Chain saw day, we had three large trees near the house taken down by pro's because they were too near the house for me. I had them leave the trees where they fell, saved a bunch by cleaning up my self. One had a huge rot up the center, glad that one is gone; if it fell the porch and propane tank were in the natural fall path. Now, I and my trusty Stihl are going to work, slowly and steadily. Gallons of alcohol free gas, Startron, some synthetic 2-stroke oil, safety glasses and ear protection and two spare chains so if I am going good then I always have a sharp chain. I love this kind of stuff, makes me feel like fifty-four instead of seventy-four. Mrs CMD will be nervously standing watch to make sure that if I hurt myself, help is on the way.
Good luck CMD. Pace yourself. Take lots of breaks (more breaks than work). Them logs are heavy.
When you're done, head this way. I have a 100-foot+ poplar I need to take down. Bring your Stihl too.
I do go slow, after the devastating ice storm of a few years back, it was overwhelming. In order to keep my mind right, I looked at one twenty foot square, did it and then looked at another. Rarely did I look at the whole mess.
I would love to fell a 100 foot tree. I had one near that height that was lining the drive way, swaying in the breeze. I popped that baby down perfect, right angle, missed everything, right where I wanted it - it was great. I was healthier then, I did it when Mrs CMD was gone, before she was back, I had the driveway cleared off, I felt twenty.
I took a walk back in the woods a few weeks back and found the tree where that Pileated woodpecker lives. You can always hear him jackhammering away back there. It echoes through the woods. It's an old tree where the top half snapped off some years ago so it's just a straight trunk going up about 50 feet or so. There must be two dozen woodpecker holes in that thing. All the woodies live there. Maybe I'll just let this poplar become a Woody motel too except those woodpeckers are a pain in the azz.
We have some pileated wood peckers here, man, they are big and do sound like a jackhammer. I like to see them anywhere except on the deck looking for bugs. We have had an infestation wood borers with their little circular holes and I have found no cure but the woodpeckers love them and the deck shows the wear.
Those are carpenter bees. And yes, the Woddies love going after them. The bee drills a hole in the wood a couple inches in then take a 90 degree turn and drill another six inches and lay their eggs. When they turn to larvae the Woodies go in after them. Their preferred method is to jackhammer a channel in the wood the length of the tunnel. It leaves a big gash in your woodwork. Bastiches!!
Best way to stop the carpenter bees is to make sure you have no unpainted surfaces. They wont drill in a painted surface. Works fine on a painted house but a bare deck is a different story. Best thing to do there is find the holes and plug 'em with something. The bees are most active in the Spring. You should probably do a hole patrol two or three times a week. Or, you could stain your deck too. Perhaps the clear water seal would work as well but I would research that first. I have a colored stain on my deck (was that way when I bought the house).
Staining the deck is a no go for me, I am scared of heights and the deck is elevated on floor and screened. To do it, I'd have to either take down the screens or get on a ladder - 1. too lazy, 2, too chicken.
Next best strategy is learn to like the holes.
can't like 'em, join 'em - I am getting out my drill
We saw a roadrunner on an adjacent roof yesterday morning. They make me giggle when they trot along and not just because of the cartoon. Then I read up on what they eat and I’m even happier that there are roadrunners ‘round here.
Well I had a very informative visit with my surgeon. She had time to review my images and biopsies and feels she is still able to perform lumpectomies. She did not agree that the mastectomy was the only choice (although still a viable and reasonable option). She met with her radiologist and they think I’m an excellent candidate for pinpoint radiation post lumpectomy (I’ll have numerous little catheters places into both breasts that will deliver the radiation directly into the breast (5 days in a row, 2 x a day, scheduled 6 hours apart). I meet with the plastic surgeon on Thursday, since there will be large amounts of tissue removed, I’ll need him to make the best of what’s left behind. We can also discuss reconstruction if I opt for the mastectomy. We won’t know for certain if it’s in the lymph nodes till after the biopsy during surgery, but she’s feeling 80% comfortable that it’s not. So that is hopeful for no chemo. Also my genetic testing came back negative and that’s a good thing.
Feeling a lot better. Although I wish I didn’t have to have any of this, it appears as though I caught it nice and early, and all will be well eventually.
Feeling a lot better. Although I wish I didn’t have to have any of this, it appears as though I caught it nice and early, and all will be well eventually.
I haven't seen a pileated woodpecker or a roadrunner in decades here. We used to see a lot of them. Our beautiful landscapes have been taken down for the population influx. There used to be woods everywhere, even in the towns. I miss that!
Sunny, that sounds like good news. Thanks for the update!
Sunny, that sounds like good news. Thanks for the update!
Much better news April! I went that route and have had no problems since. My mum had a single mastectomy and has had long term side effects including lymphodema and nerve damage in the arm on that side. Praying for you the biopsies come back negative.
The studies that are out now say that breast conservation surgery and mastectomy has the same outcome. Also, you can still develop cancer on the chest wall. The mastectomy was freaking me out, but you know how it is, they never really know till they get in there and send everything out. I’m still back and forth but I think it’s reasonable to start small. I’ll see how I feel next week. I asked the surgeon to tell me what to do and she said she can’t , it’s my body and I get to decide what happens to it. I really appreciate that, but at the same time I’d like someone to decide for me
What a time to be alive! That sounds so much better than a couple days ago, best to you and I am glad you found that surgeon.
There is a part of me that can not help but wonder how much having many more women in medicine, especially the surgical suite, has spurred the advancement in this field. As odd as this may sound and I hope my words convey what I mean, this is a good time for you to go through this, if you have to, this is so much better than the past - essentially one choice.
The studies that are out now say that breast conservation surgery and mastectomy has the same outcome. Also, you can still develop cancer on the chest wall. The mastectomy was freaking me out, but you know how it is, they never really know till they get in there and send everything out. I’m still back and forth but I think it’s reasonable to start small. I’ll see how I feel next week. I asked the surgeon to tell me what to do and she said she can’t , it’s my body and I get to decide what happens to it. I really appreciate that, but at the same time I’d like someone to decide for me
Last edited:
On a less positive note, I am getting old and decrepit. My time with the chain saw was fun and invigorating. However, my body had to quit before my mind was ready. (I think I am much younger and far more handsome than I am.) But I got a lot of limbing done and some wood cut to fireplace size. I have more to do there.
Man, those were two big trees, getting those trunks cut is going to require some thought - time for that younger mind to take over. I am thinking that I make a slit cut down the center of about ten feet of trunk maybe 1/3 to 1/2 deep into the trunk. Those trunks are wider than my chain saw bar is long. THEN, I will pound a wedge into the slit cut and split the thing to a manageable size. As I continue to whittle down the upper branches and get them out of the way I'll keep thinking on this.
General, any thoughts?
Man, those were two big trees, getting those trunks cut is going to require some thought - time for that younger mind to take over. I am thinking that I make a slit cut down the center of about ten feet of trunk maybe 1/3 to 1/2 deep into the trunk. Those trunks are wider than my chain saw bar is long. THEN, I will pound a wedge into the slit cut and split the thing to a manageable size. As I continue to whittle down the upper branches and get them out of the way I'll keep thinking on this.
General, any thoughts?
Last edited:
Them carpenter bees drill a more perfect circle than a drill bit. No kidding.
I know you don't mean it. But you will make the best decision for you. There are some women who place less emphasis than others on a working, non-essential piece of their anatomy than others for a whole host of reasons. I suspect everyone is different and there's no way anyone can decide for you. Whatever you choose, it will be best for you and once you make your choice DON'T LOOK BACK!!!I really appreciate that, but at the same time I’d like someone to decide for me
Is the trunk more than twice the width of your bar? What kind of tree is it? And was it a living tree or was it dead for awhile?
Splitting a tree lengthwise with the grain (which is what I think you're saying) can be grueling and unpredictable (where it will split). And the kind of tree it is (density) and how dead/dry it is factor heavily on how grueling. Another option: Rent/borrow a big honker, Paul Bunyan, manly man chainsaw for a couple hours just for those pieces too fat for your wimpy saw.
Splitting wood for the fireplace is a whole lot easier if they've been dried out for a year or five. Unless you have a hydraulic splitter then it doesn't matter.
Is the trunk more than twice the width of your bar? What kind of tree is it? And was it a living tree or was it dead for awhile?
Splitting a tree lengthwise with the grain (which is what I think you're saying) can be grueling and unpredictable (where it will split). And the kind of tree it is (density) and how dead/dry it is factor heavily on how grueling. Another option: Rent/borrow a big honker, Paul Bunyan, manly man chainsaw for a couple hours just for those pieces too fat for your wimpy saw.
Splitting wood for the fireplace is a whole lot easier if they've been dried out for a year or five. Unless you have a hydraulic splitter then it doesn't matter.
Both trees were alive, Maple and they are wet inside. I will need the spare sharp chains. The trunk is about a third larger than my bar. I had not thought of renting a large one, Oh Boy, I can see Mrs CMD's face when I drive down the hill and pull that baby out of the bed. I'll raise it over my head and holler, "Beer, Woman!"
Similar threads
- Locked
- Locked
- Locked
