Newsletter #287 2024 Dec 16 Monday

When I wrote last week that there wasn't much going on, I must have lost my mind for a moment. There's a lot going on!

Dec 16, 2024

Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live.
— Norman Cousins

Primal Woods

Pure Maple Syrup

The Madagascar vanilla bean infused Pure Maple Syrup is on the shelf! This stuff is killer, and a great compliment to our Whiskey Barrel Aged Pure Maple syrup; both are awesome. Try yours today, at this direct link.

Visit the Shop!

Sawmill Services

A 2-day milling job this week; mostly Red Oak, one White Oak log, and all of the logs were of significant size.

Lesson Learned: I need to reorganize my milling load-out under the tonneau cover; I can’t crawl into the bed to retrieve what I need as I could under the topper on the F150. Still, everything was kept dry and organized.

Articulated loader, with forks; very hand for log handling

Bob has a lot of logs, and getting them to the mill is a cinch with heavy equipment. It’s also great for moving heavy timbers from the mill to the wagons used for transport.

We milled a lot of 2x6’s, some 4x6’s, and 3 in. thick boards from two logs; 15 in. wide, 13 ft. long, and 3 in. thick boards are very heavy and difficult to move by hand.

Beautiful piece of Black Walnut furniture

I can’t, or don’t, count myself as a craftsman. I do the rough cutting, and then craftsmen like George turn the lumber into something truly beautiful. George said, “Been using a finish called ‘Simple Finish’ by Makers. It’s an oil and wax wipe on finish that really darkens the walnut and is easy to apply. Then a coat of paste wax after 3-4 coats of the oil and you are good to go.” I don’t know about you, but I think the results speak for themselves.

And two more milling jobs this week; a great end to the year.

Homestead Rebel Farm

I don’t know that the ‘possum was playing dead, but all the dogs went on and off the porch multiple times without the critter moving a muscle, and without the dogs expressing more than a little curiosity at its presence.

Here’s something interesting. How I think about money has changed radically in recent years. First of all, I’m using cash a lot more. I’d say, and this is just a rough estimate, that I spend 75% of the “disposable income” as cash. That does a couple of things; 1) having to count the money out of your wallet is a lot different than swiping a card, mentally, and psychologically I suppose, and 2), cash, pretty much by definition, is spent locally. Both of those are positive attributes in my opinion. But back to the interesting. Let’s say I’m pulling $13 out of my wallet for something I want; I’m thinking, “I could buy a bag of pig feed, or, I could by four gallons of gas with this, or three gallons of diesel, all of which I probably need more than a box of chocolates,” for example. Let’s say I’m spending $100, or $150; now I’m thinking “that’s more than a round bale (of hay), and at $150 it’s two round bales, which would feed the oxen for 2-3 weeks!” Does that sort of thing go through your mind? It’s relatively new to me, and again, I think it’s good.

Speaking of hay, I picked up five more round bales for the Oxen, behind the F250 for the first time. The first five bales lasted 48 days, damn near 10 days per bale; perfect. And the handling of the F250 with 1,500 lbs on the tongue was much better than the F150; the 250 is built for the work.

Farmhouse

Our next guests, and last for 2024, are here from Christmas until the New Year. I’m looking forward to that visit, and it’s just around the corner. If you are interested in being introduced to the making of Pure Maple Syrup, or introducing your kids or grandkids to it, anytime between mid-February and mid-March would be the best timing. I can’t guarantee that sap will be flowing during a visit, but I can guarantee that buckets will be on the trees and I will be in the Sugar House most days.

Book My Farm Stay Now!

News

On my mind recently have been money (the love of which is the root of all evil) and nutrition. Here is some recent news regarding both.

As for nutrition, and health generally, I’ll be embarking on what I call a “Primal Plunge” beginning December 30th. The holidays are generally speaking, not good for our physical health; there are numerous foods that are kryptonite to me, and they are all in abundance during the holidays. I’m not at my best, and this program will have me at my best in 90 days. If you are interested in joining me on this journey, please leave a comment; I’m not going to charge anything for this program, and assuming your adherence, results are guaranteed, or your money back. Ha! See this post for more information; if you are 40 or over, this post is for you.