I didn’t hear it

On By CarynIn Flora, Fungi

We had a large tree fall in the back woods sometime during the last storms. We didn’t hear it fall, but it must have made a great tearing sound as it cracked and then dragged down a considerable amount of vegetative canopy.

Photo description: tree broken leaving about a 5 foot stump

This was a favorite hiding spot for the outside cats, and once the tree was down I could see why: there was a lovely little cavern in the trunk.

Photo description: cat hiding hole in the fallen part of the tree

The hollow trunk led all the way to the top of the tree, giving an escape route to any critter resting there.

The top branches fell across one of my paths, so I’ll gave to trim that back, but I’ll wait until fall when it is cooler and the chiggers aren’t active. Other than freeing my path, I’ll leave the rest to nature, which is the beauty of the back woods.

Speaking of, this is the remains of the woodpile that the builders left some 10 years ago when they cleared land for the house.

Photo description: old wood pile

Last Thursday I posted a picture of the pile from 8 years ago when it was well above cat height. There is not much left to hide in now.

Bat house

On By CarynIn Wildlife

My bat house is finally up! I was gifted the bat house a number of years ago, but had trouble finding a place near the edge of the woods, 15 feet up with a clear drop, and southern facing. None of our out buildings fit the requirements, and I was not willing to put up a 15 foot post. My eldest learned about bat houses for a project in college and found a good place on an existing tree and installed it.

Photo description: ladder leaning against a very large Post Oak on our property, with a new bat house installed on a sturdy branch
Photo description: view from the meadow looking back into the woods with the bat house installed

Now I watch for… signs of guano?

New direction

On By CarynIn Craft

The Singer 27 treadle sewing machine that I purchased for $50 and pulled put of barn where it had lived for years is going back to the original purposes for which I bought it. I just wanted the cast iron base.

After reading about treadle machines I had changed my plan and attempted a restoration, but there is just too much rust. So. Much. Rust. Cleaning and polishing teeny tiny parts is not my happy place, so the project sat for three years. I need the workspace back, so I’m going back to my original plan of restoring just the cast iron base to be a power source for different tools.

Photo description: cast iron Singer sewing machine base separated from the wood top that was rotting and painted a strange yellow

Lame sheath

On By CarynIn Craft

My lame (a blade for cutting bread) has been living inside the original cheap cardboard box for a few years now. I finally made a new leather sheath for it!

Photo description: piece of laser cut finished leather, lame (without blade), and a tape ruler
Photo description: sheath stitched up using waxed nylon cord and a baseball stitch, lame with blade attached

The lame fits inside nicely with the blade. I don’t know if I want to make a lid for the open end, it’s not like I’m cutting sourdough on the go. I really just needed something to keep it safe in the drawer.

Photo description: open end of lame sheath with lame inside

I really like my laser cutter for the ability to make precise leather bespoke items.

Capo

On By CarynIn Life Hack, music

I found out that my ukulele capo works great on my piano as a page holder.

Photo description: capo clipped onto the page shelf on a 1920s upright grand, also in the picture on the shelf below, Irish whistle, jaw harp, and ocarina

Capos are usually used on the neck of a stringed instrument to the change key for a song.