be, I was reading about, "Where's the money" before bedtime.

[brendonv]

Hey Brendon, you might try shoving an old rag or towel down into your storage tube. That might take up a few inches in the front as well as provide some cushion for the pole ends.

The thing that stinks is I have a eight foot pole for the BS, all the local Vermeer has is six footers. Maybe I'll try launching with a six foot but I think it'd lack.

[Skwerl]

I have a shortie, just shy of 3', that I made from a broken pole. When added to a 6' pole it's perfect for the BS. An 8' by itself is just a little too short for me, I have to bend down too far.

[CurSedVoyce]

Having an interesting morning and I am going to reschedule. Guy booked three days anyway so he is going to lose one. Lilly had a rough night again so I am lacking sleep for a couple days now. Day care kids are getting dropped off at 5 am last couple too.
Went out to the old Ford this morning running a tad behind schedule (no biggie) and was checking the fluids while the truck was running (just the ones you have to with the truck running, already had done the oil) and found a fuel leak... Rut Ro.... Got some hose out of the shed and thought hey .. NP all fixed and now there is another leak at the pump on the hard line... Rut ro... So went and got some stuff at NAPA and I am just going to service the beast today and call it whatever.... LOL

[MasterBlaster]

What's a rut ro? Uh oh?

[OTGBOSTON]

Thats how Scoobie would say it Shaggy......zoiks!

[CurSedVoyce]

What's a rut ro? Uh oh?

Yup.... Scoobie Doo and the dog on the Jetsons.... I believe....

[Paul B]

Jetson's dog = Astro, if I remember correct. :)

[stehansen]

Ding! You are correct.

[stehansen]

I can't sleep, shoulder hurts like hell.

[stehansen]

Much better this morning. I can laydown without it feeling like someone screwed a deck screw into my joint.

[MasterBlaster]

Don't you think you need a doc?

[stehansen]

I'll make an appt. on Monday. The renter at one of my bids yesterday was a physical therapist. He gave me an exam in the front yard.

[CurSedVoyce]

I just hope you can address it sooner than later Steve. Sounds miserable.

[stehansen]

The PT guy said that there are normally two things which cuse pain like mine. One is some damage to the joint and the other is swollen tendons/muscles surrounding the joint. The first one can only be corrected by surgery and the latter usually corrected by resting the joint, controlling swelling and exercise to keep the joint from "freezing". He also said that damage to the joint will cause pain immediately and that tendon strain usually comes on over a few days. Since mine came on over a few days I'm probably good to go with the rest/ice/Iboprofen routine. I have 3 days of work lined up for next week and I have a new climber guy I can get for those days. Laying my arm on the computer desk in mouse controlling or typing position is entirely pain free, but believe it or not, I do tire of this activity.
So I will go to the doctor, then get some x-rays, then go back to the doctor after he gets the x-rays, and listen to him tell me to rest it, ice it, and take ibuprofen.

[MasterBlaster]

Good luck!

[stehansen]

Thanks.

[stehansen]

I have a removal of a couple of walnut trees today. I'm going to try and harvest the trunks. I thought I would take my stumpgrinder and cut the roots a little ways away from the trunk and then try and pull it over. I'm trying to keep from getting a backhoe to remove them. I have a neighbor who has a little experience selling wood and this is his scheme. I don't think I will have enough power to pull them over after I do the root cutting.

[lumberjack]

I don't see how you won't be able to get them over between the tractor and the grinder.

[CurSedVoyce]

Goig to go get a job done and see how we feel with the heat.. Supposed to be a bit cooler today.. Hope it goes well Steve.

[stehansen]

I went with what I thought and contacted a backhoe guy.

[squisher]

Going to be spraying my ghetto truck down this morning with the fresh paint, took me a couple of days to prep everything. Wish me luck!8)

[brendonv]

Ye haww, painting sucks!

This morning I'm battling with a state of ct lady trying to tell me I never payed 06's tax when it's clearly out of my bank account. On top of it, I am arguing with a immigrant who can barely speak English, gotta love the US.

[sotc]

No, prepping for paint sucks!
I got a call from the job i scheduled this am. I bid 375 to remove 4 birch and grind stumps, 75 to aerate back lawn and threw in some small shrub removals. She called back yesterday to say she just wanted the lawn and the freebies:roll: done. I told her our minum was 200, Oh, I didn't relise aerating was so expensive:lol:

[squisher]

Heading out to pick up the new bucket this morning. Roadtrip!8)

[MasterBlaster]

Drive carefully! ;)

[Stumper]

Prayers for Squishey the Godless.
May all go very well for you in this endeavor.

[stehansen]

+1:)

[Skwerl]

You'd better bring your camera, beotch. ;)

[squisher]

Lol, Brian I did take my camera. But I didn't take a single pic. It's pretty much rained since I picked up the truck. There were a couple of spots over the coquihalla summit where I thought I'd get some awesome pics with the truck but alas on the way back with the truck I was driving in a cloudy rainstorm.:(


Thans for all the well wishes on a safe journey, everything went well.

Justin prayers are always welcomed, same as well wishes and positive vibes.

[stehansen]

Where is everyone?

[rumination]

Going to tear a wall apart to extract a beehive today. I actually don't relish the idea of doing this as it's really damaging to the hive, but the alternative is the homeowners calling an exterminator to kill the bees. And I get a free hive of bees out of it...

[Al Smith]

I have to trot over to Lowes and purchase some light fixtures to install in my crawl space .

About the second ,third week of August I plan on replumbing the house and I'd like to see what I'm doing insead of using a flash light .

Pains me greatly as I must have given away a hundred fixtures and now I have to buy the danged things .

[stehansen]

Going to tear a wall apart to extract a beehive today. I actually don't relish the idea of doing this as it's really damaging to the hive, but the alternative is the homeowners calling an exterminator to kill the bees. And I get a free hive of bees out of it...

Leon my neighbor who is a bee inspector for the county here also has a side business raising queen bees. Maybe I can hook you up if you need some queens. That didn't sound good, did it?

[MasterBlaster]

I had a quick and easy live oak trim.

[squisher]

I picked up my mail and it had a couple of cheques in there 8), but it also had a letter saying I'm being audited for GST :(. The fun never ends here.:|:

[Fiddler]

Went to me Aunts memorial service this morning. Thought I had a side job lined up but the guy cancelled, thats OK cause I"m really beat after this seek anyway.
Going to study a bit then head out to a festival where a bunch of old friends are picking music
Have to hand out some flyers for the shindig we are throwing next Sat.

[No_Bivy]

Going to tear a wall apart to extract a beehive today. I actually don't relish the idea of doing this as it's really damaging to the hive, but the alternative is the homeowners calling an exterminator to kill the bees. And I get a free hive of bees out of it...

take some pics....got a big box of rubber bands for putting the comb into frames? dont forget the smoker8)

[sotc]

Got up early to go check my trail camera and spent the rest of the morning wandering around in the cascades. No bucks on the cam:(

[Banned by Squirrels]

Sweet!

[rumination]

The bee extraction never happened. We thought they were in a wall, which would have been relatively easy. Turns out they're under a 100 year old hardwood floor which we weren't about to rip out. So we will trap them instead, which involves making a one way door so the bees can go out but not back in. We'll leave a hive right next to the entrance with some brood comb in it (comb with baby bees in it) and the bees will move into that hive over the course of a couple weeks. The queen will probably starve inside the old hive, though, she doesn't ever tend to come out. :( They usually raise a new one without too much trouble.

Steve, thanks for the offer on the queen connection, I've always liked men in drag. Seriously, though, there are a couple of folks I can buy queen bees from locally so I'm good on that front.

John, I'm doing all topbar beekeeping so no need to strap the comb to frames. I would have just propped it on the floor of the hive in such a way that the brood could hatch out, and the bees would have started building their own new combs. Once the brood had hatched out of the old comb I would have removed it for the wax.

[MasterBlaster]

That's waycool and good on you, Leon. When I run across them, they have to die.

There outta be a law.

[No_Bivy]

The bee extraction never happened. We thought they were in a wall, which would have been relatively easy. Turns out they're under a 100 year old hardwood floor which we weren't about to rip out. So we will trap them instead, which involves making a one way door so the bees can go out but not back in. We'll leave a hive right next to the entrance with some brood comb in it (comb with baby bees in it) and the bees will move into that hive over the course of a couple weeks. The queen will probably starve inside the old hive, though, she doesn't ever tend to come out. :( They usually raise a new one without too much trouble.

Steve, thanks for the offer on the queen connection, I've always liked men in drag. Seriously, though, there are a couple of folks I can buy queen bees from locally so I'm good on that front.

John, I'm doing all topbar beekeeping so no need to strap the comb to frames. I would have just propped it on the floor of the hive in such a way that the brood could hatch out, and the bees would have started building their own new combs. Once the brood had hatched out of the old comb I would have removed it for the wax.

cut outs can be a lotta work.....anyway, thats the way it goes

besides this , you got bees yet Leon?

[rumination]

Nope. This was to be my first hive. I've been helping a local beekeeper out a bit so I've been learning a lot. Learned how to raise queens recently, although I'd need to get quite a few hives to do that myself.

How many are you up to now John? Starting harvesting honey yet?

[Skwerl]

I'm first on his list of honey buyers when he does. :P

[CurSedVoyce]

Katy says to remind John she wants a jar of honey.....

[rumination]

As my beekeeping friend tells me, you'll never have a problem selling honey...

[CurSedVoyce]

I heard that once from a buddy of mine in Nevada:lol:

[Stumper]

I'm first on his list of honey buyers when he does. :P

Brian, No, no, no. You can't buy a honey-but when you get one she'll cost you plenty.:P

[Skwerl]

Good morning. I should know better than to answer my phone at 7am on a Sunday. Emergency call, top split out of a tree and hung up over the street. Dave said "I'll make it worth your while" so I'm going to work.
:morning:

:banghead:

[MasterBlaster]

Heck yea, go for it.

[CurSedVoyce]

Covering Day CAre for Katy.... I need me coffee!

[Fiddler]

:lol: Kids a little too awake in the AM?

[stehansen]

Heck, I would go out on a call right now if someone called. Covering daycare, maybe not so fun, depends.

[CurSedVoyce]

Actually the kids suffer the mornings same as I .... I have earlymornitis. I am more night owl... Takes me forever to wake up.

[Fiddler]

Heck, I would go out on a call right now if someone called.

Ditto. Brought all my gear home for a job and the guy cancelled at last minute.

[Al Smith]

Long morning here . I'm getting my gumption up to crawl back under the house and finish my lighting job . I'm less than enthusiastic about it .

[Fiddler]

On my second pot of coffee here and trying to talk myself into geting out the hedge trimmers to clean the place up a hit for the big party next week. Better get something done as I came home from funeral and mostly slept the rest of the day and night. Might have pushed myself a bit hard last week at work.

Wife is out shopping for some hip boots and and something that floats for the swamp job I am doing. Been awhile since I climbed in waders and not really looking forward to next week.

[CurSedVoyce]

Just got a call this morning from an older client (older in more than one way). She asked if I would thin her Ponserosa and cut it into fire wood and split it for her for half the fire wood.. Basically cut down 5 perfectly healthy 100 footers below the house in the Chowchilla River canyon up against National Forest..... She has been trying to get me to cut these 5 trees for going into 3 years now. I refused again and referred her to some one else. People sure think wood is gold around here.
Also... Only 3 other trees would have to be cut in order to help the larger ones in the stand. Not to mention I don't work for free or wood...

[squisher]

Just tell 'em it's like trying to sell ice to an eskimo(inuit for the politically challenged err I mean correct). I Lmao when people start talking about value in their wood, yahhhhhh you keep it all then.

[stehansen]

You can't blame them for trying. Would a firewood guy take them for free Stephen? Pine is pretty crappy firewood from my experience. Keep you warm carrying it all in the house.

[Al Smith]

Hmm and all this time I only figured idiots in Ohio thought their yard trees were worth a fortune . Cut it down for the firewood,when cows fly maybe .:lol:

[stig]

I have cut one tree down for the value of the wood some years back.
It was a large black locust, totally covered in burls. Black locust is an introduced species here and not very common, the burly ones even less so.
It would have been a good deal, if the owners Porche hadn't been blocked up for storage under a tarp beneath the tree. Not the kind of car you want to drop a branch on, so the takedown took just about forever.
Still, I got some nice wood out of the deal, that in due time was coverted into bowls and sold.

[Fiddler]

Took a couple large oaks down for the wood last fall. HO owns a dumpster co. I cut down the trees and he and his sons cut up, split, loaded and delivered two twenty yard dumpsters full to my house. Heating bill wise it was well worth the afternoon.

[Al Smith]

That rascal Tom did take down a tree once for barter .Ended up with a pretty nice Cadillac out of the deal too .

Seriously though,90 percent of the time the trimmers get the wood anyway .Why in the name of good sense would they barter for it .:?

[Dave Shepard]

Just tell them the wood is already part of the price, you'll have to charge more if you don't get it.:roll:

[CurSedVoyce]

Just tell them the wood is already part of the price, you'll have to charge more if you don't get it.:roll:

I will have to remember that. :lol::lol::lol:

[squisher]

Up early today. Frigging snoring dog. Gonna get a early start and try to beat some of the heat.

[sotc]

I gotta get back to all the calls from yesterday. several limbs came down

[stehansen]

Mornin', all I have today is a sweetgum stump that the HO started digging out by hand and then gave up.

[CurSedVoyce]

Up early this morning also to try and beat the heat a bit...
Need Coffee

[stehansen]

I have a guy coming this morning to help me who I have used a couple of times and he actually is punctual, so I had better be ready.

[CurSedVoyce]

Better go get your pants on then.....
We have day care showing up here... And Katy has her tight jeans on ... Dang..... I have to behave myself....

[MasterBlaster]

I'm off today and that's fine by me.

[woodworkingboy]

I'm just finishing up a chair for a doctor in his eighties, with his own clinic. He collects chairs. He's paying $3400 for a nice one. I took the commission through a gallery, so I'm getting 75% of that.

[CurSedVoyce]

Pics of that.... Nice!

[sotc]

Thatwill buy you 17 pounds of beef!!

[MasterBlaster]

Wow!

[woodworkingboy]

Thatwill buy you 17 pounds of beef!!

:lol: That's one way to think of it.....not a bad way either.

Pics if I can after it comes back from the poison ivy lacquerer, it's getting the royal treatment.

[rumination]

What's poison ivy lacquer? And, yes, pics are required!

[CurSedVoyce]

That is the finish lacquer they use. I thought they got it from a local tree though... Same resin as PI or PO. Just a tree...

[woodworkingboy]

I said poison ivy lacquer, because if I said "urushi" lacquer, most people wouldn't know what I was talking about. Sap from the Urushi tree, but related to poison ivy. Same inflammation upon contact.

[stehansen]

Thatwill buy you 17 pounds of beef!!

No wonder they're skinny.

Congratulations on the chair WWB.

[Fiddler]

Have to meet with Utility forester this AM and go do some refusals. Everyone else has moved on and I am staying to finish up this line.
Groundies last day then its back to school for him and another new guy for me. Hope this one has seen a chain saw before.

[Skwerl]

Good luck with that, Dave. I hope they pay you well to do the trees others refuse.

[vharrison]

I'm just finishing up a chair for a doctor in his eighties, with his own clinic. He collects chairs. He's paying $3400 for a nice one. I took the commission through a gallery, so I'm getting 75% of that.

Jay, that is awesome!

[Fiddler]

Good luck with that, Dave. I hope they pay you well to do the trees others refuse.

These are jobs that HO have kicked our crews off property and refused to let us trim there, or threatened violence.

It does fall to me to do a lot of jobs other crews won't do, or aren't capable of doing but, I get paid the same as the guys who turn down the trees, which isn't much. I think I work for about the lowest paying large tree co. in the states. I lost almost $4/hr when I switched employers, but I'm back in my old house I own so its almost all good.

[vharrison]

TGIF!

[Fiddler]

Busy day today getting ready for the big shindig/anniversary party tomorrow. Will do the running around stuff this morning for tents, tables, chairs, (and a few things for chainsaws ;) ) and then work on yard stuff when it dries out a bit.
Sa far just really enjoying sitting home w/coffee making out my to do list. Then I have to see if I can fit it in with the wifes list.:)

[lumberjack]

After driving 1200 miles yesterday, I'm off to Jackson (150 miles one way) to pick up a pontoon boat for our lake. :lol:

[stehansen]

Wow, I would still be in bed if I were you.

[CurSedVoyce]

Ahhhhh youth! LOL

[Fiddler]

:D Party day. Going to put up tents, tables, chairs, string electric for campers, etc. this morning and light the fire. Been waiting to burn all the junk wood I've got laying around, should have started it last night.

Only 30% chance of rain today so looking good, have never been rained on yet, except the morning of our wedding while setting up, and the sun came out right on Que. as we started the music and the preacher headed toward the front of the crowd.

This will be our 5th year we have put this on and I am looking forward to seeing all our old friends who show up. Some of them, I was in bands with 25 years ago.

Folks usually are pulling in throughout the day as many come quite a way to get here and bring their campers or tents to stay.

Faxed in application for CA test yesterday, and waiting to hear if I can take test Aug 28th.

[Skwerl]

Sounds like a fun weekend for you, Dave. If we don't see you until Tuesday, we'll know why. :lol:

[squisher]

Heck yah, have a good time!


I'm going to work today, I'll be playing catch-up for awhile. I am going to take Sunday off though, don't want to overdo it and do something stupid.:|:

[CurSedVoyce]

Have a great time and weekend Dave!

I called to confirm a new job last night and the guy already had it done and sorta blew me off to get me off the phone.. He came across like "I will give you another chance next year". People just don't get that we don't just sit here waiting on their call... I have people waiting on a list to have us work.... They are so used to the crap labor up here that is what they expect. People working for drug or beer money.
So off to the cattle ranch today to make up for a day we lost due to the truck being down for a day.
Called a few on the waiting list for another day I had open up and have not heard back from anyone. I already have permission to pop in on another client if no one takes the day.. NP
One more coffee and I am outtie...

[Skwerl]

Woke up with an itchy belly hole this morning. It's all red and itching like crazy. I must have gotten into something. Filled it up with hydrocortisone cream and all is well.

[MasterBlaster]

PICS!!!


:lol:

[gf beranek]

No

[sotc]

To early for that Butch!

We woke up after midnight to an awesome thunder storm, rattled the whole house over a dozen times! Somehow the boy didn't wake up, that would have taken the fun out

[brendonv]

Raining here AGAIN. This is ridiculous.

Met with Joe, my old employer, this morning. Drove around and looked at the work. Probably a good week's of work I didn't have otherwise.

[Skwerl]

Brendon, you still thinking of selling your gear and going to work for a paycheck? :|:

[brendonv]

:/:

:P

Actually, if the climbing gig works out...I'd be doing pretty good again.

[sotc]

Shoot, offer him 5% for jobs you close:dude:

[brendonv]

He'll get his pimp percentage. 8)

[sotc]

Kewl

[stehansen]

Good for you Brendon. Good morning everyone. Pimp percentage, I like that.

[GASoline71]

Sittin' here at work... chuggin' coffee... had a "busy" night... ;)

Gary

[stehansen]

Ohhhh. I'm jealous.

[CurSedVoyce]

Coffee and getting ready to go over to my parents with the kids.. Rob and I are going to TD a tree I have not seen yet over there. Taking all the toys... Except the chipper. Dad is going to butcher the tree once it's on the ground with his buds and burn the brush come winter.. That way he can cut the stuff as small (dia) as he wants. Katy is stuck here with day care. Got to take on some extra kids cause I am taking ours... Should be a fun day :)

[GASoline71]

Ohhhh. I'm jealous.

LMAO... got home at 2am, got to sleep around 4am... came to work around 6am... here I am... :|:

Gary

[stehansen]

I haven't done that for at least 20 years.

[GASoline71]

First time for me in a loooooong time Steve. I think I like layin' on the porch more than runnin' with the big dogs. :lol:

Gary

[stehansen]

:):):)

[Fiddler]

Maybe one more pot of coffee (#3) and I'll be ready for breakfast. Had a good time visiting w/old friends but not use to staying up that late. :jam::beerchug:
Folks seemed to hit the trash barrels pretty well yesterday so not much cleanup from the party except tearing down chairs, tables, & Awning. I think the Dogs are as whipped as I am. Haven't moved or made a noise all morning.
Food was great and we have enough leftovers to last at least the next week w/out making a meal.:)
Picked up a couple small side jobs from folks last night. Might go look at them next weekend.

[Skwerl]

Good morning, TH. I'm off early to go slay a big oak tree. It's my biggest job I've sold for myself this year. I think I'll clear about a grand on it after paying everyone. Hopefully I'll have some pictures tonight.
:)

[woodworkingboy]

Happy hunting!

[vharrison]

Hopefully I'll have some pictures tonight.
:)

Cool, we will look forward to them! Lobster season opens today, we will probably get out after work. They are killing the lobstermen with the price, $3.00 a pound, lowest price in 25 years. :(

[woodworkingboy]

What's the reason behind the low price, V? Does that mean a lower cost to the consumer?

[vharrison]

What's the reason behind the low price, V? Does that mean a lower cost to the consumer?

Not sure Jay, but probably supply and demand. I doubt the consumer will see a huge drop in price.

[Cobleskill]

Retailers are quick to raise the price if they see an increase in the wholesale price, but slow to lower it when their price drops.

Wheat price went way up and bread, pizza, cereal, etc. price jumps. If you figure the weight of wheat that goes into one unit it was a neglible increase. Good excuse to raise the price though.

[CurSedVoyce]

Tree fell over a pump house at a clients place and I have to go take it off and down.. Should be fun. See if I can get some pics.

[stehansen]

I didn't go camping yesterday, right after I posted I got a call from my daughter who was in London. She is back in SF and is sick. She wants Daddy to come get her. I guess she went to the Kaiser facility in SF yesterday and they were having a power outage. I took her to the one in Modesto and they gave her some antibiotic shots and some pain pills and she is 100% better in a couple of hours. Youth.

[CurSedVoyce]

Hope she feels better soon Steve. Good that you are there for her :)

[Paul B]

work is getting slow, I have a meeting with a fellow one man landscaping company today over breakfast, to discuss 'things' as in working together taking a couple condo or commercial strata maintenance contracts next spring and discussing snow removal work as well. Both things we dont do much of at the moment.

[Fiddler]

I have the day off so, heading up to help train some fairly new climbers today for a small company who's arborist is more of a tree doctor.
Today will be about being a tree undertaker.;)

[vharrison]

TGIF!

[Fiddler]

Checked mail this AM and got my confirmation letter to take CA exam on Aug 28th.
Thought the tree list was a bit off from what we see around here regularly.
Surprised I have to bring my own pencils at a cost of $250 for taking the test.

[Fiddler]

Heavy storms went through last night. waking up to flood warnings, house & barn fires, trees blocking roads, and power outages reported.
All is still good here at our place, but probably will spend the day out on storm call.

[Skwerl]

My phone rang way too early this morning. I'm up and starting my coffee IV.
:morning:

[cybergeek23851]

I'm going to grab a shower real quick, and then head out of town on some errands, but like you Brian... first comes coffee!

[stehansen]

I have a building clearance job in a town about 30 min south of here. The Highway Patrol is everpresent on the way there and it always makes me nervous.

[Al Smith]

Well don't drive like a maniac and they won't give you a ticket .:)

Oh heavens,more coffee then off to Lowes to buy pipe and fittings to re-plumb the house . I'm not looking forward to spending a day and half in a crawl space .No sense whining about it though--get-er-done .

[stehansen]

My cousin did his house with some hose that has crimp on ends.

[sotc]

Steve, you will be fine as long as you don't have a video camera to your face while driving:drink:

[Al Smith]

My cousin did his house with some hose that has crimp on ends.

I imagine that was PEX pipe which is flexable cross link poly . I've never used it but they say it's the cats meow .

I'll be using CPVC piping to replace the 30 plus year old copper which is starting to fail . It won't take that long . Just the pain in the neck navigating in 26 inchs of crawl space .

[Strikermike]

Just about every plumber I know has switched over to PEX.
PROS 1) fewer joints, can run home run to each fixture
2) cheaper than copper
3) faster than copper
4) will not rot away if in contact with cement
5) Freeze tolerant.
Cons 1) need new tools to install

[rumination]

Heavy storms went through last night. waking up to flood warnings, house & barn fires, trees blocking roads, and power outages reported.
All is still good here at our place, but probably will spend the day out on storm call.


Be safe, man.

[Al Smith]

From what I understand they use PEX for radiant under floor heat and such things as that with a good success rate .

Actually the pipe fighters at work use a type for air lines and it works good too .

Well,whatever .I just didn't want to crawl under the house dragging a "B" bottle torch and setting the damned house afire with me under it .That would be bad .:\:

[CurSedVoyce]

Damn straight Al... I took a wall out one time on a new construction moving some copper.... Early in my career and it scared me a bit. PEX was cool.. but the tools are hella expensive. I had to get certified in AZ to install it for Del Webb and a couple others that were switching over.

Coffee IV here too.... :coffee2:Looks like Rob was up early and he is raising another pole for the shop. Wish he would wait till I get out there,,, Much safer with two. Katy is getting ready for day care kids:|:

[Al Smith]

You don't certs for anything around here unless you change the drain system . Besides on my own house nobody is going to say a thing .;)

Two things to remember on drains. Chit flows down hill and payday is on Friday .:lol:

[CurSedVoyce]

You don't certs for anything around here unless you change the drain system . Besides on my own house nobody is going to say a thing .;)

Two things to remember on drains. Chit flows down hill and payday is on Friday .:lol:

And don't bite your finger nails... :lol::lol::lol:

We had to cert more because of the warranty they backed the product with would be my guess. Now here in CA it's a whole nutter story.. They cert people for PVC WTF?:what::roll:

[brendonv]

Off to slay a tree with a crane and a spider, site unseen.

We'll see how it goes, wish me luck.8)

[vharrison]

Both chippers went down yesterday, but both are back up and running today! Thank goodness!

[CurSedVoyce]

Pumping some coffee into my vitals... Had a friend of ours call yesterday that needs her weeds cut and a cord of wood.... Guess the guy she tried to help out that needed the work never showed:roll: Typical for around here.

[OTGBOSTON]

Took a mental health day today...for the wife:lol:

I'm watching the twins while she runs errands, then we're off to visit her dad for his b-day.

I can never truely get away from work though I spent about an hour on the phone trying to sort out a contractor/police misunderstanding fiasco...

[stehansen]

With twins, I'm thinking "those" days will be needed on a regular basis.

[Fiddler]

Rumination.......Thanks, all went well but very tiring.

PEX IS COOL, Did all my hot & cold in it (Drains PVC) after some one stole the copper when I was down south. I think the cost of the tools was covered by the savings in the materials, and they have fitting to hook the stuff to nearly anything you have that is existing.
Plumbed my entire (farm)house in two days, and I ain't no plummer!

[CurSedVoyce]

The stuff is amazing for re-pipes. I did a whole 2 bath house in a day once. Never even had to drill a hole as the place was piped in poly previously.. Just take out dry wall:evil:

[Skwerl]

It sucks but I have to work today. :(
I'm taking my truck in tomorrow to get that oil leak fixed and have a couple jobs booked for mid week, and this job needs to get done quickly so I agreed to work today. First time working a scheduled job on Sunday in years.

[MasterBlaster]

I love working sundays.

[Fiddler]

Seem to remember I worked most Sundays back when I was self employed.

Getting dragged up to brother in laws place on the lake for Wifes Fathers Birthday this afternoon. Great people but still wish I had some work to do to help me excuse myself.:/:

[CurSedVoyce]

Kids woke me up few times too many since (scratchin head) about 4 am. Pouring some more coffee. Resting up a bit is helping with the elbow and hip. Still sore and the elbow keeps popping which is a bit disconcerting. Kinda worked it a bit working on the 460 yesterday. Had to do a lot of starts :P

Good morning everyone:drink:

[Highclimber]

good morning today should be a good day. got 60 feet of trench to dig in clay and rock about 30 inches deep for my dads well system, good thing it hasn't rained in a month.:cry:

[sotc]

Don't cry

[sotc]

:P

[stehansen]

My Mom always told me that if I didn't do my homework I would end up digging ditches.:D

[Mr. Sir]

It sucks but I have to work today. :(
I'm taking my truck in tomorrow to get that oil leak fixed and have a couple jobs booked for mid week, and this job needs to get done quickly so I agreed to work today. First time working a scheduled job on Sunday in years.


I love working sundays.

At least there's less traffic.

I prefer to relax on the weekends. :drink:

[Al Smith]

Back when there was overtime to be worked I didn't mind Sundays .At double time rate I made nearly as much as a tree climber .:P:)

[cybergeek23851]

Back when there was overtime to be worked I didn't mind Sundays .At double time rate I made nearly as much as a tree climber .:P:)

I enjoyed double time on Sundays, too Al.

If I worked on Saturday, while on call, it was time and a half. If I worked Sunday after working on any calls on Saturday... :big-money:

[Paul B]

so far: 1 cup of coffee, 2 small fried eggs, 2 slices low salt bacon, one slice whole grain toast.
Look out world.
:P

[MasterBlaster]

Three bites of food and you're ready to go! :rockon:

[Mr. Sir]

All that overtime and such is fine if you're single, but husbands and fathers need to keep their priorities straight. As they say, you won't be lying on your deathbed wishing you had worked more; you'll be wishing you had spent more time with your family. ;)

[Al Smith]

I will admit that after literally years of working 7-10's or 12's this last 8 months of 40 hours is about like a vacation .

You do have to stop and smell the roses some times .:)

Besides it's so pleasant to sit on my patio,sip a cool drink and watch the humming birds flit to and fro like little helocopters on steroids .With three feeders and Lady Che's daylillies there must be 50 of those little darlins at times .

[woodworkingboy]

All that overtime and such is fine if you're single, but husbands and fathers need to keep their priorities straight. As they say, you won't be lying on your deathbed wishing you had worked more; you'll be wishing you had spent more time with your family. ;)

I don't think that I'll be wishing that I worked more, but probably not wishing that I worked less. So what if the neighbors think I'm crazy, at least they wave as I go by.

Usually I don't know what day of the week it is.

[CurSedVoyce]

I would not know what day of the week it is unless I write a check for something .. LMAO

[MasterBlaster]

Ha!

[Fiddler]

I remember those days. used to be about 7 14s was a regular week. 8hr on Sunday was a treat.

[sotc]

I remember working 6 and 7 12s in Alaska, one winter we cut back to 5 10s and I went and got 2 part time jobs! 1 rebuilding heads for a diesel mechanic and the other was light mechanicing for a log truck outfit:dur:

[brendonv]

Off to do a dead twin stem oak in a very crappy location. Bleh, not really looking forward to it but bringing and extra hand.

[woodworkingboy]

With all the woodwork jobs coming my way in California, 100 plus hour work weeks were not uncommon. I was getting rich, but not rich enough to afford a house, and my wife wanted to leave me because I was never home. Such a fool as I......

[Fiddler]

Waiting for it to stop raining, then I'll take out the Cherry that fell next door and another thats probably going to fall in near future. Rest of the day is set aside for studying for CA test I'm taking next week.


Been looking around a bit for other employment opportunities. Nothing serious yet, but if I end up getting certified I will definitely be in the market for a larger paycheck.

Found out yesterday the utility we work for has cut $. We are three crews down from a couple weeks ago and they are talking lay-offs or sending some of us out of state to other contracts.

got shorted on my check for almost all the storm time I put in last week, so things are pretty tight as we paid some extra bills ahead of time, plus bought new tires for the jeep. Waiting for check stub to show in mail so I can start figuring this out.

[CurSedVoyce]

Dang Fiddler... I hope you get it all worked out. Been sounding like you do need a change though from your posts.

Trying to wake up...:drink:

[Skwerl]

Best of luck, Dave. There's practically no future for a line clearance tree trimmer. Gotta either move up to supervisor or go into private work.

[stehansen]

Morning everyone. Is your company helping you get your CA Dave?

[Fiddler]

Going to wait on having my own company 'till wife gets out of school and gets job. With the economy the way it is it will be nice to have the back-up.

Been making a few good connections with folks in the business around here lately. Been told by more than one they wanted to hire me but had people laid off right now.

Thinking of taking on a little side work, to lay the foundation, should I want to make the self employment move again.

Have been looking into the "safety supervisor" area of line clearance, but most positions require time as a GF which is a job I never want (have turned it down once already)
also looking into forestry dept. for the utilities.

It will all work out in the end and i'm not really worried about not having a job, just don't like going away from home for what little $ I make for this co.

[Fiddler]

stehansen.......Nope, doing it on my own.

[CurSedVoyce]

Looks like I forgot to pick up a can of gas for the splitter yesterday:|: Soooooo Off to town I go.... Sometimes I feel like I would forget my head if it weren't attached. :|: