Heading to the cabin on christmas, the place is pretty socked in with snow as of this writing, I look forward to a little coating, it makes it easier to follow the critters!

December Continues

Here we are its Mid December, not alot to say just that I will be headed to NC on Christmas Day, I got a great deal on Allegiant into spartanburg, I am tempted to park some old car there near the Airport, it would be awesome to just take a cab a Bang, right to the mountain, how feesable would that be?? Well, Im meeting a truss guy on the 29th to discuss stacking 3 sets of trusses atop each other to build the A-Frame Shell, (have I written this already?) anyway, it's seems like its goona be very expensive, and I have no $$ but, I have gotten this far and its been ok, so, damn the torpedoes and global economic meltdown, I'm DOIN IT!

A Postcard From the "PEARL"

I checked my mail the other day and found a postcard from my old pal, the teardrop trailer PEARL sorta...The day I sold it the slightly overweight woman seemed nice enough and I told her she could use the tag to get home and either send it back or trash it,(I never thought she would really use it) of course, no good deed goes unpunished, the Florida turnpike has cameras that take pictures of toll runners and I have recieved two toll violations so far with pictures my trailer and old tag on them from cypress creek to Kissimee St. Cloud! Good luck PEARL...

A teardrop for the Teardrop......

My Teardrop Trailer is sold, thanks for all your inquiries. I sold it to a woman that plans to take the "Pearl" cross-country and find as many free and SAFE camping spots as she does so. She told me about a site called "Boonedocking.com" that lists several good spots, that inspired me to google a few more "Cheap camping" is another blog I found...in the meanwhile, the proceeds from the sale of the Pearl went into building my foundation for my A-frame in the NC mountains, so, in a way, the Pearl will always be with me, and as for her new owner, happy trails! May your travels be happy and I hope you enjoy sailing the highways and byways with her as much as I did! ( Dont worry! I am already looking at more cool camping tiny trailers)

Turtles

I had a great idea one night, after a few LARGE glasses of wine, I remembered a Gopher turtle, (yes, they are actually TORTISES) I had seen that evening cross a busy road among one of Ft. Lauderdales' busiest, and most deadly, roads barely escape the crushing tires of millions of cars on a local highway, as I wrote at length about the correlation between the narrow escape of the turtle, the slow plodding stuggle in life that mirrored my own, the pleasure of laying neck deep in mud...I realized I was drunk, and making no friggin sense at all, and I DELETED the whole thing except the title, now, I am SO GLAD I did! (Note to self the "No drink and dial" rule applies to BLOGGING too)

Another victim goes down in flames

I was surprised and saddened to learn the little store near my place in NC has closed its doors for the last time, "Todd's Country Store" in Buffalo Cove, NC is no more, its history is rich and long, lasting through the depression, and sickness, and even passing into the hand of new owners only to have the global economic meltdown drive the last nail into its coffin. A wonderfully sweet woman who was the daughter of the original owners Mary Todd, and her husband Herb used to run a tiny little post office there, the locals sat around the store all years in all weather, inside in the winter near the pot belly stove, all eyes on you as you walked through the door, it scared off alot of folks that didnt know how harmless these folks were, but they enjoys the nervous looks of the strangers as they crept past them, only to be greeted by Mary and Herb and all the tension evaporated. The same locals will be sorely missing the credit that was run up during many a short paycheck, and free coffee doled out by the gallon! I will miss that place, not near as much as the crowd that passed the day there day after day, but it leave a huge sucking sound in the end, and will never be recreated, I sure hope someone will try though...

Teardrop Trailer for Sale

OK, this is hard to part with, but for the greater good, I'm selling my Tiny Teardrop Trailer, the "Pearl" has got all you need on short or long trips, A/C unit built in, 110v hook up, lamps and a 13" television with a digital converter, shelving and storage from Ikea, and lots of stories yet to be told! All yours for $1500.00 and you come get it in Ft. Lauderdale of course. All proceeds to go to my A-Frame project in the mountains, a WORTHY cause! Email me at Caribe704@aol.com if interested.

Coming SOON!

I have been ruminating for some time about some way to subsidize my A-Frame Building Fund, its been tough going, and I am ready to kick it up a notch, and get er' DONE! SO, I am almost ready to put it out there, nothing huge, but, maybe, just maybe, a way to sell something cool that everyone might need, or want to buy a friend, or a LOT of Friends! coming SOON! Watch this space...

The A-Frame Foundation Passes inspection 8/21/2009

A small event occurred yesterday in the mountains of North Carolina, although to me, it was a momentous milestone of preponderous porportions! The Basement walls (see picture) of my a-frame passed inspection, they are now completely built to the top, with bond beams (extra rebar reinforcement) installed and even my septic line passed, a bonus that was bestowed by a smiling inspector! (Its best, I have found, to KEEP these guys smiling, as they are the final approval that the entire structure lives or dies by) I now have depleted my bank account for this month, if I am to pay all my bills. So, I will replenish the money supply with future paychecks and continue the construction next month. I have a guy Mike working for me that has been a huge help since I am 800 miles away, he is able to meet inspectors and find local materials and thats been one of the hardest parts of building this Home, besides the money...I am determined to find ways to make it happen, its becomiing more of a monument that just a house, a monument to prove I can do it! That no matter what a man's, (or woman) limitations, they can achieve bigger, better things! And besides, its gonna be nice to sit on that new deck someday, in the near future, and watch the sun come up, on my new deck, with a hot cup of coffee in hand, maybe even with a little shot of rum in there, and say, "I did it"!!!

North Carolina's Deer Crossing Page on the Web - Deer Crossing POA Home

North Carolina's Deer Crossing Page on the Web - Deer Crossing POA Home

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Another trip to the clouds, the A-frame grows!

Another successful trip to the mountains and now my walls are high and bank account low. The basement is coming along well, walls almost complete and ready for inspection, then will come the filling of the back walls with cement, and the main beam installation,
heres some pictures for you to see it all....

A "Quick Cold Beer" Story

I was had just left the local Lowes last on a hot and sunny afternoon in Ft. Lauderdale the other day, I was looking for a lever type doorknob to replace my old one at home, it was the original know, and the thing was losing its spring (for like the last 5 years) I thought about replacing it when I originally bought my place, but now that I think about it, I found them TOO expensive at that time too, I left Lowes thinking that $50 is just WAY too much for a doorknob,(it was the only one that matched my old one}, and I could live with a rattling one for that price...so, I find myself thinking of a local watering hole called "The Bru's Room" since I had no place to be until later that evening and it was near noon, so I called a friend to ask him to join me for a cold beer, I was surprised when he answered and immediately said "Sure, hey I'm with another buddy and we are going to put the boat in, lets get a beer and dot it" That sounded perfect to me, I was getting a bonus boat ride! We met up at the bar with excitement in the air.After um, 3 beers, we all piled into his truck and with boat in tow headed to a boat ramp a few miles away, the sun was out, barely a hint of wind, we were GOLDEN!On the way we stopped for another 12-pak to hydrate us while we delivered the boat to a canal near his house, after a picture perfect launch at the ramp, his buddy wave and drove off with trailer in tow to drop it off at my buddy's house, and return to his own home where his own wife was apparently a bit upset with his about something he had done the night before, apparently involving beer I gathered...
We zoomed down an almost empty intercoastal waterway, it was during the week and we had it all to ourselves, we laughed at the poor working stiffs as we drank cold beer and felt on top of the world, then the engine coughed and went silent.
An hour later we had determined there was water in the gas as we floated like a cork in an increasingly busy waterway, large yachts drove us toward concrete docks with not so much as a wave, we hade no paddle as I ran from bow to stern fending off the rising and falling concrete docks and stray pilings while alternately pumping the bulb on out sputtering engine, we were sweltering under the blazing south florida sun whilst quaffing down beers in the feeble quest to replace the moisture which streamed from our every pore streaming down our legs and onto the deck creating a muddy slippery suface aiding in the clumsy slip and fall sideshow as we both attempted dating round to prevent the vessel from smashing against the seawall aided by the onslaught of giant waves created by passing high speed boats the laughed and waved as they sped by, after a few tense hours we sputtered into the protected dockage we sought across the street from his house as we stumbled across the street to be greeted by the high-pitched screams of his wife asking where the HELL we were, and what was wrong with him when he was supposed to be going out to dinnerin 30 minutes with his in-laws!!! I sort of cowered a bit as I began to notice my pockets felt a bit light and realized my keys were missing, why me, why now? what the F***...I was then included in the horrible lambasting as drunk and and idiot as my buddies wife insisted she deliver me to my house in her car as they had places to go and couldnt just leave me on the porch, she grumbled many things while telling her young daughter who rode in front how we we useless and could not be trusted to do anything, as she rolled up in front of my house and dismissed me from the vehicle I mumured thanks to the roar of her engine as they sped back to her equally usless husband.
I climbed the stairs to my place and knew what I must do, the option of calling my girlfriend to come let me in with her key was not a good option, after what I had just witnessed, so, I hit the front door with my shoulder like a priest chasing down an alter-boy, shattering the the old doorknob and doorjamb and providing me access to my home, AND my set of spare keys. After a semi quick yet expensive taxi ride to
my truck parked outside the bar, after which I drove directly back to Lowes, purchasing the $50 dollar doorknob I had turned my nose up at earlier, came home replaced the doorknob and a temporary patch on the doorjamb, a super quick shower and bolted off to meet my girlfriend who distainfully questioned the smell of beer on my breath and a slight slur in my speech, my retort was at least I was on time,
which did me little good, my behavior being was what was at question..
early the next morning I awoke and mentally ticked off the actions of the aternoon,and evening before, sure I had placed my keys in a safe spot. I began to drive to my buddies house after waiting until a reasonable hour calling as I began to get close, "I found them" he answered, bringing a huge grin to my face, all was well in the world again, "Wanna grab a beer?" I quipped with an even bigger grin. "Not just yet" he replied, knowing I was well aware of the international cooling off period we both were accustomed to following, "But real soon" he added, knowing another adventure loomed ahead...

Another month, another load of Block for the A-Frame!

I just love this! Things sure have changed since the "OLD" days back when I was the only one up there on the mountain back in my little hideout on Wild Turkey Lane! I was really nervouse about this latest load of materials I got delivered to my site, but, the truck driver actually called me from just up the road for directions, (I'm still down in Ft. Lauderdale at Sea Level) His cell phone was a little scratchy but I could talk with him pretty clear. I called him back about an hour later to make sure he found it (bout two hours ago, and he said, "Yup, your neighbor came over a took a picture to send ya" and I log on and POOF! Theres my block being delivered!!! (looks like my new neighbor Johnny Overby sent it) I swear, I would read "Dick Tracy" all those years ago and think, wouldn't THAT be cool, and here I am with an 800 mile view of the goings on in my driveway, I'm either really cool, really OLD or some of both!I will be headed up to my cabin next week on Wednesday to meet up with my block guy and "Git er' Done" so, more pics to come...

Way down upon the Itchetucknee

These are pictures of the Ichetucknee Cemetery I literally stubled
across as I was walking through the woods, The scene was "Movie
Set Scary" I found graves from late 1800's to the 1970's The grave
from the late 1800's with the doll has got to be the most scary. I will
add the pictures of the river later as they were on a waterproof cam






I went to a beautiful and unique part of Florida last week, The Itchetucknee River, also near the Santa Fe, Moe Springs, and a bunch of other perfectly CLEAR, 73 degree, spring fed, peaceful, beautiful fresh water springs in that part of florida that one can launch in an inner tube, or any other Floaty of choice, and waft, lazily under oak-treed, Moss-canopied, otter-swiimin, wood-stork callin, cliff jumping beauty! Pick an hour or 5 to just unwind your mind and wathc perfectly happy fresh water mullet follow your tube for hours, its a wunderful thing, I love this place, it has SO many great stories to uncover! Fer instance: Naked Ed-This fellow is a local hero, with Beers, Books, AND Babies named after him, I am not sure about who owns the rights...this guy, Ed, had some sort of condition that led him to find a little shack by the river and he would just sit in from of his dock in chest deep water, (yes Naked, and remember, the water is CLEARER than air) and he was happy to dispense wise advice to those who might float by. Naked Ed is local treasure, and his beer is GREAT too! You can find it, and many other local stories at the "Great Outdoors Brewery"

There were some other adventures too, as I took a little look see into the woods from my Cabin I found The Scary overgrown middle of nowhere Itchetucknee Cemetary Graveyard See pics below!

Happy Sunday

Hey! Ok, so maybe I'm the only one reading this but, I continue to grow my evil plan to take over the world, even though no one is paying any attention. I have been reading up on Rocket Stoves for my A-frame up in NC, as my newly adopted worker Mike is at this very moment digging a trench for the 4" sewage pipe under the footer for my Basement, 80' to the very expensive septic tank I put in last year, he has told me he "Ran into a rock the size of his truck" and had to adjust to go around it, ( I am pretty sure he knows what he is doing, but I still am nervous about having to unclog any thing in the future when the pipe is re-buried! As soon as I can save up enough for 500 more 12" blocks I will have him continue on the basement. I just felt bad when he told me he was running out of food so I had him do what Fred could finish with his D9 in 2 hours. But, Mike will do a tidier job with no cracked footer. Anyway, in my surfing Sundy (it's really raing cats and dogs today) I found the TRUSS-ME truss holding system and lots of ther good stuff, more to come, heres a pic of the progress, (havent seen the trench yet!



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A trip to the beach

went to a favorite caming spot in long key last week, let the pictures speak for themselves

I turn 52

Ha! Whodathunkit? I turn 52 this Friday, old fart that I am. I am still doing all the, (well MOST) stuff I always have, but its true, some days you wake up and say, OW! My GODDAM KNEEEE! But, by lunch its fine, next week you wake up and say DAMN! My foot hurts, what did I do?! Then by dinner its fine, this is how it goes, so you just learn to accept the little surprised as a challenge, god, by the time I reach Aunt Mimi's youthful 94 I am really gonna have some suprises when I wake up, of course, I dont think Aunt Mimi has slept since 1978 but its possible, oh Boy! I go to the mountains NEXT week, wow, its here already! Wow! Anyway, I hope to build most of the basement walls. this should be fun! I know I am 52 when I start carrying thos blocks!!!

A few things come to mind

I want a Ditch Witch, a cement mixer, a big wheelbarrow, scaffolding, and more time. Are you listening Santa?

More cabin stuff

My OTHER Site

its ALL about the Cabin

Back from the cabin, I am having a tough time re-acclimating, but more later, I am going to need more bricks!

Leaving Sea Level

I am preparing to go to my Cabin in NC for a few days to start a few rows of block for my basement. I am bringing some stuff on the plane (stupid 1 bag carry on rule) to plant (bout 50 tu;ip bulb for this early oughta be able to survive a few frosts, but also just started a plum tree and a red maple in pots here to try to start later in the spring. My visions of being able to grow my own fruits
have been thwarted by droughts and returning to dead sticks in the ground..I am planning a Rainbarrel and soaker hose strategy that may help this...Hopefully some pics to add on my return, but for now just check out the site...http://jonathansmountaincabin.wetpaint.com/

Monday's come fast

I've done it. I am starting this Blog on a Monday in Febuary with 5 minutes to spare, gotta go take a shower, brush my teeth, go to work. Ah, but there is so much more to do and so little time. Fish to fry, and mountains to conquer, all in time, but mine is up..more later...JP