Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Sally PB]

I don't know how much rain we got last night, but I heard it every time I woke up. Though, we're under large trees, so sometimes it sounds like it's raining, and it's just tree drip.

The propane truck made it back here! I wasn't expecting him to come for awhile. Then l looked at the bill...

I remember someone telling me that propane should be cheaper than gasoline, as it doesn't have the taxes gas does. Must be some other taxes then, because this was the same as the gas I bought last Monday.

We will be paying an arm and a leg if/when we can't burn wood. Maybe we'll have solar by then.

 

[troyer]

I don't know how much rain we got last night, but I heard it every time I woke up. Though, we're under large trees, so sometimes it sounds like it's raining, and it's just tree drip.

The propane truck made it back here! I wasn't expecting him to come for awhile. Then l looked at the bill...

I remember someone telling me that propane should be cheaper than gasoline, as it doesn't have the taxes gas does. Must be some other taxes then, because this was the same as the gas I bought last Monday.

We will be paying an arm and a leg if/when we can't burn wood. Maybe we'll have solar by then.

We are thankful for wood heat right now, plus we like the feel of it. I have a good piece of private property that I'm allowed to cut from.

 

[1muttsfan]

If you use propane you might check with your propane supplier. Many of them have pre-buy programs that let you lock into a low price at the beginning of the season in the fall. It allows them to pre-order at a set price, and if the price drops they usually will charge you the lower amount. Some will also let you spread your payments out over the entire year based on your previous year's use. That way you get a lower bill each month.

 

[Sally PB]

Some will also let you spread your payments out over the entire year based on your previous year's use. That way you get a lower bill each month.

Yeah, we have that with Ferrellgas. I like it because I know what my gas bill will be every month, and I don't have to saw off an arm or a leg when they fill the tank. Twice a year they look at the average usage over the previous 24 months and figure out if we pay more or less. We've been at the same dollar amount now for a couple years, but we're using a lot less. But the price/gallon has gone up. So the good news is: there is no bad news.

 

[RaZ]

The first couple of years living here I was able to do the pre-buy for propane. Much less expensive to do that. Then as work dried up I couldn't swing the pre-buy option. At least I can make monthly payments and they have never failed to keep my tank filled. Again I have to give props to the local businesses. DTE and Consumer's seem to be quick with shut-offs if someone is behind on payment.

---

I'm so glad that my primary heat is wood. And I have several acres of good hardwood. Due to some of the medical issues of last year I didn't get as much wood cut as I would have liked. I'll need to step that up this year. Lots of windfall from the fall winds so I should be able to build my supply back up.

---

I did cut the birch I picked up last week. I did all of the smaller limbs and got them off the trailer. I just came in to get warm before going back out for the trunk pieces still on the trailer. I'll need the tractor to lift them. They is heavy! And I'm not feeling like a human forklift today.

---

Topped off the diesel can. Freaking $3.80/gallon. Ouch. I hope the fuel prices go down before car show season. My LTD needs ethanol-free premium gas. A fill up could be $100 at the current price. Might have to give up beer just to get to the car shows. I hope not.

 

[aart]

Glad I don't have to deal with propane, natural gas here.

REALLY glad all the ice/mix/rain stayed south of us. Snowing like mad tho.

 

[uchytil]

It would great to see him again. Last time he was newly married and brought his wife.

He cannot attend. He works at a turkey farm and they are in lockdown with the avian flu issues. He wanted to but job comes first.

 

[Folly's place]

Say hello to him from us! This AI problem ain't good.
Mary

 

[aart]

One of the hens is back in lay,
that's what I thought I heard this morning.
Plus I saw her stalking the nests yesterday.

A half inch or so already, but no ice underneath it.

 

[saysfaa]

Update photos
The first two are for scale of the willow. Third is seeing how much bend there is with the bark on. Fourth is my helpers with debarking. Fifth is testing the bend after debarking....

progress report.
The debarking has been slow going. I only have a quarter of the withes debarked as much as I plan to debark them (about 4 feet from the butt end.) I've spent an average of about an hour a day on it. I'm getting faster as my technique improves and as the novelty wears off for my helpers so they don't have their beaks in the way all the time.... they are down to only about half the time, lol.

They are getting used to the branches flipping about and no longer care about the banging into the wood or wire of their coop or even if they are brushed with the tips. That is also helping it go faster. So is them getting used to needing to hop off when I turn the withe or switch pieces.

Research for how to weave is both easier and harder than I expected. It really isn't rocket science but a few fundamentals and tips are helpful.

These are the most helpful I've found so far.

It is not hard.
https://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/harvest-your-own-fences-and-trellises

It can be a little harder.
https://woodworkersinstitute.com/woodworking-crafts/2022/01/weaving-a-willow-fence/

And.
https://www.motherearthnews.com/diy/forager-basket-weaving-tutorial-zm0z19jjzbut/

And.
https://christinedebeer.ca/tutorials/cane-and-willow-nest-shaped-basket

And.
https://feltmagnet.com/crafts/1975-Basketwork

I'm not sure if it is in any of the above links but willow has a bend. Every piece wants to curve one way and not the other ways. I will keep that in mind if I end up using smaller pieces so the bend isn't so obvious.

I'm still undecided on whether to make a big basket or a couple of small fences and then sew (weave) them together with osiers (very young, unbranched shoots) which I didn't harvest yet but could get some next Monday.

I don't know how long it will take before the peeled pieces are too dry to work with but they seem to be okay so far.

Edit to add
https://www.gardenstew.com/threads/how-to-make-a-woven-willow-hurdle-screen.27996/

- edge finish, twist as bend back
- top finish, twine two around each other as well as passing each other between uprights