Nov. 19-20, 2010

Sally had stuff to do in town, so this was a solo trip.

Insulation
I had to get gas on the way out, and since that was taking me by Lowe's I decided to go ahead and get some more insulation for the attic -- a project I had started last spring. (To hot to get up there during the warmer months.)

There was a rebate if I spent $399, so I bought 6 bags of R19 (6.5" thick, 23" wide, by 93" long), with 9 bats in each bag. I could only fit 3 in the truck, so I've got to go back and pickup up the other three later. I plan to use 2 bags or so in town to line the perimeter of the attic before getting more insulation blown in (so the blown insulation doesn't cover my eve vents).

Late Friday I started on the east end of the house. Using our rickety 1975 wooden step ladder, I could push 6 bats up through the roof cutout in the hall. I would then go up and spread them, using a long beaver stick to push them back into the tight corner where the roof rafters and the ceiling joist meet. The joist were on 24" centers, so the bats fit nicely. It turns out the house is 24' wide, and so it took three bats to cross the house and I didn't have to do any cutting. I got two bags (18 bats) done Friday before I was wiped out by the stooping and crawling around up there.

First thing Saturday I spread the remaining bag. Other than a few bare spots in the center, I had reached the area over the kitchen and bath where I had spread the R13 bats last spring. I've still got several rolls of that to spread, but may need to purchase even more to complete the west end of the house. I am hoping to see some improvement in propane use, and maybe even cooler temps in the summer. With the new insulation I have gone from 3.5" to 10", and with the R13 3.5" to 7".

Flood CWF
I had bought two more gallons of this Clear Wood Finish, and since the temperature was still warm enough I finished up the west end of the house first thing Friday afternoon. (This was a project I had started 3 or 4 weeks earlier.) Last thing Saturday, I finished the west end and began on the porch. The T111 siding under the porch had never been treated but was showing the weather at the bottom (and was really dry). I only got about 25% of that area done before it was time to head back.

Fire Wood
During the middle of the day Saturday I cut up more of the big White Oak that has been down for over 2 years now. It turns out there are two big white oaks down, plus lots of hickory trees and limbs inter-mixed. The area is still a big mess, but I'm getting it cleaned up. One of the hickories was still green and growing even though it had been laid over and laid on by the bigger trees. I got two loads which I stacked in the back of the barn where I will split it this winter so that it will be cured and ready for next season. These are 18" logs, so they are destined for Chicago or Denver.

This was all cut with the McCulloch. It was difficult to get it started, but it sure cut good once it was going. Although, by the end of the second tank of gas I could tell the chain needed sharpening. I also took the Stihl down, but even though I had just sharpened the chain it would not cut. This chain has practically no teeth left and I think I just need to lower (file down) the depth gauges -- next trip.

Walnuts
The two bags I had stashed in the rabbit hutch were still secure, so I added one more full bag and the partial bag I had hand hulled. I had a little trouble getting a stick jammed in the door to lock it, but I think it will work fine. The remaining two bags I've decided to store in the basement at home. I am anxious to get cracking and to sample the harvest.

Friday night I made some date nut bread with black walnuts, adding coconut and bran. Very tasty toasted with cream cheese. I've still got over 2 quarts of nuts from years past.

First
I didn't see them, but I heard the first geese of the season flying south. Their honking is sure loud.

Short Cut
I went out and came back via the short cut. I saw no one on the way out, but passed two parked trucks coming back. I returned that way since it was about dusk and I figured there was less chance of hitting a deer going 15-20mph. I'm sure the trucks were deer hunters. I read that 1 out of every 99 registered vehicles in Arkansas will hit a deer each year!