Our version of retirement: Living a childhood dream

[IKE]

Never would have thought about doing that, pretty slick idea Gary......I use those on my outside faucets.

 

[Gary O']

I use those on my outside faucets.

Yeah, that's what they're designed for

Heh, you know how it is.......improvise

 

[Gary O']

it's a bit trickier without a door, so added a flat and eye bolt wood screw to the chained gate lock

 

[Meanderer]

"My advise, Sir....get de-icer!"

"Pour some hand sanitizer onto the key and try to insert as much hand sanitizer into the lock as possible. Insert the key and unlock the padlock. If the padlock remains frozen, repeat the steps. Hand sanitizer contains alcohol, which can melt the ice. Only in high concentrations alcohol can burn, however the intensity used in hand sanitizers is not high enough to burn, but enough to assist in thawing."

 

[JimW]

When living on the left side of the Cascade Range, snuggled deep into the Willamette (well-I’m-wet) valley, I used to scoff at the term ‘wind chill’.
Thought anybody considering a little wind was a pansy.

Heh, after a few winters here, my tack has changed a bit.
Anything under 20° F, a slight breeze will cut yer face off.

It got down to -37° F one winter.
Then the winds came.

Life…and keeping it, became interesting.

The valley gets more than its share of rain.

We get more than our share of sun…and snow.

It’s a bit of a tradeoff.
So far, I think I have the better deal.

out the cabin window where I sit (winter before last);

This pic needs to be on a wall somewhere, or many walls. Sheer beauty!!

 

[Gary O']

This pic needs to be on a wall somewhere, or many walls. Sheer beauty!!

thanks, pard

good to see you back

 

[Gary O']

"My advise, Sir....get de-icer!"

"Pour some hand sanitizer onto the key and try to insert as much hand sanitizer into the lock as possible. Insert the key and unlock the padlock. If the padlock remains frozen, repeat the steps. Hand sanitizer contains alcohol, which can melt the ice. Only in high concentrations alcohol can burn, however the intensity used in hand sanitizers is not high enough to burn, but enough to assist in thawing."

Tried ‘em all
Anything that has the potential to melt ice or keep ice out
Very frustrating when the rig is finally warmed up, yet the gate remains closed
While the padlock, with its wee little key slot, grins its icy grin

Covers

The only remedy I’ve found

 

[JimW]

thanks, pard

good to see you back

:cheers:

 

[Gary O']

This pic needs to be on a wall somewhere, or many walls. Sheer beauty!!

Sir Jim, that’s what we see from our cabin window

When I built the cabin, I just wanted light, not realizing the vista

Other than seeing wolves, bear, and deer, from where I sit, typing, that little mountain, guarding the marsh, and begrudgingly permitting ol’ sol to rise, has begot many a view

It has greatly enlarged our tiny living area

 

[JimW]

Gary, that view alone makes working your whole life to get there worth every minute! Awesome pics my friend!

 

[RadishRose]

Talk about bringing the outdoors in! Thrilling views.

Gary, do you have fiberglass insulation behind your paneling?

 

[Gary O']

Gary, that view alone makes working your whole life to get there worth every minute!

Man, I can't argue with that

Awesome pics my friend!

Thanks, Pard, but I was just on the back end of the Nikon

That Creator guy knows his business

 

[Gary O']

Talk about bringing the outdoors in! Thrilling views.

Gary, do you have fiberglass insulation behind your paneling?

That’s not paneling, per se.

It’s T-111, a rather inexpensive common exterior siding, but non-grove.

Used it for two reasons; affordability, and more rough than paneling…more cabinesque .

Sadly, I discovered cedar fence boards were more to my liking, while finishing the breakfast nook

but not unhappy I didn’t use them in the same room as the wood stove…..

Our ‘insulation’ came by way of ceiling tiles from Craig’s list freebees
(hate working with fiberglass)

Moving along

As far as my fence board creations, turns out they’re a somewhat hot item.
Right after I pulled what was left from the downtown second hand store, folks began asking about them.

and gonna introduce the little cabinet I built on request (she was delighted with my ripped pine limb trim)

Even my actual crates, that I fashioned for our water conveyance, were asked about

So,

This winter I’ll bang out a few things, and see what happens.

If they take off, I’ll get all official and come up with some sorta business name

Something like Crate Expectations

Kinda catchy…or kitschy ….

 

[Meanderer]

"STOP da Music! It's almost time to get into the turkey's 'personal space'! Everybody wants to get into de ACT!"

 

[Gary O']

"STOP da Music! It's almost time to get into the turkey's 'personal space'! Everybody wants to get into de ACT!"

'Tis the truth

Y'know Jimmy's schnoz don't look all that big, there...maybe the turkey's is a bit offsetting

 

[Gary O']

Dunno
Never tasted it

The bear was put down about a mile away from us

A hunter family (with kids) got a bit edgy after Mr Bear’s constant twice daily visits

One guy had an unspent bear tag

It’s no longer unspent

350 lbs
That’s a lota bear

update;

The hunter guy that built a hunting cabin a mile west of us, sent me a pic of Mrs Bear’s last dance.
Yes, it was a sow.

Turns out, she officially weighted in at just under 400 lbs

That’s a lota black bear

 

[Meanderer]

 

[IKE]

update;



Turns out, she officially weighted in at just under 400 lbs

That’s a lota black bear

Correction my friend......that's a lota groceries !

 

[Gary O']

Correction my friend......that's a lota groceries !

correction accepted

...with gravy

 

[Meanderer]

Had a batch yesterday.....buttermilk! Man, they were good!

 

[Keesha]

Ewwwwwww! :yuk:

 

[Keesha]

While it’s not for me, I was surprised to learn that it’s not that uncommon and apparently tasty.


https://cooking.stackexchange.com/questions/55278/bear-in-a-crock-pot


https://www.google.ca/amp/s/article...an/2016/11/bear_recipes_abound_in_these_t.amp


http://amomssparetime.blogspot.com/2016/02/slow-cooker-bear-roast.html?m=1


https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/13438/big-bear-stew/

 

[Gary O']

So, in a week, my lady is going under the knife

She’s been a trouper

Walking 5 miles or more a day

Eating rabbit food

I’m still grabbing the heavy chores from her skinny arms

Now weighs a scrawny 140 lbs

Told her, ‘woman, I consider those thighs and hind end as my property, we gotta talk if yer gonna whittle any more on ‘em’

Havin’ a hard time groping for something to hang onto as it is

I’ll take her any way I can get her, but if I have a choice, not so friggin’ lean, more ribeye like


I’m hoping thanksgiving will turn the tide a bit

Not being possessive

We are one

We’ve been one for nigh onto fifty years

Tending to each other, putting up with each other, laughing with and at each other

Caring……for each other

She’s just so damn hardheaded

But that hardheadedness brought us to this place

That hardheadedness stood beside me, board by board, lifting, holding, carrying, feeding, cleaning, loving….

She is my reason

I just don’t want her to blow away

 

[Gary O']

Had to cancel T day with our other off gridders, and take a bonsai dash north, 250 mi up to Portland.
Our grandson went on army leave and landed at PDX Wednesday.

Took everbod to dinner, crashed at my brother’s place, and while there, strolled thru his 25 acres of hazel nut orchard.
Quite the view he’s got from his living room…and kitchen….and bedroom (I hate him more, now)

Stopped on the way back and got off a couple shots
The dusted firs weren’t a bad setting for Diamond Peak.

Took the Jeep (snow predicted thru the pass)

Glad we did.
Was icy at the summit on the way back.
Not bad, though.
Just broke the tires a couple times on the way down, so put it in 4wd for a mile or so.

Got a foot of snow at the cabin
Heh, a very cold cabin
Didn’t take long to fire up the wood stove

Glad to be home

 

[SeaBreeze]

Gary, I hope your wife's surgery goes well and no complications. Kudos to her for keeping so healthy, I don't think I'll every see 140 again. Nice picture of you with your grandson, he's a handsome young man. The scenic photos are beautiful!