Live oaks and a lively dog!

Fall has enabled me to work without the oppressive heat and humidity that has given me the "Mad Englishman" nickname gained in certain circles! The weather has been so perfect here. We have picnicked at lunch and dinner and have enjoyed the fabulous sunsets and a glass or two of wine with our very special neighbors with whom we are growing increasingly fond. The site is cleared up. The majority of the fences have been removed. Work is progressing on pruning out the live oak trees. We have settled on a workshop design and location. We agree our floor plan is good to go. And now we have a builder in whom we have confidence to bring our dreams to fruition. We'll call him Bob (as in the Builder) and he has already started building the forms for the workshop and garage foundations. Seeing the action, our friends across the road at Miracle Farms brought over a couple of picnic tables for the workers to use, thoughtfully placing them in the shade of a nearby live oak.

Live oaks are revered in the southern United States. People down here have a special respect for their age and their grandeur and the unique shade that an old live oak offers with its leafy, drooping branches that welcome and then envelope you in a green-domed, sun-dappled sanctum. To stand next to one of these huge organisms and to touch its rough bark is to feel the history that is encapsulated in its twisted trunk and branches and realize that this beautiful creation will likely still be around long after we're gone. How can you not be overawed by such beauty and majesty?                           

We had a crane lift a live oak trunk that had broken off one of the trees. Live oak is one of the densest woods in North America and we estimated the weight of this trunk to be six tons or more. Although most of the trunk was hollowed by decay, we did manage to cut two straight pieces about eight feet long and 36" round and have sent these to a sawmill in Houston where it will be cut into boards. I hope to give this old wood a second life and longevity as a piece of furniture. A small concreted and covered area that we had been wondering what to do with, has now been designated as a wood drying shed and I spent most of the week fabricating the shed walls and drying racks. It's a lot of fun rough cutting wood with a chain saw and makes a welcome change from the precision of furniture building. But it didn't help when a neighbor's puppy dog, a border collie mix, who we think is called Mandy, created a pile of confetti from my chainsaw manual that she quietly and expertly stole from right under my nose. I say expertly because she has similarly taken work gloves, water bottles, and socks - you name it. In short she's an out and out thief. But I admit that I have developed a bit of a soft spot for this puppy and enjoy having her around. Every man should have a dog but I need my sister to come out here and train it!