The usual suspects continue to walk/run/fly by, which is why it has taken so long to post this. Here are some of the highlights.
The turkeys seem to be everywhere this year, but I can never get this close. They are something to see.
Join me as I attempt to build my very own little cabin in the woods.
The usual suspects continue to walk/run/fly by, which is why it has taken so long to post this. Here are some of the highlights.
The turkeys seem to be everywhere this year, but I can never get this close. They are something to see.
As always the squirrels, turkey, bunnies, raccoons, fox, and deer filled the photo card of the crittercam - here are some of the highlights.
This time the batteries didn't die, so I had 400 images to thin out. I didn't include the bunnies, the raccoons, the grey squirrels, the red squirrels, the majority of the deer photos - yes, they are cute as a button but they walked by twice a day, every day.
Wait - I have to care for these decks?!
It's been ten years since I installed these (this may be the best reason to have this blog - I can check dates!) and they clearly are in need of TLC. It's dark and wet around the cabin so the decks are now slippery when wet. :)
Onc Cup of vinegar to a gallon of water, a scrub brush, and a bunch of scrubbing gets me from here...
The cabin has been standing for 10 years, and the rains in the Northeast have only increased, so I thought I would add a roof over the deck. The deck originally had a 10 by 10 tent that would cover a section, but it was a bother to put up and take down.
This portion of the deck is 10 by 16.
The first step was to attach a 16' 2 by 10 to the cabin. According to span tables I saw, the 12' attached to the cabin would allow a 4' span to float over the deck. This is super convenient because it allows me to omit a center joist in the most high-traffic spot.
The rafters slipped in nice and easy although 12' 2 by 6 is a bit weighty. Cutting birdsmouth for the rafters still doesn't come naturally to me, but I finally did figure it out by the fourth try. My friends were right - the stud wall is now well anchored.
Next up was running strapping for the roofing - I'm just doing translucent plastic roofing for now, but the framing is strong enough to hold an actual plywood and metal roof.
Doesn't disappoint!
I know there are far too many deer in the Catskills, but my heart melted at this series of video's captured. I know little of the maturation rate of deer, but this felt like we could watch a deer making its first steps to practicing running laps with its mom watching - all within a week.
Not a lot to say...
Critter cam for the summer of 2020 showed flying squirrel, red squirrel, grey squirrel... bunny, fox, raccoon... a weasel so fast I could only see its tail...a pair of birds pre-dawn so black and white, walking along the path... ruffed grouse maybe? no deer!
The first summer of COVID is coming to a close, sigh. Happy to have land where no one is.
Just got Picture This app; not sure that it's 100% right all the time, but fun little toy. After an hour or so it IDed about 100 different plants.
Cut down 4 or 5 dead ash trees, solid wood for the fire. Went to save 10' straight logs for milling, but they all began to split.
Y'all stay well.
Dreaded House Cat |
Peter Cottontail! |
Hop |
Hop! |
If no one can help, I will make something up. Pterodactyl? Snowy Owl? Bald Eagle? |