FIRE At The Mill!

Posted on May 23, 2013 by foresterartist

We weren’t expecting to have a fire threaten the mill. The photos below tell the story.

Firefighters in pencil.

I added this sketch of the firefighters after “Z” at Zeebra Designs called for folks to draw in her post Time Out For Art – YOU CAN DO THIS. Here you go Z!

The rain has been replaced by wind and dry conditions once again. Fire returned, only this time instead of in the woods, it was at the mill. With winds blowing 25 to 30 mph a fire broke out at the mill next door and was being blown right at our site.

fire, mill, photography, wildfire, firefighters

The fire started next door.

It was all hands on deck. The crew poured in from all over the plant site to fight the fire.

Everybody pitch in.

Hoses were laid and water was flowing onto the fire. Soon, the regular fire crews arrived on scene.

This firefighter is patrolling for spot fires.

We were afraid the fire would spread into the pole stacks, or God forbid, the chip pile.

fire, mill, photography, wildfire, firefighters, fireline

Clearing fireline.

Our dozer was building a fireline in case the fire tried to jump the canal.

fire, mill, photography, wildfire, firefighters, logging truck

The logging trucks had to stop while the fire was being fought.

The air tanker arrived ready to drop fire retardant.

Air tanker

The effort continued on the ground and we held the fire at the edge of our mill site.

Eating smoke.

Then the Helicopter arrived with the Bambi Bucket.

Air support.

The helicopter was scooping water from the Sacramento River to dump onto the fire.

fire, mill, photography, wildfire, firefighters, logging truck, helipoter

Making the drop.

With the spread of the fire was stopped, mop up operations began.

Mop up operations.

fire, mill, photography, wildfire, firefighters, logging truck, fire engine, mop up

Mopping up is putting out all the smoldering embers.

Our crew moved fast to get water on the fire and the fire department responded quickly. Together we were able to stop the fire before it could get into our yard. As a result of everyone’s quick action this wasn’t a big problem for us. I’m not certain how the neighbors fared, but I think they did okay also.

The crew at the other mill were busy battling the fire in their chip pile.

This is just another reminder that we are in for a long fire season this year.

Maybe Baby Osprey

Posted on May 15, 2013 by foresterartist

Osprey

I haven’t posted an update on the osprey for a while so here is a pen and ink for fun. I think we have chicks in the nest, however we can’t see anything yet.

I think this parent is taking caring of a little bundle of joy.

The other parent waits patiently by the nest.

For about the last month a least one osprey has been hunkered down on the nest incubating the eggs. Late last week this pattern changed and now there is a lot of fussing about going on. I think they are feeding chicks or at least one chick. The chicks will hatch about a week apart.

Fussing around in the nest.

Time for some personal grooming.

Osprey parenting.

A view of the nest from the lumber yard.

The weather has been clear warm and windy here. In fact it hit 100 degrees last weekend. That is on the warm side this early in the year. I think it is going to get really hot up on that tower.

Another sunny day and a view out over the back forty.

The Return of the Sandhill Cranes

Posted on April 30, 2013 by foresterartist

Sandhill Crane

The Sandhill Cranes returned to Northeastern California late this Winter. I have been fortunate enough to see them on several occasions.

A lone crane feeding at Poison Lake.

Sandhill Cranes

Poison Lake

Cranes with friends.

Which way do we go?

Solitude

Ruffled feathers

I think Big Bird must have been a crane.

Poison Lake

Sandhill Cranes of Ash Creek Wildlife Area.

Loadin’ Logs

Posted on April 22, 2013 by foresterartist

Every logging operation needs a log loader and there are all types of them. This pen and ink is of a Barnhart log loader from back in the railroad logging days. It was a big steam-powered loader for loading big logs.

Barnhart Log Loader, Loader, Barnhart, Pen and Ink, logging, art

The Barnhart Log Loader

Here are some of today’s loaders.

loader, logging, heel-boom, shovel, loggers

The heel-boom loader is today’s log loading staple. It is also referred to as a shovel by the loggers.

Front-end loader, loader, logging, logger, photography

The front-end loader was the standard for years, but is still common in the woods.

log dolly, Front-end loader, loader, logging, logger, photographyy

The logging truck hauls the trailer, also known as a log dolly, in a piggy-back configuration. Here the front-end loader unloads the log dolly.

Self-loading logging truck, loader, logging, logger, photography

The self-loading logging truck has its own loader built-in.

I thought it was odd that the operator lowered the hood when he loaded his truck. I assumed it may be running hot. However, when he finished loading the truck, he went over to the engine compartment and pulled out a stick, which caused the engine to throttle down. He had wedged the stick into the throttle to keep the engine revved up while he was running the loader. He then put the stick in the tool box and said, “I gotta put it up here or the dog will run off with it!” Good thing I left Blitz in the truck.

Loading log truck, loader, loader, logging, logger, photography

In this picture, they used a front-end loader to assist the self-loader. Normally they use the self-loaders when another loader isn’t available.

This old green beast of a front-end loader was barely running, which is why they were using the self-loader. These were two weary old machines.

Blitz is seriously wanting the throttle stick right now.

Wolverine Mother and Kits

Posted on December 7, 2012 by foresterartist

Wolverine, kits, cubs, animal babies, drawing, sketch, pencil, art

Wolverine kits nursing on their mother.

Another Year Goes By

Posted on November 4, 2012 by foresterartist

Today is my birthday. My wife, Mary Livingston – The Backdoor Artist blogged a nice birthday post to me, and I want to say Thank you to her. So, thanks honey. Just for fun and for a little self-inflicted birthday humiliation I’ve attached a self portrait that I drew about 33 years ago. This was part of my early beginning into serious art. Well, you’ve got to start somewhere. This was about a year before I met her on a blind date, don’t ask. Back then I still had hair, a lot of blond hair. I miss that hair. Thinking back I can almost hear the disco music playing.

Skidding Logs

Posted on November 3, 2012 by foresterartist

Logging, Horses, horse logging, skidding, historic logging

Skidding logs with a big wheels and a team.

Skidding logs is the process of moving cut logs from the woods to the landing. The landing is where they are loaded for transport to the mill. After the turn of the last century, draft animals and steam were the engines of choice for moving these huge logs. The “big wheels” in this pen and ink, was the pinnacle of technology in ground based skidding way back then.

Cat skidder, Cat, skidder, skidding, logs, logging

Cat rubber tire skidder

Diesel powered skidders are the work horses of today for skidding logs. These machines come in different sizes and configurations for different jobs. The rubber tire skidders are used on gentler slopes. They are built for speed.

John Deere skidder

The track laying skidders often used on steeper slopes. They are built for traction.

Cat skidder, skidder, Caterpiller, skidding, logs, logging

Cat track skidder

The forwarder is today’s pinnacle of technology in ground based skidding. It loads logs onto itself instead of dragging them.

Valmet Forwarder

Let’s not forget the original skidders, the horses. They can’t be beat for sheer beauty!

Horses near Burney Mountain.

The Mystery of the Sunfish

Posted on October 16, 2012 by foresterartist

I have posted very few of my pen and ink drawings, so I dug deep to and found an old sketch book from nearly 30 years ago. Here are a couple of sunfish drawings for your consideration.

Sunfish 1

I drew these fish when I was in college. One of my roommates was a wildlife major. When I was half way through one of the fish I realized I made a HUGE mistake. I finished the picture anyway. Then I presented the picture to my roommate and asked if he could see anything wrong with it, but he thought it looked good. Then I told him there was definitely something wrong with it. He still couldn’t find anything wrong. I finally had to tell him what it was.

Sunfish 2

Here is your challenge if you choose to accept it. What is wrong with the picture? I will give you one hint. The mistake is in Sunfish 2. A wildlife major couldn’t find it. Can you?