The view from the outhouse
Friday December 3, 2021
Good morning friends, from Silty Slough.
11 below at 8 this morning when the boys wanted to go out. Happy that there is no wind. It cooled off a bit more and was 13 below when the sun rose at 10:05. Sunset is at 3:45. That’s 5 hours 40 minutes of daylight. Only 18 days until the earth starts turning the other direction and the days get longer. You can tell these stupid Biden supporters anything and they will believe it. Still very little snow. That’s a good thing if you are trying to work outside. Not so good if you want to travel more than a couple miles on a snowmachine. We seem to be using more propane than last winter. Then I finally figured it out. Last winter we had two or more feet of snow on the roof and several feet around the cabin to hold the heat. Mother Nature’s warm blanket.
Over the weekend I used AutoCAD to get the drawings made for the greenhouse. I already had a rough pencil and paper sketch. With my laptop I was able to make a detailed drawing and calculate the lengths and angles of each piece we needed for the framing. This was helpful since we didn’t have a big flat surface to draw everything out on and build the angled end walls. Time to print everything out on paper. The black inkjet cartridge had dried up. We had a spare but it was color. Finally got the drawings switched to blue and printed them out with blue ink. I will call these the blueprints instead of plans. I was happy it was too cold to work Monday,13 below. I needed the extra day to get all the blue prints finished.
Tuesday November 30
Roger and Corey slid up the slough on their snow machines arriving before 10am. It’s 15 degrees and later it warmed on up to above 20. I already had some 2 x 8s milled. They took them back to the mill to make into 2 x 4s for the walls. Too much time and trouble to start with logs. We cut the pieces and started framing. Everything fit up pretty good and we had three walls up by quitting time at 4 o’clock. Kari had chicken and noodles for our quick lunch along with hot chocolate.
Wednesday December 1
The weather was pretty good, not as warm as yesterday and cooled off as the wind picked up at the end of the day. We got about 3” of fluffy snow overnight, so Cory brought his leaf blower to clear things off. Works pretty good. Roger and Corey built the center and front wall while I cut the 2 x 8 rafters for the back. Moose chili for the lunch special today, with drink and dessert for $8.95. Tip not included. After lunch we got some sheeting on the walls. Roger cut out a window in the west wall while Corey and I set the rafters on the back. Kari is sewing Christmas presents in her spare time and needs money for more fabric.
Thursday December 2
10 degrees this morning and windy when the guys arrived. We put up more sheeting. Cory and I cut and put up the front rafters while Roger worked on the purlins on the back. We dug the plastic sheets for the front out of storage but it is too late to get that started. Roger installed the window in the opening he made yesterday and it was time to call it a day. Pretty nice job for 3 partial days in the wind and cold, if I do say so myself. I can taste the “tomaders” already.
Friday December 3
It is too cold to work today. Forecast is to warm a little tomorrow then warming on up to 19 and beginning to snow on Sunday. We need a couple more days to get things really shaped up on the greenhouse. So far all the wood except the treated lumber for the base and the OSB sheeting. Is grown and milled right here on the property.
I didn’t expect to get any of this done this year. It will be a real bonus to start growing some vegetables in the spring.
Roger called to let us know he and Corey were going to the post office. Kari tried to convince them to stop for the fish taco lunch special but they weren’t interested. Now she will be really short on fabric money. I guess I’ll have to start her a go fund me page. Since she doesn’t have any lunch customers the fish tacos are canceled. I guess it is leftovers for me. So much for the go fund me page.
Couldn’t think of anything to good to say about Brandon and the Ho, so I won’t say anything.
9 below at 3pm, suppose I should wrap this up and go out and check the propane supply.
Stay safe and healthy my friends, and stay out of Walmart. Buy local.
Thank you Lord for keeping us healthy.
I’ll be in touch.
Blue skies!!!
The View from the Outhouse 