American Logger finally out of the barn !

American Logger has finally made his debut !  Out from the dark corner of the barn he is going to be placed on his perch to look over his kingdom. (Those are my mom's words)

Last year Jim poured a pad for the fella to sit properly and evenly.  Just a few shims to keep him in his place.

Doesn't he look AWESOME !  If you would like to see the process of how he came to be...look on the right and click on 2009 and then December.  It was really interesting to watch the chainsaw carver, Rick Pratt use his muse. 

Just for some color...enjoy !

Next Project and a few special somethin's :)

Ok, so Jim is at it again.  Another wonderful summer project underway.  He is beginning to clear and tear up the ground to prepare for his fabric barn.  He puts the many talents of Johnny Deere to use while Daisy Dozer looks on with jealous desire.  LOL

 This photo is a bit dark, that is due to the fact that he works whenever he can get out of his office...which means, yes, even dusk.

The frame is finished and we put down the rebar with a strict pattern and design, darn those structural engineers.  LOL  I guess this slab will last at least one hundred years or so.  Also, if you noticed I said "we" put down the rebar...isn't that the way everyone celebrates Fourth of July?  Well, I would say I got the better end of the deal as we stopped at my folks after a wedding this weekend and the fellas were up in the barn stacking bales of hay.  Folks, you wanna talk about work?  Baling hay has got to be ONE the WORST summer jobs around...been there, done that, no thank you.  Those that do it...you ROCK.

 

Jim got the fun job of tying the rebar with individual pieces of wire and twisting each one.  Yuck.  Well, I can say the he had clean sheets from the clothes line outdoors, wonderful meals, clean work clothes and a sassy wife put up with.  LOL

Here we go, all set for the pour next week. WHEW !

My mom and our daughter Sarah celebrated their birthday, Happy Birthday to you'ssss.   It was a lovely day with family and friends to help join in the fun.  PS Sarah is having another BOY!  Due date TBD.  I cannot wait to meet the little fella and Peter is excited too.

A single rose can be my garden... a single friend, my world. ~Leo Buscaglia   We planted a few rose bushes this summer and I LOVE LOVE LOVE this bush.  The have the most amazing scent.

Ok, soooo Bella had to show up somewhere on here, right?  OMG.  Can I tell you that there is not one part lap dog in the gal...she is 110% farm dog in a gucci coat.  Here she is licking water from the mud puddle and dripping in mud.  She whines to go outside when she hears the tractor start up...arggg.  Figures, Jim says that I put a gun to his head to get the dog and she ONLY has eyes for him.  Sigh....

Peggy has finally arrived !

Sooo, finally after a LONG journey and a truck breaking down in Albany, the newest of Jim's girls has arrived. Peggy the Processor aka the Blockbuster Firewood Processor. Note Katie Kubota checking out the new competition. (Peggy can't work without Katie's PTO shaft, so she isn't too worried.) :)

Jim introducing the two gals.

Johnny Deere gets in on the action helping to get the elevator off the truck.

Putting some logs in place to run through the processor. You cannot tell from this picture but Jim is pretty happy. :)

The entire operation, pretty impressive I must say. The only thing better would be if it were a convertible Mustang...sigh.

Jim getting a few instructions from Blockbuster Dave.

A video for you to enjoy! Happy Firewood Processing...

Warmer temps are on the way, I can hear the tractors running.

 Jim finally got outside to do some yard clean up and Bella was waiting at the door for him.

Time to clean up some left over limbs and logs.

Finally a chance to get outside and away from his desk and calculations !  Doing what he LOVES.

Bella got a bath and was running around the house while Theresa took some action shots.

Yep, MORE cutting boards.  They just keep coming, note the size he made these boards.  They should cover an entire counter top or two.  LOL

April sunshine and the Last Supper

Well, it is beginning to look like Spring around here...the flowers are popping up everywhere, Yay! I cannot wait for warm sunshine.

It looks like I got my wish for one short afternoon, warm sunny temps were here for just a tease.  A few days later it was snowing and today we have acquired the April showers that bring May flowers.  If the amount of showers equals May flowers we should have LOTS.  :)

So...due to the wonderful fun of getting OLD, I will have to wear an orthotic for my mouth (24/7).  It seems I have dislocated my jaw (both sides) and add to that a slipped disc on the right side...I will be on a NO CHEW diet for some time beginning after Tuesday.  I talked Jim into taking me for my "last supper" and I picked an amazing restaurant Prosit in Williamsville.  The best Polish food in town, well other than...our kitchen.  :)  The owner, Janice is amazing with her recipes and the restaurant is decorated as if you walked into Bobshe's house, warm and welcoming.

This is the specials for that day, Dad you should have come...she had your favorite!

This is Jim's dinner, WOW !  I had Rasa's Potato Pancake with Gravy, Mrs. Szczesniak's Pierogi  and the soup of the day, spinach mushroom soup.  The house salad dressing is incredible, I got it on the side and dipped some very soft bread in it, poor Jim had to eat the bacon...right.  LOL

I took Bella to the farm up north and she loved looking out the dining room window at all the action outside she was missing.  :)

Another mistress on the way

So,  I have named his "other women"  and now another one is on the way...I need suggestions for this custom Firewood Processor.
The other women include: Daisy the Dozer, Sally the Sawmill, Betsy the Boiler, Katie Kubota and the stud in the mix is Johnny Deer (lucky guy, huh?). 

Hmmmm....trying to figure this one out

While Jim was on the road to appointments today he discovered this awesome sight.

We are trying to figure out what type of bird it is.  Some had guessed perhaps a Peregrine Falcon?

Looks pretty happy all perched up there.

Oh, Oh, two tired dogs.  :)