BS: Open Mike has lost her home & contents 2008

Subject: RE: BS: Open Mike has lost her home and contents
From: Peace
Date: 29 Jul 08 - 04:59 PM

I'll get to it on Thursday, SINSULL. Busy as all get-out right now.

Subject: RE: BS: Open Mike has lost her home and contents
From: Rapparee
Date: 29 Jul 08 - 02:58 PM

Been there...but it takes me months to write a song.

Subject: RE: BS: Open Mike has lost her home and contents
From: SINSULL
Date: 29 Jul 08 - 11:12 AM

Visit above the line - a Song Challenge posted by Laurel.

Subject: RE: BS: Open Mike has lost her home and contents
From: Peace
Date: 29 Jul 08 - 09:24 AM

Refresh

Subject: RE: BS: Open Mike has lost her home and contents
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Jul 08 - 01:25 PM

it doesn't have holes in it until you poke them in to set little connectors in for tubes which carry small amounts of water to each plant. I laid it in the stream so it would carry water by gravity feed down to the plants below which have survived the fire, but my water system was burned up so i am trying to keep the lilies, tomatoes, and herbs alive.

Laurel, you sound like a natural for the Mudcat Gardeners group. It has only a few members so far, but it has been a great place to park photos from Bobert, Leo (MMario) and my yards. We'd love to see your progress after the fire. Do you have a digital camera?

I worked as a USFS firefighter for several years, and also in the timber management/reforestation end of things (when it wasn't fire season) and I always enjoyed watching the succession of plants colonizing a burned area, and as you get further from the date of the fire the range of plants is amazing. Fireweed, grasses, wildflowers, shrubs (blueberries and huckleberries, elderberry, etc.) and the sorts of trees that return to provide the understory where the species that will eventually be the climax species in succession get started. I compared the various stages in a lot of burned over wildfire and clear cut areas around the district. The wildlife that follows that succession is also pretty interesting.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Open Mike has lost her home and contents
From: Irene M
Date: 27 Jul 08 - 01:17 PM

Have just had a thought. (Yeah, OK, you felt the earth move.....)

As second highest bid for the bracelet, I now owe someone $81.

I think I have answer to sending money all over the globe.

Jacqui C, I am about to PM you.

Irene

Subject: RE: BS: Open Mike has lost her home and contents
From: gnu
Date: 27 Jul 08 - 01:14 PM

Well, Rap, first off, it's gnu with a lower case g.

I guess our optical sorters aren't quite as smart as yours because ours sort from bottom right to left after the postage is confirmed. As far as "letting them sort it by hand", I would rather my cheque arrived post haste in this particular case.

As for the lockup, I haven't been there in years and years. Well, I'm pretty sure anyway. I would think that I would at least remember getting out.

Anyway, the cheque for Seamus' book and for SINS' book is in a PROPERLY addressed envelope and shall be through the optical reader tomorrow evening, thence speeding it's way to you. There are other things I would like to bid on, but I am at my limit for this month.

Lastly, cash that sucker as fast as you can. I am serious. With the price of gas dropping, the Canuck Dollar just might follow and pennies count... well, I count them.

Subject: RE: BS: Open Mike has lost her home and contents
From: Rapparee
Date: 27 Jul 08 - 10:50 AM

Yesterday 7,900+ acres burned just west of here -- like 10 miles west. Homes were threatened, but they managed to use a road as a firebreak. Some hundreds of acres of wheat when up though.

Subject: RE: BS: Open Mike has lost her home and contents
From: kendall
Date: 27 Jul 08 - 06:44 AM

Only 4 days left to bid on the Phillips/Morse DVD folks.

Subject: RE: BS: Open Mike has lost her home and contents
From: Alice
Date: 26 Jul 08 - 07:39 PM

On news here now, a wildfire at Red Lodge, MT, houses and cabins will burn in canyon, as it is inaccessible right now. Evacuating people. It is 3 miles from the ski resort and moving toward town.

Sounds like a good start on the irrigation, Laurel.
I love claw foot tubs! Most relaxing bath, an old one in a house I used to rent, wish I had it in this home.

Subject: RE: BS: Open Mike has lost her home and contents
From: ranger1
Date: 26 Jul 08 - 06:59 PM

We had a close call last year at Wolfe's Neck Woods during the Labor Day holiday weekend. It was bone-dry and some moron pitched a cigarette butt into the duff on the side of a trail. Luckily, I was out doing a quick patrol and smelled wood smoke where there shouldn't have been and we caught it before it burned much more than a dollar bill-sized area or went underground.

Subject: RE: BS: Open Mike has lost her home and contents
From: Rapparee
Date: 25 Jul 08 - 05:33 PM

I'm sitting here in my office, listening to the planes and copters dropping retardant and water on the wildfire on the hill immediately west of town -- and the Library. Great view, and that's ALL I want of it.

The hill doesn't seem to have a name, so we're calling it "Old Smokey." But I can identify with Peace and Open mic about wildfires. This is not the first one I've seen first hand, but it's the closest, being maybe 1.5 miles away.

Subject: RE: BS: Open Mike has lost her home and contents
From: SINSULL
Date: 25 Jul 08 - 08:56 AM

I admire your ingenuity and ability to take back control of your life.
Stay strong, lady.
SINS

Subject: RE: BS: Open Mike has lost her home and contents
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 25 Jul 08 - 08:03 AM

Good to see you doing something, rather than sitting around moping, OM - my thoughts are with you.

Robin

Subject: RE: BS: Open Mike has lost her home and contents
From: open mike
Date: 25 Jul 08 - 02:22 AM

drip line is poly tubing
http://www.dripirrigation.com/drip_irrigation_info.php?products_id=263
it doesn't have holes in it until you poke them in to set little connectors in for tubes which carry small amounts of water to each plant.
I laid it in the stream so it would carry water by gravity feed down
to the plants below which have survived the fire, but my water system
was burned up so i am trying to keep the lilies, tomatoes, and herbs alive.

Subject: RE: BS: Open Mike has lost her home and contents
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Jul 08 - 12:35 AM

Ha! Gotcha, Gnu!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Open Mike has lost her home and contents
From: Rapparee
Date: 24 Jul 08 - 02:34 PM

I've always put the country last:

Gnu
Moncton City Jail
Moncton, New Brunswick
          D233 S981
CANADA

Like that.

If they can't figure it out let 'em sort it by hand, I say!

Subject: RE: BS: Open Mike has lost her home and contents
From: gnu
Date: 24 Jul 08 - 02:17 PM

Rap....

Mike Doellman
PO Box 4905
Pocatello, ID 83205-4905
USA

Ummm....

Mike Doellman
PO Box 4905
Pocatello, ID
USA
83205-4905

No? Or are your optical sorters different down south?

Subject: RE: BS: Open Mike has lost her home and contents
From: SINSULL
Date: 24 Jul 08 - 11:40 AM

AHHH. Where I come from they are called soaker hoses.

Subject: RE: BS: Open Mike has lost her home and contents
From: maeve
Date: 24 Jul 08 - 10:41 AM

Sounds like Laurel is using creek water, running through three lengths of hoses with tiny holes in them (so water will seep trhough to the soil around the plants), to irrigate her plants. Good idea, that!

Subject: RE: BS: Open Mike has lost her home and contents
From: SINSULL
Date: 24 Jul 08 - 10:29 AM

Forgive my ignorance but what is 1/2" drip line and why are you stretching it up the creek?
Mary

Subject: RE: BS: Open Mike has lost her home and contents
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 24 Jul 08 - 02:27 AM

good to hear about the plants & bath.                                                                     

A few years back friends lost part of their backyard in one of our big bushfires, & posted pics of little green shoots on burnt land a short time later.

sandra
my little brother is 6'6" & always wanted a bath to stretch out in!

Subject: RE: BS: Open Mike has lost her home and contents
From: open mike
Date: 24 Jul 08 - 02:12 AM

i do beieve my claw foot tub survived the blaze

it was in theroom

yard...waiting to be put in the bathroom

one that is large enough to strecth out in

no more scrunching..


i went to the land today to try to get some
water on the plants that survived the blaze.

i got 3 rolls of 500 feet of 1/2 " drip line.
after i got thru stretching it up the creek
i was stomping thru ashes, and soot and burned
trees, but there is water flowing thru the ashes.

Subject: RE: BS: Open Mike has lost her home and contents
From: SINSULL
Date: 23 Jul 08 - 10:28 AM

Right Jacqui - I was referring to Bert's offer of a bathtub and Sorcha's dry wall.
eantime - REFRESH!

Subject: RE: BS: Open Mike has lost her home and contents
From: Peace
Date: 22 Jul 08 - 09:05 PM

I've just placed 10 CDs in the auction, fyi. I think you folks have been and continue to be wonderful.

Bruce

Subject: RE: BS: Open Mike has lost her home and contents
From: jacqui.c
Date: 21 Jul 08 - 03:55 PM

Mary - Laurel actually asked for that CD so I reckon that it's safe to send it.

Subject: RE: BS: Open Mike has lost her home and contents
From: SINSULL
Date: 21 Jul 08 - 02:56 PM

Might be a little soon to deliver anything into the area. Fire season has a ways to go.

Meantime, there are a number of items in the auction specifically for the Open Mike fund. Bid high and bid often.

Subject: RE: BS: Open Mike has lost her home and contents
From: Big Mick
Date: 20 Jul 08 - 11:07 PM

.... and if you need a Paypal, the addy is micklane at comcast dot net.

C'mon folks, let's show them our heart.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: BS: Open Mike has lost her home and contents
From: Rapparee
Date: 20 Jul 08 - 10:45 PM

For those who need an address again:

Mike Doellman
PO Box 4905
Pocatello, ID 83205-4905
USA

Subject: RE: BS: Open Mike has lost her home and contents
From: Amos
Date: 20 Jul 08 - 02:24 PM

Laurel:

PM me an addy and Blue Bottle CD will be en route.


A

Subject: RE: BS: Open Mike has lost her home and contents
From: Sorcha
Date: 20 Jul 08 - 11:48 AM

There is that, kat, and I've already sent some money.

Subject: RE: BS: Open Mike has lost her home and contents
From: katlaughing
Date: 20 Jul 08 - 11:21 AM

With the cost of gas, it might be cheaper to just send the gas money as a donation, esp. hauling some heavy stuff...?

Subject: RE: BS: Open Mike has lost her home and contents
From: Donuel
Date: 20 Jul 08 - 09:04 AM

The Big Sur fire has encompassed an aread the size of Rhode Island as reported on npr this morning.

Subject: RE: BS: Open Mike has lost her home and contents
From: Sorcha
Date: 20 Jul 08 - 08:37 AM

Bert! Capital Idea! I've got some sheet rock/dry wall in the garage too! Uh, I don't pull this trailer.....need a driver or drivers plural. I could also donate some chairs, a desk, and a futon bed.

Subject: RE: BS: Open Mike has lost her home and contents
From: Bert
Date: 19 Jul 08 - 10:19 PM

Rachael has some surplus building materials from her remodelling business. We could load up Sorcha's trailer and relay it down to California.

Off hand there are some doors, a bathtub or two, a bidet, a vanity sink and a kitchen sink.

Subject: RE: BS: Open Mike has lost her home and contents
From: jacqui.c
Date: 19 Jul 08 - 02:24 PM

So good to hear from you Laurel.

That motor home sounds like a very good idea!

Subject: RE: BS: Open Mike has lost her home and contents
From: Alice
Date: 19 Jul 08 - 12:18 PM

More HUGS to you from here, Laurel.

Love, Alice

Subject: RE: BS: Open Mike has lost her home and contents
From: gnu
Date: 19 Jul 08 - 12:00 PM

Hugs are good. And so is your attitude. It's comforting to me to know you are "okay". You are gonna be fine.... great stuff.

Subject: RE: BS: Open Mike has lost her home and contents
From: open mike
Date: 19 Jul 08 - 11:10 AM

thanks for all good wishes, ideas, etc.
at this time my plan is to get a motor home
large enough to live in long term (i have a
very compact one for weekend outings and
travelling in, but it is not large enough
to live in....but then, i do not have that
much stuff any more.

yes, there is a lot of work ahead to clean
up the site and get water and other systems
and infrastructure back for all of us. of 8
partners, onluy one house remains.

i am glad that some of my mudcat friends
were able to visit and enjoy that house
and land...marion, kendall and jacqui.
and that a few others have seen the area
when they attended the camp out i hold in
the local camp ground. i believe there will
be many who will reside at that camp ground
while re-habilitating their homes.


yes, we are in process of re-building our
communal family as well as the entire neighborhood.
a daunting task. this weekend i have the
opportunity to attend a music vestival and a
wedding, so am able to celebrate these events
and that is a positive step.

one thing i would requewst from mudcats is a
copy of the baby lullaby disc...bottle(??)
as i will be a grandmother soon and would
like to share this with the little one who
will arrive this fall!

o.k. luckily i have wireless internet in the
campground at the www.worldfest.net
wish you all could be here....i am soaking in
lots of hugs.

Laurel

Subject: RE: BS: Open Mike has lost her home and contents
From: Irene M
Date: 19 Jul 08 - 11:00 AM

The cottage I grew up in was made of cob. This is a mixture of earth, cow dung and anything else, including bracken and gorse that came to hand. At the bottom, the walls were 4 feet thick, and at the top, about 18 inches.
It was fan shaped, to fit the available space. Not a right angle in it anywhere.

Subject: RE: BS: Open Mike has lost her home and contents
From: Alice
Date: 19 Jul 08 - 10:49 AM

Photo

Rammed Earth Works house

Subject: RE: BS: Open Mike has lost her home and contents
From: Alice
Date: 19 Jul 08 - 10:43 AM

I like the Arts & Crafts Style look that a lot of rammed earth houses have. I can see you nestled at home in one of those, Laurel!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Open Mike has lost her home and contents
From: Alice
Date: 19 Jul 08 - 10:41 AM

We had another thread years ago where I posted links about rammed earth. One of the most successful companies building with rammed earth in the USA is in Napa, CA.
Rammed Earth Works

Subject: RE: BS: Open Mike has lost her home and contents
From: Alice
Date: 19 Jul 08 - 10:30 AM

When I had my land in the forest in n.w. Montana, I was interested in building a rammed earth house. The clay and sand soil there was perfect for it, and I made a big test block of rammed earth. Eventually sold the land, though. I don't know if the soil where you are would work for it, Laurel, but rammed earth would be very inexpensive as well as fireproof if you could use it.

Subject: RE: BS: Open Mike has lost her home and contents
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Jul 08 - 02:21 AM

Straw bale houses are less expensive and very well insulated, but you'd need a good vent system (check out the fire code, it is in place now) to keep the embers out and the house intact in fire season.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Open Mike has lost her home and contents
From: Alice
Date: 18 Jul 08 - 02:54 PM

The interiors look like they are finished with wood paneling or painted sheetrock. I don't think they would leave the inside just the bare concrete wall! But you can attach things to concrete, too.
Photos of homes inside and out

Subject: RE: BS: Open Mike has lost her home and contents
From: Irene M
Date: 18 Jul 08 - 02:23 PM

The "log" cabins look quite realistic. At least they are going to resist fire, but I can't help thinking it would be a bit a bugger trying to knock a nail in to hang a picture.

Subject: RE: BS: Open Mike has lost her home and contents
From: Cool Beans
Date: 18 Jul 08 - 01:02 PM

Check's in the mail to Mike for Laurel. Thanks, Peace, for bringing this to our attention.

Subject: RE: BS: Open Mike has lost her home and contents
From: Alice
Date: 18 Jul 08 - 11:15 AM

Direct link to their site

http://concretelogs.com/
Cultured Log Systems
honored by "Built Green" Home of the Year

Subject: RE: BS: Open Mike has lost her home and contents
From: Alice
Date: 18 Jul 08 - 10:37 AM

See the "Little Precast House on the Prairie" section of this article.
Click Here & Scroll Down

"A new technique for making log homes replicates the look of wood logs so well that it might fool termites—at least until they tried to bite into one. ...The concept has been developed by Cultured Log Systems in Missoula, Mont., which worked with Missoula Concrete Construction to create the system and products."