Today I ...hmm...what all did I do? Well, last night was this Moonlight Madness Sale at Orchelins farm/home store so, knowing I needed tires for the camper and that they had a pair of Carhartts already 1/3 off (the sale was 20% off after 9:30 w/25% off any sale/markdown items),  I went to both north and south stores to get the 2 tires I needed and also got the pants. Today I removed 2 of the old tires from wheels and did some sanding and painting on the wheels and got around to mounting one of the tires- having 3 hands would be a help. It was a fine day to work outside on the mountain bike I picked up at Salida Co. garage sale. I put on 2 good tires and tubes I had around. The bike works fine...and was made in USA- and I only have $30 in it.
       I'm collecting walnuts every day or so as they fall-one tree in particular is laden w/them. The yellow tomatoes are full of blossoms but I think the cool temps means they won't be developing much more fruit. I had been collecting acorns to try making flour or cooking with but threw them all back after some research. It seems like too much heating and all to do to reduce tannin and cook them into flour or dry as "nuts". The dandelion greens all look good- like they think it's spring and really started popping after the end of the drought and our recent cooler temps and rains.

I allowed myself to play with the camper, which is  opened up in the shop for now. I had been thinking I was going to find a sewing machine and then figure out how to use it(I've always wanted to know how) so I could then sew patches on the several holes mice put in canvas (previous owner). I researched some on repairs and several folks suggested various adhesives. I just happened upon the good stuff at Orschelns: Bish's Original-Tear Mender. The stuff works great on fabric/canvas and is water proof and dries quick and is easy to work with. So I cut up a perfectly usable canvas "gym bag" and made patches. I also cut up a blue Coleman bag from a folding chair and used the "Coleman" name area to make a patch for the bluish part I needed to patch...on the Coleman camper. The patches are inside so if I find matching canvas later I can fill in exterior to match. I still want a sewing machine and to know how to use it-for other projects...when welding and riveting just won't do.

I also sewed 2 screen patches in place with grey button thread and they turned out great-not sure it will show up in picture.

http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2012/09/25/journalist-glenn-greenwald-will-speak-mu-thursday-september-27/

journalist-Glenn Greenwald will speak at MU-Thursday-September-27-click the above link and plan to wander off route K a bit Thursday.

     Bumped to the top of the list: Put in a bathroom window. Actually, no list involved-my favorite kind of project...this was done just because I felt like it. Oh how nice it is to have air and light and a view of the wooded rear of property now. No bathroom should be w/o window or some form of natural light. The upper picture is w/the hole cut in wall and in tub surround and framed w/1x lumber(used a cedar fence board and 2 table leaves ripped to 5 3/4"). I used all scrounged materials-though the window was purchased 2nd hand from ReStore in the Lou a while back. A very nice small, aluminum, insulated glass, double hung (both sashes tilt in)window w/screen that goes high or low($25). The interior sill will get tile.
     The outside thermometer rear right at 32(f) this morning. I enjoyed a fire in Rex, using lumber scraps to take the chill off.

Soup Season!

Global warming? My cherry tree is getting/has got blossoms.

Some Goldenrod by one of the apple trees in front.

And some fresh dug potatoes to add to the soup.

It's coming. It is welcome. The coolness of  fall...winter. It was about 48 degrees this morning-to be about 42 Wednesday morning. I fired up the wood stove this for a test run and to burn off old paint while it's still warm enough to have windows and doors open. The stove and chimney seemed to operate just fine. I wiped the used pipe and stove down with grape seed oil while things were good and warm. In the 2nd picture you can see the St. Lou alley find tongue and groove pine I used on the front of the 2 lower "steps". The lower one makes a nice seat. Time for new projects now.

Today! I finished the chimney install I attic and on roof. It's going to be so nice to get the place cleaned up-so many trips crawling around the attic full of blown in insulation has left a mess of it in the living space. A mess of tools can go back in the shop. Finishing the wall work will happen later. The wood stove is in place but the flue pipe needs to be hooked up to the insulated chimney pipe up at the ceiling. I'll shoot for that tomorrow...as they say it's to be a low of 46 tomorrow(Tue. a.m. I guess) and I look forward to burning the paint and oils off before real cold comes.

I've been enjoying apples from the trees I planted at the Lynch homestead back  in the Lou thanks to the kindness of my purchaser. The trees are full of them and only started producing the year after I left.

Copy of the Walden pond home HDT built

...and Thoreau writes: Most of the luxuries, and many so-called comforts of life, are not only indispensable, but positive hindrances to elevation of mankind. With respect to luxuries and comforts, the wisest have ever lived a more simple and meagre life than the poor-(p.10 Walden). This pic is a structure I saw down around Silverton Co.

The chimney parts ready to go in. I framed a 12" square opening in attic between ceiling joists and may cut the hole in roof this weekend.

The stairwell project moves along. I have the wiring all re-installed and functioning. The framing is done and I used a scrounged window sash and made a frame for it and hinged the sash so it will open into the stair way for basement. I have to put up a little more drywall and will do pine tongue and groove on 2 lower faces of the "fake steps" that mimic the stairway they hide. The lower horizontal surface will be set up as a seat I think and the 2 upper ones will be shelves.

Ecoartfest :Coopers landing-Sept. 15,16

Boone County Heritage Festival --Saturday and Sunday Sept 15,16; old timey stuff ...and Bluegrass music and girls in loooooong skirts

Earthdance :   Coopers Landing Sept. 22, 2-9 pm

Not to bore you w/more pics of wall work today---here's a sketch of the future to be:

Here's how coffee gets brewed here on route k-after a couple cups of green tea. No plastics involved.

I'm going through Walden (Thoreau) and the first chapter, called "Economy", is so current w/these times we're in. Folks ought to read/re-read it. It ties in so well also w/the small house movement-build your own house using salvaged materials as much as you can. In Walden Thoreau also writes a bit about his wild food foraging- but My Side of the Mountain is better as far as that goes.

I made a serious mess in the abode again today working on the wall change project making a place for wood stove and flue. I got the wall on the kitchen side opened up and cut back today. The electric is back in place on the bedroom side w/new junction box in attic and longer wires coming down to new switch box. Also I removed wire/romex going from a receptacle, running in the wall up towards ceiling, hooked to nothing and having exposed/bare wires. The ceiling holes have been patched w/drywall scraps.

Hmm...let's see...work on the bike path along route K is in progress and they got around to my driveway Friday and installed a new culvert and gravel. I had no idea there was an existing culvert there as it was completely buried. The path will meet up with the Katy trail in McBaine.

I finished with work on the parlor style wood stove-REX is back on his feet. I got to the top part today. I made a round plate(actually 2 round plates welded atop each other) for the hole on top w/horseshoe as handle(missing original round hole cover) and I added a grate on as a place for a mug to stay warm but not get too hot. I had put a few such places on the stove I made for the Lynch house and found them very handy.

Soooooo...I started tearing out walls and moving electric to create a place in this little house for the wood stove on the first floor. I tore out a closet and some of the stairway walls to basement steps. It was in 50's last night-Fall is just around the bend.

Yesterday, at Re-Store of all places, I found a copy of MY Side Of The Mountain the movie(dvd). I saw the movie as a kid and have often thought about it. I hadn't realized it was originally a book till I happened to run across a copy recently at a thrift store. The book is much better than the movie and goes into all the specific wild plants he ate. Also, the book is set in the Catskills-while the movie is set in Canada for some reason. Oh, and also I found the book-Lord Of The Flies at Re-Store (used building materials/Habitat For Humanity store)- 50 cents for the two of them.

I started on the REX #151 wood(coal) stove. I cut off numerous old stove bolts to remove legs and expose bottom(bottom of ash box was missing completely). It was nice to have a reason to get the oxy-acetylene torch fired up. Next I cut a new bottom for the ash box out of an old fuel oil tank(used reciprocating saw to cut) and installed it and legs w/new bolts. I also made 2 strips (from 1/2" strap steel)w/4 holes each as inside "washer strips" for bolts on each side of door. I'm going to make a new round grate for inside bottom of firebox next.

Here's a nice rock I brought home(won't FILL the hole-but a start) -I'm sure it doesn't show, but it's full of crystal formations and I want to whack it w/a big hammer. I can't believe I left my plant and mushroom id books....AND big rock hammer at home on the trip. There were LOTS of mushrooms popping and many wildflowers in bloom I wished I could identify better. There was yarrow everywhere for yarrow "tea".

Look at all the free water -and here's the asparagus patch doing so nicely.

I'm finally back on the homestead for extended stay after trip west and unscheduled run to St. Lou. I will update/catch up soon. While in Colorado the rain fell in midMo and the rain catchment/storage has filled for the first time. It was a relatively inexpensive trip(if you ignore gasoline costs-ouch!) w/all free primitive camping. Now it's time to think about the coming cool season. Wood stove placement-hopefully something on 1st floor this winter is on my mind. I was gifted an old REX coal/wood stove in The Lou today and dream of sitting next to it this winter. It needs a few things but I think I can scrounge and make all that's needed.

Did I post this already ? Here's photo of the one watermelon on the place- it grew itself, small but quite edible.

Columbia sustainable living fair      September 9th, 2012

Ok, here's the last of the Route K Project On The Road updates. I spent time in Salida Co and conversed with several locals- all were over 30 year veterans of the great little town with the Arkansas river running swiftly through it. None could help me on my search for rocks to fill my hole... so I went to garage sales !! Here I am wearing my new to me T-shirt and straw hat (seems me comfortable, customized army surplus hat jumped out the window at some point) with my new stainless steel travel coffee mug close by-happy to be 10 quarters lighter for all 3 items.

What do they sell at this store?

While eating lunch I looked up, hoping to see Superman or maybe a meteorite about to crash into the earth, but only saw this statement  hidden 2 1/2 stories up on the side of a brick building.

Here Petra is looking over towards the perfect cliff we found ...I mean perfect for those who think we should throw all the men in suits off a cliff. Her ears go straight up whenever she thinks about it.