How are you holding up?

[Bobbie54]

Originally Posted by dfandrews

They're supposed to; the masks are specially made:

They didn't wear that kind or any other to put the posts in. To put the fences up they wore bandana-masks--- around their necks. I guess they put them up if the boss shows up.

[Iowa Dave]

Never had much experience. Have done some work with chain link, Bob ware, and hog tight
though.
Iowa Dave

[ColoradoSwany]

Touche’...or is it tooshay?

[escape artist]

Originally Posted by MyronL

Right on. Yes, and it is certainly now time to change the tires on the trailer.

Hi: MyronL... I'm going shoping even if it kills me. That is after Tuesday. Once we get over the holiday weekend and the stores open up!!! Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

[escape artist]

Originally Posted by Iowa Dave

Never had much experience. Have done some work with chain link, Bob ware, and hog tight
though.
Iowa Dave

Hi: Iowa Dave... But have you ever done "Hay wire"? Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

[escape artist]

Originally Posted by Bobbie54

They didn't wear that kind or any other to put the posts in. To put the fences up they wore bandana-masks--- around their necks. I guess they put them up if the boss shows up.

Hi: Bobbie54... As long as they don't come looking for their money wearing masks!!! Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

[Iowa Dave]

Originally Posted by escape artist

Hi: Iowa Dave... But have you ever done "Hay wire"? Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

That’s my specialty. Making things go hay wire. But for hay bales I like the old fashioned binder twine. Ever use binder twine for a fire starter. Burns hot and fast, easy to roll into a ball or make into a hank, many uses. Restrains kids to picnic table seats well ( but not as pretty as duck tape) , that’s another story. Have a great day in Ontario today.
Iowa Dave

[cpaharley2008]

Speaking of fire starter, I have a large box in my she shed of Georgia fatwood fire starter kindling. You can light it with a match and it takes off like a flare, popping like popcorn
https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/5163...5_Search&SS3=B

[Jim Bennett]

Loosely roll up toilet paper, dip it in heated paraffin parafin wax, press most excess wax, and cut into little pieces. Doing up a few of these at a time creates some fantastic fire starters that work well even if very wet outside, and burn long enough to definitely get a good fire going. I've seen someone do similar with sawdust, and that worked great.

Tons of great ideas out there though.

Anyway, just after 7am here. Time to go outside and get to work. So much to do, but fun doing it.

[h2owmn]

I'm not using toilet paper for anything other than the advertised use. just sayin'.

I have used fabric scraps and clippings or ripped cardboard or dryer lint with the paraffin...old girl scout days. works pretty good!

[Bobbie54]

I've done firestarters in egg cartons- put sawdust or shavings in, add parafin, break into pieces. They work great but might be worth trying with toilet paper, seems easier than finding shavings. Light the edge of the egg carton piece.

[Iowa Dave]

Fire starters In no particular order
4 ought steel wool
Futerra landscape fabric
Birch bark
Binder twine
Wood excelsior packing material
Abandoned birds nests from small prairie trees: vireos, chipping sparrows: goldfinch
Mouse or vole nest
Dry milkweed pods
Dryer lint
Fine cedar wood shavings ( from a hand plane)
Flint and steel into tinder
Paraffin candle
And finally, although it takes a fat guy to get much: Belly button lint.
This excludes commercial products, not that there’s anything wrong with that.
Tinder then kindling then fuel; wood, buffalo chips, coon fat, charcoal etc. depending upon the goal at hand.
Study your fire lays to accomplish your goal
Ignition source, fuel, oxygen. The fire triangle
One match
Always keep a sandwich bag in your pocket and when you’re out during the day be thinking about your fire that night. Put tinder in the bag as you find it.
Keep fire-starting materials in your go-bag
Read: To build a fire by London

[Bobbie54]

Originally Posted by Iowa Dave

Read: To build a fire by London

I took a wilderness skiing class in college and we had to read that. We went out on a wet, cold (rain on old snow) day to practice fire starting. But as a former Girl Scout I knew what I was doing! Got mine going and several others who were stuck. (Sad that sometimes now I can't start the charcoal fire in a charcoal chimney!)

Usually good tinder to be found (dry) at the base of large trees and under bushes with snow pockets. Birds nests are a little harder to find but I like the idea and if I find some, might repurpose them into firestarter gifts... kind of novel! I have finches but they don't nest here (no trees) and the swallows that do build nests of mud.

[cpaharley2008]

Do not forget cotton, I always put spare cotton outside in a bird feeder for the birds to use in nest building. Cotton burns quickly also...

[h2owmn]

I put hair from my hairbrushes out for the birds to use as well.

Speaking of reading about fire, this is for sure a classic:

The Cremation of Sam McGee
Robert Service

There are strange things done in the midnight sun
By the men who moil for gold;
The Arctic trails have their secret tales
That would make your blood run cold;
The Northern Lights have seen queer sights,
But the queerest they ever did see
Was that night on the marge of Lake Lebarge
I cremated Sam McGee.......

[Iowa Dave]

I showed the boy scouts how to spot nests especially in the winter and early spring. I was never real specific so I shouldn’t have been surprised when one young tenderfoot came back with a mud and stick robins nest. The enterprising ones walked around till they spotted unoccupied bluebird houses. Often as not in the winter when they opened them up they were full of mice. That was exciting for a few seconds. Then they looted the contents. Landscape erosion control fabric made out of wood fiber and paper is my favorite but there’s something romantic about birch bark. Although when I see patches cut off of trees it makes me pretty upset.
Iowa Dave

[Iowa Dave]

Originally Posted by h2owmn

I put hair from my hairbrushes out for the birds to use as well.

Speaking of reading about fire, this is for sure a classic:

The Cremation of Sam McGee
Robert Service

There are strange things done in the midnight sun
By the men who moil for gold;
The Arctic trails have their secret tales
That would make your blood run cold;
The Northern Lights have seen queer sights,
But the queerest they ever did see
Was that night on the marge of Lake Lebarge
I cremated Sam McGee.......

The Heart of a Sourdough is my favorite
“I have clinched and closed with the naked North
I have learned to defy and defend.........
They’re not writing stuff like that now. Timeless
Iowa Dave

[Bobbie54]

I put corgi fur out for the birds. (Each corgi could easily provide fur for an eagle's nest.)

[Mike Lewis]

If we should wear masks at least we should have some fun with them. I think the Rolling Stones are missing out on a great marketing opportunity by not selling masks with their lips-and-tongue logo on them. I'd wear one. Or I'd wear one with this emoji:

[Jim Bennett]

I am curious regarding the use of masks due to the pandemic. I know this varies lots with geographical location.

- how many must wear them at stores?
- who decides wear them in situations where it is not mandated?
- what kind of mask do folks wear. Man-made, construction, medical, or other?
- do you use one driving?
- please add any other back. I missed.

- here not a law to wear them in stores, you always see about 5% of folks with them on. Here, some one-on-one services will only work with the patient during a mask.
- I have only worn one when doing dusty work ever, but construction masks are N95.
- I have seen a few folks wearing them when driving. Not sure what is a good reason to do so.