By the look of things, our next rain is nine or ten days out. I took the forecast into account yesterday when placing a lumber order — though it’s not a lot, it included a couple of 4×8 sheets that’d have to sit outside until I deal with them.
No room in the shed. Impractical to stow in the cabin. It is what it is.
Building materials ain’t cheap, of course. This dimensional lumber and 3/4-inch plywood sheathing, plus nails and such, set us back $250. That gets us a 4×10 loft in the shed, with a few leftovers we’ll put to good use elsewhere.
Movement caught my eye as I walked out to the truck this morning — I caught a brief glimpse of a coyote disappearing into the woods upslope from the shed. Minutes later, when I stopped to snap a photo of our favorite eastern view, the shot was bombed by a placid whitetail.
The post office in Yellville was hoppin’ when I got there, but the mood was bright and friendly, as usual. I scooped up several packages, including a bag of dog food (and not a moment too soon), then turned toward Mountain Home.
First I made a quick stop at Harbor Freight for a few clamps, taking advantage of a coupon for three free gifts (a utility knife, a two-pack of flashlights and a 5×7 tarp). On to Home Depot.
I decided to do the curbside pickup thing this time, an experiment of sorts. Ordinarily I prefer to choose my own lumber, but this would be a low-risk project and I was curious to see what I’d end up with.
Forty minutes after checking in from my parking space — an uncharacteristically long wait — I got my answer. The 2x4s and 2x6s were as good as I would’ve picked, as was one of the plywood sheets. The other had a noticeable bow to it, though it’s usable.
I had a pleasant conversation with the orange-aproned young man who helped me put the lumber into the bed of the Silverado, most of it centered on opening day of gun season tomorrow. Once everything was loaded, I secured it with three ratcheting tie-downs and attached a red over-length flag (a Charlie Daniels Band-anna).
It all stayed put on the trip Home. I set out a half-dozen concrete blocks in the driveway across from the cabin, unloaded the lumber onto the blocks and covered the lot with a (camo) tarp. There it’ll stay ’til the project begins.
This evening I’m nursing a very sore back, the result of wrestling those 80-pound sheets of sheathing. Man. it sucks getting old.
Then again, it beats the alternative.
What I tackle tomorrow — building the loft, changing the oil in the Ranger, stacking cordwood, something else or nothing at all — will depend on how I’m feeling.
Take care of yourselves, Patriots. Stay calm. Stay sharp. Stay free.
#WiseUp #LibertyOrDeath #Ungovernable
#LetsGoBrandon #FJB