And so it begins......

 Hello everyone,

Yep the wood stockpiling has begun in earnest.

We had quite a bit already cut into chunks in the woods from last year. Got all of that split and mostly stacked. Had a couple of big limbs come down, I need to cut them in to chunks and split those. Also there are two 100’ trees in the back that area so bent that they need to be taken down before they fall down! I’ll tackle those this week, maybe.

Got a pile of mulch delivered while we were gone and it needs to be spread out before they end up bringing more. 

Managed to get some more tools and supplies put away and swept up the shop. It’s so nice to be able to keep it relatively clean. Never really had that before!

Well, this week is starting to shape up into another week of logging but, we’re going to take a little mini break at the end of the week and go south for the day to look at the fall colors, maybe take a hike in the woods and stop at one our favorite eating spots and pick up a picnic lunch.

Well I think that’s all for now.

Talk to you soon.

TVI

Home and back to work

 Hello everyone,

Well the trip home was uneventful. Got up this morning and trimmed the pliers holder rack down to fit the drawer and filled it full of pliers.

Don’t know why I can never get the spacing right but, oh well.

As far as the coffee goes it’s excellent, I ground the beans for the pecan flavored beans and made a pot this morning and it was really good. I might just order some more when the time comes!

I received the new compressor motor, but I’m not ready for that project just yet. Checked the saw chains I ordered and they are the correct chains, so I’ll probably start that tomorrow.

Well, I think that’s it for now.

Talk to you soon.

TVI

Relaxing time and heading home

 Hello everyone,

Well, my vacation is almost over and it has been wonderful! Very relaxing, some great conversations, met some (hopefully) new friends, made stronger bonds with some older friends. Had some great food, my personal favorite part! 

I had never been to Hilton Head Island before. Been close a few times. Could never afford to live there full time but a nice place to visit.

Before I left I ordered some new saw chains for both saws and a rack for the new tool box to hold pliers. They’re supposed to have been delivered along with some coffee I ordered from a place called “ Gearhead Coffee”.  I’ll give you all a report, good or bad.

The new agenda gets busier when I finally get home. I beat my house with wood using a wood fired boiler.  This year I have to drain it and change the anode rod and put new chemicals in the water to stop it from rusting. The problem there is I went to do it last year and when I borrowed the pump from one of the guys in the wood burner group, it was a mess! So I have it back to him. Well, turns out he never got it fixed, so, when I get home that’ll be the first project!! Then, it’s time to start cutting wood.

So, I think that’s it for now.

                                         Talk to you soon, 

                                                   TVI

Party’s over, time to enjoy!

 Hello everyone,

Well, survived the party, what a great time! Lot’s of old friends, lots of partying, and great music!

The band that played was Heartsfield, a band from the 70’s that my wife and I really enjoy. They played in our backyard last year and we got them back for my party. We’ve become friends with the guys so it was a blast!

I’ve slowly gotten a few things ready for my”assault” on retiring! I finished up the old tool box and picked up the top half of my new one. I managed to pick up some socket, wrench, and screw driver holders, so I might have an actual organized box!

My sons pitched in an bought a Caterpillar wall clock with neon!! It’s pretty cool! I’ve already got it up on the wall and working!

My wife and I are going to relax for a few days, and take a little road trip. It’ll be nice to get away for a few days. I’ll post some pictures of the trip when we come back, and a few pictures of the party when my oldest son gets us the pictures.

Well, I think that’s it for now.

                             Talk to you soon,

                                         TVI

FIRST WEEK COMPLETE

 Hello everyone, 

Well, the first week of retirement is in the books and so far, it’s pretty cool.

Still doing things around the house preparing for the part. Burnt a big pile of limbs and stuff up, 

got some of the junk from my work truck stashed around so the shop looks better. Cleaned up and painted my old shop tool box. It was an old parts cabinet from the Cat dealer I worked at. Now from across the room at least it’ll kind of match my new boxes. I put another coat on after the picture, maybe tomorrow I’ll put the handles back on. It’s going to hold my bigger stuff and the overflow from the truck.

Well, I think that’s it for now.

                              Talk to you soon,

                                          TVI

HOW ABOUT THAT!

 HELLO EVERYONE,

I just discovered that I can do this on my phone! Who would have thought!

Well, the first day of retirement, so far anyway, feels like a Saturday. So I have to wait until Thursday, when I would normally be going back to work, to see if it feels any differently.

We’ll see, that’s about it for now.

                                 Talk to you soon,

                                          TVI

              

WELL, A LOVELY PARTING GIFT!

HELLO EVERYONE,

IT TURNS OUT THAT, WITH THE NEW INFORMATION FROM THE HR DEPARTMENT, THAT I HAVE TO HAVE MY VACATION ALL USED UP BEFORE THE 30TH. THAT MEANS IT HAS TO BE USED UP BY THE 29TH. SO INSTEAD OF TOMORROW BEING MY LAST DAY, IT'S TODAY!! WOOOOO HOOOOO!

I MANAGED TO GET THE TRUCK UNLOADED ON FRIDAY AND ALL SET AROUND IN THE SHOP. STILL DON'T HAVE MY NEW TOP BOX, AND, AS I WAS GOING THROUGH THINGS THERE IS A LOT TO PART WAYS WITH. I SOLD ALL MY 3/4" DRIVE AND UP STUFF TO ONE OF THE YOUNG GUYS AT WORK, THE REST WILL HAVE TO BE SORTED OUT AS I PUT THINGS AWAY. 

SOMETIMES IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT I'VE SPENT 48 YEARS OF MY LIFE WORKING ON HEAVY EQUIPMENT. IT'S BEEN A GREAT JOB, ALWAYS MADE GOOD MONEY, LEARNED A LOT, MADE A LOT OF GOOD FRIENDS, DIDN'T INJURE MYSELF TO THE POINT OF SURGERY. ALL IN ALL PRETTY SUCCESSFUL.

THIS MAY BE THE LAST POST FOR AWHILE AS I GET SETTLED IN TO THE NEW RETIRED GIG, AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THIS FROM HOME INSTEAD OF THE WORK LAPTOP. STILL, I INTEND TO KEEP DOING THIS EVEN IF NO ONE IS READING IT. MOSTLY JUST FOR MY OWN SANITY!!

WELL, I THINK THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

                                                      TALK TO YOU SOON,

                                                                       TVI