A Glimps at Ninja Squirrel!

Today Kuma d.o.g. and I drove Maximus to the cabin for a little peace and quite. No girlie Jeep tippy-toeing across the wash outs on this trip! We were bounding back on the cabin road like only an Appalachian in a Ford 4x4 truck with a Labrador by his side can do. We got back to the cabin so quick, there was no time for an intruder to make a fast exit. There on the roof of the largest bird feeder hanging from the corner of the porch was the infamous NINJA SQUIRREL! He was as surprised to see us as we were to see him. Upright on his back haunches, mouth wide open, eyes as big as saucers he was shocked his cover was finally blown in the midst of yet another raid on the feeders. He quickly jumped to the ground to make a speedy get away. I've seen smaller over-fed house cats than this mammoth size rodent. This is not your average squirrel. If you're a squirrel hunter, (I'm not) I would characterize Ninja Squirrel as a family meal pak. As quickly as we made eye contact, he was scampering up a large white oak and jumping from limb to limb, tree to tree and off into the forest. My summer is complete. I now know he still lives and all my efforts at refilling the feeders just to see him once again has not been in vain.

Kuma d.o.g. has moved in and is staking claim to
a spot next to Beulah for the upcoming cold weather.

Very patient. You can almost hear her asking, "Is it done yet?" Going to be
hard to cook on Beulah if she stays this close.

On cabin time, you can't get in a hurry for your morning
coffee. We brew it one cup at a time.

I was recently asked if there was food at the cabin.
Does a bear poop in the woods? While under construction,
the kitchen is stocked with non-perishable snacks and meals.

Flea Market Cabin Furnishings

Well, today I returned to Pike County's only indoor mall, The Southbound Flea Market. I wanted to get more bamboo wind chimes. They are like tattoos, once you get one, you have to have more. After installing 2 above the porch swing, I obsessed with needing 'stereo' so I wanted another set by the steps. Lucked out and got the last set at a bargain basement $6. My mom used to sell fine china at the Washington Court House flea market in the 70s and early 80s up until she died unexpectedly. I became a flea market regular years ago thanks to her passion and interest. Many of the elderly women selling wares remind me so much of her. I make a point to treat them all with respect as I suspect they are struggling to get by. One lady has a booth with nothing but kitchen gadgets, silverware, pots and pans and knives. Most everything is $1 so picking up potato peelers, can openers, spatulas, pie pans and mixing bowls is a real bargain since most items appear they've seen little to no use. You can furnish a cabin kitchen at the flea market a lot cheaper than going to Kitchen Collection! Once again, I found a great little oil lamp at a very good price. A hand painted glass lamp for my kitchen table for only $6. On my way to the car, I ran into a coworker, Rob Jacobs and his wife. They talked like this was their first visit to the SBFM. I'm proud to say I'm a regular as the cabin wouldn't be the same without some of the items I've found there.

Hand painted oil lamp for kitchen table from South Bound
Flea Market only $6

Libby is learning how to cross where stream cutting erosion washes out the road without
 bottoming out or hitting bumpers.

So proud of Libby now that she can get across. Of course, winter is another thing...

Barbie and Libby. My 2 girlie Jeeps both made it to the cabin. Come winter, they
won't make it unless it's really dry. Have to drive Nic's Maximus or Brandon's Rubicon.

An end of summer Walmart bargain- chair cushions!

One of the MANY chipmunks. They love ManCamp
and the abundance of food. He's getting his fill before
Ninja Squirrel empties all of the feeders.

My neighbors are becoming camera hogs.

Working outside

Today has just been a beautiful day for outside work on the cabin. There may be a tropical storm on the east coast but if its responsible for the low humidity, constant breeze and 78 degree temperature under a sunny sky then I'm thankful we are getting the effects inland. Started the day with a breakfast at Bob Evans and then made a trip to Lowe's to pick up lumber, nails and silicone for work on the back wall. After a trip to the cabin, I felt guilty that I left my loyal companion, Kuma d.o.g. cooped up at the house. She was so happy that I showed up and took her to the woods. My plan was to complete simple tasks today since Robbie and I had already installed all the siding on the back wall last weekend. Didn't even need the generator as a hand saw would suffice. I trimmed the siding by installing 1"x6" on the corners, trim under the overhang and then 1"x4" boards around the 2 back windows. After staining the windows and trim, I applied a few tubes of silicone as a final task before spraying the whole wall down with stain- possibly tomorrow.

 Kuma and I migrated to the porch and just took in the rest of the afternoon. The bamboo wind chimes were so peaceful and rhythmic in the constant breeze. Sure felt like early fall as leaves were falling all around.

How could I deny my companion and not take her to the cabin? She loves the porch.

Enjoy trimming and even applying silicone but I HATE staining.
Good thing I've got a Wagner sprayer, once trimmed and masked, I can
spray this entire wall down in less than 30 minutes.

Ok, its just basic trim but I never said I was a carpenter. It should look
ok once sprayed down with stain.

Bucks and stuff

When the NWS issues a severe thunderstorm warning with high winds, damaging hail and dangerous lightening moving into southeastern Ross and northern Pike counties and specifically Scioto Trails, there is only one thing to do: jump in a Jeep and head for the cabin to enjoy it!  Kuma d.o.g. and I took our other female Jeep, Libby, to the cabin and got there just in time to enjoy the lightening show and storm. I look forward to a good storm like a child looks forward to fireworks on the 4th. I'm convinced we never really grow up, we just learn to hide our childish behavior better as we age. Kuma wasn't nearly as impressed as I was. In fact, she sought and found refuge in the kitchen behind Beulah's cold cast iron legs to ride it out. Once the thunder, wind and lightening had passed, I stretching out in the porch swing on a couple of overstuffed cushions. With the rain working its way down through the trees and a portable radio softly playing quality tunes, it made the trip worth it. After the rain stopped, I watched as the birds and chipmunks came out from cover seeking the 5 quarts of shelled corn I had slung off the porch for their enjoyment.

Before leaving, Kuma and I checked a Trail camera below the porch and found it filled with 120 pictures. The fat butt raccoon was in a few and so were a number of doe and small bucks. A couple of nice bucks had came around Friday night/Saturday morning. It really is impressive to see just how much life is moving around at the cabin during the night.

This weekend wasn't all fun and games. Saturday morning Robbie and I picked up lumber and finished siding the back of the cabin. Once the trim is installed around the windows, we'll be ready to stain and call this part of the project complete. We also worked installing wallboards inside the utility room and getting ready to install the shelves for batteries, charger and inverter.

A couple of big boys showed up early Saturday morning

Neglected Blog

It's been over a week since I last updated my Blog and I'm ashamed of being such a procrastinator. The August heat has just been relentless and it has had a negative influence on work at ManCamp as well as Blog updates.

Last week, after completing the bathroom floor tile and installing insulation in the rafters above the sleeping loft, Sunday I went to the cabin with good intentions of resuming the task of sanding and staining ceiling panels. However, once I sat down in the porch chair and a breeze picked up, the bamboo wind chimes began serenading me to sleep with their sweet lullaby. I think I slept 2-3 hours and got absolutely nothing done. Sleeping on the porch is an entitlement and was obviously a much needed benefit.

Today, fresh from the beaches of South Carolina, my helper Robbie was ready to work at the crack of dawn. He shamed me into getting back to work on the exterior of the cabin where we hadn't finished the back side wall. I had to agree with him, fall is coming. Although days are still in the upper 80s the nights have been in the 50s so there is no denying fall and winter is on the way.

After a trip to Lowe's to stock up on supplies, we hit it pretty hard until we finally cracked open the Char-Wood cooler. After that, there was no more work. We spent the rest of the afternoon soaking up a beautiful day with cold refreshments.

This buck showed up right off the porch. He is a nice size.

Another view of my big neighbor

He's developing a nice rack.

View of cabin back side with 1" insulation board and start to
T-1-11 siding. Power house in foreground. Good view of skylights
and chimneys.

Just another view showing our effort to finish the back wall.

Ninja Squirrel is still in charge. Warning signs posted on ingress road.

Shot this picture while sitting on porch swing looking south.

Kuma d.o.g. is standing watch for Ninja Squirrel.

Washed out but had to love this young lady wanting
her picture taken during the night.

Friends

Really enjoyed Cris and Eddie Burkitt's visit to the cabin this evening. We sat on the porch in the dark and just took in nature as we laughed and shared stories. Summer time is a great time for friends on a porch.

Eddie. My skinny little friend.

Chris enjoying the porch and swing.