Fence Posts Are In! New Gravel

It's been so stinkin' hot lately that work at the prop has slowed to a crawl.  One project I've been putting off, due to the heat, was burning some of my brush piles.

I had a pile of bulldozed cedars by the camping area that has been bugging me all summer.  Last Saturday, despite the 90 degree weather, I decided to burn it.  That was probably a mistake since I just about gave myself a heat stroke, but it was worth it get the pile burned down a bit.

Here's a before shot.  I was so tired after that I forgot to take an after shot.

From 2015-07-15

Even though it was so hot, I made a push to get all the fence posts in.  I kept hoping the fence line would get less rocky as we approached the end.

From 2015-07-15

No such luck.  It was basically solid limestone the rest of the way.  The white power to left of the jack hammer is the rock I pulverized in the post hole.

From 2015-07-15

Eureka, the end!   I finally made it to the end of the fence line. Now I just need to put up the slats and put some sealer on it and it will be done.

Once I've recovered financially and physically, I'll start on the other side of the gate in the upper right corner of the picture below.

From 2015-07-15

Here's another view of all the posts I put in.  By the end I was averaging about 4 posts a night.  Not too bad for one old guy, a manual post hole digger, and solid rock.

From 2015-07-15

My other project is preparing for getting a barn built.  Step one was leveling the area.  Step two is putting some gravel in while a big truck can still get back there.

From 2015-07-15

Here's the truck trying to make the corner.  It's always such a happy day to see the gravel get put down.  It makes everything look so much more civilized.

From 2015-07-15

Now to push it out a little thinner with the bulldozer.

From 2015-07-15

Building Longer Fences

The new fence continues to grow longer.  It's been a tough slog though, due to solid rock along most of the fence line and working in 90+ degree weather.

From 2015-07-06

Most of time we get in about 3 posts before exhaustion sets in.  However, on Saturday we set a new record and got 5in .  Seth and I were pretty wiped out after that though.

From 2015-07-06

As I plot the course of the fence line, I've been trying to figure out how to get it to follow the terrain but still look level.

I played with using a level, but then you risk big gaps between the ground and the bottom row.  However, the ground isn't that level, so if you measure up from the ground you get a lot of variation as well.

There's probably a really good, easy technique for doing this, but so far, the best I've figured out is a hybrid approach.

I get  a rough measurement from the ground to the bottom row then level it but make adjustments for gaps between each row.  Then I eyeball it and if it looks good, I lock it in.

From 2015-07-06

I think it's worked pretty well so far.  I'll probably figure out the pros do it about the time I'm on the last section like usual.

From 2015-07-06

The new winter pen is also coming along well.  I've got the gate sections in and have been working on crossbars and wire supports.

It's kind of tedious so I haven't been moving as fast on this as I have on the front fence.

From 2015-07-06

We also had a nice summer storm last week that filled the pond as full as it's ever been.  All of that in one big storm.

From 2015-07-06

The bees have been enjoying the summer heat.  Here they are hanging out on the front porch, trying to cool off.

From 2015-07-06

Buidling Fences

They say a strong fences make good neighbors.  Well, after all the work I've done on fences the last couple weeks, we ought to be the best neighbors around.

The first fence project is squaring up and enlarging our original winter goat pen.  When we first put it in, we just kind of followed the road and nailed the field fence to trees.  It worked well enough but it wasted a lot of space and trees aren't the best thing to nail to.

From 2015-06-23

This time we're doing it right by putting braces every 20 yards.  It ought to make it a lot easier than putting cedar posts every 6 feet.

From 2015-06-23

Here's one side of the new gate.  Ready for fence!

From 2015-06-23

We're also putting up a more decorative fence up along the road.  I've been sick of how mangy things looked with all the splindly little cedars growing.  I could never cut them down though because it would leave a big opening into the prop for trespassers to stroll right in.

From 2015-06-23

My solution was to just start adding on to existing gate section and take it down the road one section at a time.  We put in two or three posts, let the cement set, then come in a couple days later and do the slats, then repeat the process.

From 2015-06-23

Out other project, the bridge, has been on hold.  I've been overloaded with the fences and have a few technical difficulties to think through, so it'll stay on hold until I get those resolved.

From 2015-06-23

Beeswax Candles

It's taken a while to get around to it but we finally started doing something with the beeswax ingots we've collected.

Sarah was feeling crafty and decided to make some candles.

Step 1.  Weigh out some beeswax and palm oil.  The palm oil helps smooth it out and keep it from cracking.

From 2015-06-23

Sarah learned the hard way that using the nice glass measuring cup is not a great thing to melt the wax in.  Cleaning it afterward was tough.

From 2015-06-23

After melting the wax, the next step is coat the wicks.

From 2015-06-23

Once the beeswax is melted, add some palm oil and mix together.  Melting in the palm oil makes for a nice smooth consistency and pretty, creamy color.

From 2015-06-23

Stand the wicks up.  We decided to use these cute, custom mason jars instead of molds mainly because we don't have any molds.  We also liked trying something different.

From 2015-06-23

Once the wax is poured, tie the wicks up so they are straight.

From 2015-06-23

Let them cool over night.

From 2015-06-23

Viola!  A nice beeswax candle.

From 2015-06-23

Nectar Flow Update

The nectar season has been strange this year. Some beekeepers in the area have reported it being great.  My experience has not been as good.  I think the problem has been the unusual wet weather which has suppressed the blooms of a lot of forest flowers we usually see.

The honey pattern is looking promising in this early season inspection.

From 2015-06-09

We're getting a lot of burr comb because of having some shallow frames in a medium super.  I'm not sure how I ended up doing that.

From 2015-06-09

Another shot of frame being filled.

From 2015-06-09

Look at that honey dripping off the frame.  It tasted pretty good I have to say.

From 2015-06-09

The population is starting to grow.  I was worried about swarming but we seemed to have dodged it this year. Knock on wood.

From 2015-06-09

The brood pattern seems kind of spotty but there are a lot of larvae and eggs, so I guess we're doing OK for now.

From 2015-06-09

A tighter shot of the larvae.

From 2015-06-09

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Forest Creatures XI

Some great game cam footage of some fawns playing around in the forest

Forest Creatures X

Lot's of good summertime footage of various forest creatures. We got a great shot of a coyote as well as a bobcat. The loose dogs continue to bedevil us as well. They look too healthy to be strays, but I can't imagine someone letting a pack this big run loose.