time to dig

digging down today
to the place where I am more real
the only way I know how to do this is
to be quiet
to pray and read the Psalms
and to run the chainsaw

good to do in the face of the coming storms
pray for me, please


------------------ 8 am ------------
adding to the list, MUST go kayaking on the lake
under the snowless clouds.
shoulders are already sore, so let's push them
a little more

---------3:19
really sore now and glad to be able to nap some
made a massage appt and one for therapy.
All quiet at home, not much rain yet.
The chainsaw is calling

Dr. Stihl and I

We are going out to trim trees,
not a bad day
but I just wish I was paddling my kayak on the lake instead.
oh well.

7:30am on a ( so far) perfect day

Dr. Stihl and I will be having a therapy session later today over at the Juniper tree.
That is always good news, as NOTHING smells as good as Juniper sawdust.
AND this limb needs to come down to make room for a future second story deck.

---------------------

may I extend my support in prayer for those dealing with divorce, and also loss.
I am divorced, and for a while I must say I let the process define me and the label confine me.
Two things were implicit in getting divorced ( or so it seemed):
1. I had failed at the most important thing I had ever attempted in my life.
2. I was defective because the person from whom I most wanted respect and admiration gave me neither. ( neither of those was true, by the way)
That I was alone, was obvious, but not accurate. My great family, my beautiful three children and God ( whom I neglected for too long) were more than enough when it came to love, kindness, and inspiring me to go on. I also am grateful for a good friend who saw the remnants of who I was, and reminded me that there was still a lot of life left to live.

In and through my separation I discovered or rediscovered no less than 12 things:
Cooking: the good , the bad and the just plain caveman cuisine!
reading: I went nuts for good books
writing: mostly letters, but they were biographical, so they told my story.
Alone time: for better or worse, i was stuck with me.
That in the ashes of a great fire, there are always dusty, sooty treasures waiting
Divorce must render two people apart, but it can not be allowed to disable children.
Cooking- again - i really love it and it feeds my creative soul. mmm Italian!
That being released from that 'difficult situation' may allow me to become who I was to be and to do what I am better able to do alone, than if I was still married.
This present moment is enough, past is gone. future is in God's capable hands. NOW is.
My children are a treasure box still being filled with goods. Once in a while I get to put something in there, and I need to make it something good.
Children are full of love and forgiveness, I need to be also.
--------------------------- 9:11 am ---------------
off to the wide open spaces

take a side trip with me

I just read ( for a second time) something terrible, horrific and really sad.
( but not TRAGIC, thankfully)
I hope you will benefit in some way by knowing this blogger
and reading her powerful post:
NOT A CINDERELLA STORY

There is always the possibility of (me) being the nice neighbor who was too good to let evil go on unchallenged.
Could You be the neighbor in some other child's story?

--------- friday, I am off to save a 60 year old Chinese Elm by pruning it,
so that the owner would not "rip it out" to avoid the 'maybe' of it falling on the stupid jerk neighbor ( and making the planet a nicer place)
maybe I can drop a chainsaw on this crazed and evil woman?

u thot u saw it awl

at the end of the day
the logger kneels
and says a prayer of thanks
to God, and Stihl who made the best durned
chainsaw on the planet!

here is a cute shot of my "baby"
she's a stock 029 Super.
cuts eucalyptus all day long
and I am the only one wearing out.
I Love God, I love my honey, and I shore love ma Stihl.

a good day in the woods

I talked to this reporter guy today
he did not realize I was a total nut
so he put me in the clip of his news report
I am halfway famous, wooooo hoooo

Although Mark Coogan seemed very nice, his camera man was a bit naive.
He parked the van right in the road where a tree was being felled, moved the van and then stood in the spot until I yelled "TIMMBEEEERRRRRRRRRRR" and had to add "MOVE move" the tree splattered a few feet from where he was standing, good thing he was quick on his feet. hehe

In the video my son and I work together to get a big tree to fall.
Jared hammers in the wedges and I cut it through then it falls sideways from where I expected it to, but safe after all. I look a little wild with a camo hat and lots of sawdust all over me.

NO pics - my daugter has my camera at camp this week.
Link to the press Enterprise article on Scott and Vickie Wilson's battle to save their home and guest cottages from the fire. with a picture of Scott cutting some of the brush away.

a man is allowed two loves

I think that a man is allowed to love His chainsaw if he wishes to do so.
He may also love his dog or cat, and most certainly will love
the fine woman who cares for him and convinces him that he is
the most special man in the whole world or at least a close second.

I drove over the summit pass today, closer to the fire to help friends
prepare their property to make it more defensible if the Fire makes it that far.
from 7 this morning to 3pm I whacked at trees and bushes that were too thick, too tall and all a bit dead and dry. I really appreciated seeing this whole family; mom, dad, four sons work hard together all day to try to save their property and their business. I did not have a camera
but the picture is this: Familial love, unbounded and set against a terrible natural force.
it would make a great short story. I was honored to witness such a powerful bond between brothers, between mom and dad, between a family and the ladn they cared for and needed to exist. today was a beautiful day.
When I washed my hair the shower immediately smelled of wood smoke, my jeans are caked with sawdust mixed with oil and exhaust. my back and shoulders ache, but its a good feeling.
It is right to care, to do something to help. It is what neighbors do, here, anyway.

Congrats to Jayleigh and her hubby Rob, who took their first week at the new church, May God's blessings go before you and follow you as well!