Critters

I don't know why those danged Carpenter bees have been drilling into my house this year and last. There aren't visible signs where this was a problem in the past. It must be the stain used back in 2007 when I had the place done. There just isn't anything else that makes sense. 17 years and no holes and suddenly a bunch of them in two years.

Just this year about a dozen holes started in the porch roof with two becoming home until I plugged 'em up today with some 1/2" wood dowels. Why they start some holes and abandon some is a mystery to me. Near knots yes, but away from them? Must be the taste.

And we had a visitor from the creek this morning. It was about this time last year we had the same. Snapping turtle trying to find a place to lay eggs. She didn't go far. Looked around and went back over the patio head first towards the creek. Notice the claws.

No sign of any snakes this year and I have been digging through areas where they would be hanging out; rocks and such. The place is pretty lively around 6AM with some song birds tweeting away.

One Set Of Stairs Complete

Took awhile to figure out how to build this thing. A little pre-planning would have worked as I constantly ran into problems with a drain pipe from the driveway above.

Before. Last Summer.

Now...

Closer Pic....

Haven't finished that retaining wall to the right of the steps. I'm just lousy with "grouting" Maybe some bushes will hide it. About 12 bags of quickcrete in that area. This is something I planned on doing down near the creek if it showed signs of moving.

Bikers Dream Ride. Great Smoky Mountains

It started after driving down the Foothills Parkway from Townsend TN. I was trying to get back to 441 that runs down into Georgia from Knoxville for the route home. Must have read that map wrong. I saw the signs..."switchback roads, trucks not allowed" Made the wrong trun and came into this lake area. Not in any hurry here. Why not explore.

Started noticing a few bikers here and there until it became obvious this was a bikers paradise through the Great Smoky Mountains.

There's even a bikers resort or gathering place near the TN-NC line at Deals Gap. I can imagine what this place looks like on weekends! Bikers of all ages, types, small sports cars here and there buzzing through the winding roads.

Maps showing the general area...

Sunset In The Smoky Mountains

I'm not usually good with darker photo settings, but I did discover a new setting on my camera. Huh? Almost two years and I found something new? Lost or misplaced the manual. First off I'm here to see a custom hardwood flooring stain job with one of the hardest types of hardwoods to stain...Maple. Some guy from New york with too much $$ has a house under construction on a mountaintop in a place called Kinzel Springs, TN.

The driveway! OMG. 350 yards of concrete (according to the builder) nearly straight up with switchback turns. Don't try it in the winter. Not a very attractive house, no pics.

Doing floor samples.

Lot's of wood carvers in the area.

Near the Morton Overlook on highway 441. Elevation 4826. Located about 14 miles east of Gatlinburg or near the TN, NC border. Nice drive, steep, but nothing like the PCH, plenty running water to see.

Looking east into North Carolina.

West into TN

New Projects, Birds Etc

I guess it's been awhile. Busy with other stuff, mainly "work" if you wanna call it that. It had been some time since I put a serious effort to my real work. With the internet one has to keep a step ahead of the crowd otherwise they'll sneak up and take you off the first page of Google.

Anyway. New Projects

Fence along the west side of the lawn. I still have some leftover from the driveway. Probably put some kind of climbing rose bushes on front. Birds love to sit and crap on it:(

Oh that's new. Pics are in a different position. Must have changed sumthin. Looks better anyway. Lesse what else is in the camera. Mom and Pop birds. Yellow Finch I think. They took off before I could get a better angle.

Rain has stopped...finally with the exception of some sprinkles. No major rain for eight days! I think the lawn has been invaded by grubs. I treated it with something in late March that was supposed to last all season long. I'm thinking the heavy rains just diluted it to death.

Next New Project

Wall area next to driveway. It will be PT 6 x 6" but stained, beveled and distressed with the chainsaw. Kind of a rough sawn lumber look. Wall height will be three foot back filled behind. What to plant there? As far as the gardens..waiting till they are done, if Mom can keep up. Headed to TN for a few days next week for "work."