A pen and ink of my old boy “Hunter.” He was the best hunting dog I ever had.
The photo I used for this drawing appeared in the post Forestry Friday … What A Difference A Decade Makes.
Hunter’s motto was “It’s good to be Hunter!”
It must have hurt to be that cute. He was always Hunter puppy to me, even when he was old. Makes me kind of misty.
Pen and ink prints available at Fine Art America.
http://fineartamerica.com/featured/woods-dog-timothy-livingston.html
There’s fire in the woods again!
Burning slash in a logging unit. A forester favorite Fall pastime.
Not like the Summer wildfires this time. This burning is for fuel reduction after logging. It’s part of our Fall preparation for tree planting. We prefer chipping slash and hauling it to the co-generation plant where it can be turned into electricity. In some areas that option isn’t available so we have to burn the slash on site. Getting rid of the slash reduces the fuel load for future wildfires that may occur. It also releases nutrients into the soil in the form of ash. Those nutrients give a boost to the young seedlings that will be planted at the site in the Spring.
On flat ground the slash is often piled for burning. In this unit the entire site is burned, which is called a broadcast burn.
We aren’t trying to get rid of all debris within units, but we want to reduce it to a reasonable level. A certain amount of slash and debris left unburned acts as impediments to erosion. Over time it breaks down adding organic material back into the soils. However, too much debris creates a fuel load that will support an aggressive wildfire.
This smoke column rises over Trinity Lake and has reached an inversion layer causing the smoke to flatten out.
Burning is only allowed on specific days when weather conditions are right. We avoid conditions that are too dry in which fire can escape. We also have to be aware of what direction the smoke is being carried on the wind to avoid smoking out populated areas. In California we’re required to prepare smoke management plans to determine what conditions are appropriate for burning as to not create a smoke hazard for local areas.
I had a companion on this day. Tessa, our friend’s dog, got to be a forester’s dog for a day.
Fall is traditionally incredibly busy around here and this season has been no different. Things are starting to wind down so hopefully there will more time for posting.
Ruby’s Coarsegold Running Rebel SH, “Teka”
Teka went home to her family about a year ago. I did this drawing before she left. She stayed with us while training. During her time here she completed her AKC Junior and Senior Hunter titles.
Redtail’s Coarsgold Serrano Sizzle JH, “Ruby”
Her mother “Ruby” also stayed with us years ago. This is the drawing I did of Ruby when she was here.
This gallery is from Teka’s time with us. Click on the image to enlarge.
Very soon Kinta will be going home to Japan. It has been a wonderful year with him, as was our time with Teka and Ruby.
A wildfire broke out west of town Friday afternoon.
Last Friday I posted Storm Clouds Brewing and talked about lightning and wildfire. Then Friday afternoon an aggressive wildfire broke out west of town. However, this fire wasn’t caused by lightning, it was caused because of an illegal marijuana grow.
It formed a huge column and began building it’s own thunder cloud.
The fire crews were scrambled and the air-tankers took to the air.
The thing is, Mary and I were planning a weekend away camping in our trailer at our favorite spot. The problem was, the fire was less then five miles from our camp where we had already staged our trailer. We made the decision to retrieve our trail while the fire was relatively small, only 300 acres.
As we approached camp the sky became angrier.
After reaching camp, we packed everything, hooked up the trailer and pulled out. The smoke made it very dark.
Looking to the sky from camp.
The fire was two ridges away when we hauled out.
We got the trailer safely home and by the time we went to bed the fire had grown to 2,800 acres.
Saturday was a new day and the fire had not advance too much over night. It was reported at 2,930 acres. We decided to head back up to camp to pick the last of our equipment. Sailor and Kinta came with us this time.
Sailor and Kinta are ready for an adventure.
It was still very smoky up near camp. An inversion had settled the smoke into the canyons.
By the time we finished the truck was covered in ash. Clearly the fire was still actively burning.
Sailor and Kinta found this whole adventure thing quite exhausting.
By the time we returned home the fire was still at 2,930 acres. Unfortunately, high winds hit Saturday night/Sunday morning and by Sunday morning it was up to 3,700 acres. The terrain is very steep and it is extremely brushy. Spot fires have been tormenting the firefighters. Just when they seem to getting a handle on it, another slop over occurs. It is now Tuesday night and the fire is reported at 8,100 acres. Today was overcast and calm. Hopefully, they made good progress containing it. The fire is now 1 3/4 miles from camp. We shall see what tomorrow brings.
This gallery contains 11 photos.
Originally posted on Sneaking Bliss:
Saturday Night Kintaro of Akiyama just completed his first AKC Junior Hunt Test on Friday, June 13. Kinta was born on the 13th day of the 9th month of the year 2013. Kinta became the…
Every now and then, I come across a special tree. One that was left unharvested because it so inspired people. The landowners left this tree when they logged the property. The ones that owned it next also left it, and so it goes. This tree is 7′ 3″ in diameter at breast height (DBH). The largest Ponderosa pine on record today is 9′ 2″. The Guardian isn’t the biggest, but it’s a big BIG tree.
The sign reads, “The Guardian Borne ? Age ? May You Live Forever”
That’s a nice sentiment, but it won’t happen. Trees, like people, have a limited lifespan and Ponderosa pines if left to grow their natural lives rarely survive to 500 years. However, one Ponderosa was measured at 933 years. Like the sign says, “Age ?” for The Guardian.
What brainiacs decided it was a good idea to graffiti this tree with chainsaws? Ponderosa pine has flaky bark that sheds off. If they would leave it alone for a couple of decades, most of the carving would disappear.
It’s always a Kodak moment when I come across one of these forest giants. Some that I’ve seen included an 8′ plus sugar pine near McCloud, the 8′ “Mother Viola” sugar pine near Viola (now deceased from a huge wind storm), a 7′ western white pine near LaPorte and a 10′ Douglas-fir near Quincy, all in California.
I parked close to the tree as a size reference. Many of the young trees below are it’s offspring.
If your are interested in the biggest trees in the United States, you can check out the Big Tree Registry.
Meet Skidder, no he’s not my dog. He belongs to the logging crew I was visiting. Yes, I gave him back, after a ride in my truck.
When I fed Kinta the other night this happened. Mary had the quick thinking to grab a camera.
Also known as dinner time eagerness. Our little house guest really looks forward to dinner time as exhibited by his…well see for yourself…
“Blitz” Redtail’s Rogue Lightening SH
Mary and I couldn’t have asked for a better companion than Blitz. She grew to be the perfect dog. She rode shotgun with me for over seven years traveling the back roads of Northern California. Featuring her in my blog posts felt a little like cheating because she was so lovable. Here is her life in pictures. Click on the pictures to enlarge.
Blitz passed from our lives last Friday. We miss her dearly. Your comments are welcome and appreciated, but we probably won’t respond to them. Please don’t take offense.
The silence of a falling star
lights up a purple sky
and as I wonder where you are
I’m so lonesome I could cry
Hank Williams
Blitz and I have seen a lot of country in our travels. This shot was taken at Lake Prairie in the Northern California Coast Range where the Douglas-fir forests intertwine with coastal prairies. This little lake has been a nice place to stop on the way home to cool off on a warm summer day.
One of Blitz’s favorite stop off places is Lake Prairie.
I’m so glad that the dogwood are in bloom at this time.
This gallery contains 2 photos.
Originally posted on Sneaking Bliss:
Turkey dinner prep circa 1946 (American Standard ad). Now for a real throwback, turkey dinner prep 2014.
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