Today was Sunday Oct. 16th 2016. Sunday is the day of the week I typically go to the Canyon to get a few good hours of progress or catchup. Today was a nice overcast day, threatening to rain all day but never did. The previous few days of this storm has given some rain, so it sure feels like the beginning of our winter. The wild fire threat in our area is pretty much over. However it is expected to be sunny all next week and things could dry out again, it’s just unlikely to be a wild fire threat. I was carrying the chainsaw back from the shop with a new chain, so on the way down the driveway I could not resist stopping to cut out a few smaller pines and firs that would likely not survive if we had periodic wild fires, as was the case pre-1800s. By taking them out pro-actively we leave more water and nutrients for the rest of the forest life. and reduce the forest fuel load so lowering the chance of catastrophic scorched earth wild fire.
I need to speed up the reporting here. I worked on the small gate in the new beer fence ( that is a combination deer and bear fence, it has nothing to do with drinking beer – really ). I had expected to finish the gate but as so often happens some equipment failure intervenes. The mower got a flat tire, ugh! Juan is beginning the mowing of the fields. We wait for the fire danger to be very low, and for the dust from the plants to be settled.
I get the tire fixed and continue with the gate. Time for lunch. After lunch I decide to secure the beehives against stronger winds in winter storms. This takes much more time than expected, and the bees are MEAN! Are they more aggressive because they have more honey and brood to protect, or did they get some wild queen take over! Either way no more working the bees in t-shirts and shorts!
