12-7-91

Replaced old STIHL chainsaw powerhouse (032 AV) with an equivalent newer model (034 AV). I had taken the old saw into A2 implement for repair because I couldn't start the engine. It appears that someone in the past had dropped a washer into the powerhouse + failed to [writing unclear] it. The washer eventually worked its way into the piston area + sheared off the piston head, causing an estimated $400.00  for replac in damage -  which is nearly as much as the new saw. Therefore SNR decided it was better to replace the old saw rather than repair it. The cause of all the [writing unclear] was due to simple carelesness [sic] + was easily preventable.; however, the fact that the saw that had passed through the hands of 10-15 caretakers during the past 20 years made it unlikely that it was going to receive consistently optimal care.

Before I relinquish my duties as caretaker I am going to prepare a list detailing what is necessary for the proper use + maintenance of the chainsaw.

11-10 and 11-15-91

Piled up all logs from old willow - well more than a cord. Also cleaned up all smaller branches, brush, + sawdust. → 4 hours total.

11-6-91

O cut up butt end of willow + grubbed out stump + large roots. Also replaced old bar (heavily warn + bent) + put on new chain. Had old chain resharpened. → 2 1/2 hours.

11-3-91

My dad cut up to 2/3's of large willow near shore 3rd Sister Lake taht fell onto lawn a week ago → ~2 hours.

10-27-91

Cut up + removed small red oak that fell across main drive near gate (15 minutes).

9-20-91

Gave minor assistance (providing tinder + wood) to SNR bonfire.

9-13-91

3 1/2 hrs:

• Mowed lawn
• Cleaned out fire pit
• Nailed back baseboards on 3 firepit benches

SNR bonfire failed to come off - maybe next week.

9-2-91

2 1/2 hrs. Mowed lawn + raked up excess clippings near cabin.

8-18-91

40' → My Dad + I sharpened blade of lawnmower → it was exceedingly difficult to remove the center bolt on the blade. Sharpening should helped a great deal, but blade is so worn that it should probably be replaced  within the next year.

8-14-91

2 1/2 hrs. → Mowed lawn, trimmed some overhanging limbs of Lonicena, Acer negundo, etc.

8-7-91

Encountered 2 security (U.M.) persons walking up road to front gate (they left their car parked in front of the gate) → nothing wrong, they were just checking on things because of several recent reports of theft from autos parked by the gate → they will be patrolling SF more frequently in the future.

8-1-91

University security stopped by in PM to ask me if I knew anything about [writing unclear] stolen merchandise hidden in the woods by the front gate (a fan, telephone, + phone answering machine).

7-23-91

2 1/2 hrs → mowed lawn + weeded fire pit.

7-6-91

Reattached "NO FISHING OR SWIMMING" sign onto post at N. end of 3rd Sister Lake. (20 minutes).

7-4-91

A rather quiet day considering that it's a holiday. Picked about 2 1/2 qts. of black raspberries in an hour - the raspberry seas. is nearing its end after 2 weeks of heavy bearing. M + I have picked 11 pts. so far, but could easily have picked 80-100 qts. if we went every day + picked everything (+ if we could tolerate the hordes of mosquitoes lurking among the brambles). Saw a groundhog run up a leaning tree - a 1st for me. I walked to within 2' of it and could have touched it if I'd wanted to.

Spent 1 hr. on N. end of lake cleaning the loop path/road of small threes that had fallen over the past 4-5 weeks.

7-3-91

3 1/2 hours → mowed lawn grass → 5" tall + really thick in places. Moles are becoming quite a problem → there are now at least 25 dirt mounds from their burrowing activities. I also trimmed grass around posts, fire pit, wagon, + house with hedge clippers, and pulled all weeds out of fire pit.

6-18-91

3.6 hrs --> mowed lawn --> grass 5" tall & very thich in places. Moles are becoming quite a problem & there are now at least 25 dirt mounts from their burrowing activities. I also trimmed grass around posts, firepit, wagon, & house with hedge clippers, and pulled all weeds out of fire pit.

6-16-91

Arrived back at SF after 9-day hiking trip to the Great Smoky Mts. A huge pile of branches, boards, & logs was in front of the gate - I could barely drive by it. Spent an hour slinging all the wood into surrounding forest & sorted out & disposed of all non-biodegradable trash within the pile. The gall of some people continues to amaze me.

6-1-91

1/2 hr → cut apart 2 downed trees along road that runs between E. property line & main road.

5-21-91

3 hrs → mowed lawn, bought new gas cap (I lost the original somehow). Grass was very thick & luxuriant, especially on ~1/3 of lawn.

5-9-91

3 hrs → mowed lawn & trimmed some honeysuckle bushes near barn & at SW corner of lawn.

April 30, 1991

1 AM → discovered taht between 6PM (when walked to gate) and 12 PM (when Marni drove up) on 4/29 someone had knocked mailbox off its post, had smashed a vodka bottle against the gate, and had pulled a long shagbark hickory (1 going along road ~50 yards N. of gate) across the main road to obstruct it. Reported this vantalism to secruity + they came out this afternoon to take a report. (Report #XX-XXXX)

Spent 45' to replace mail box on post (cut a new baseboard). Post is cracked on strut & a little wobbly, but should be OK unless someone tries to knock it down again.

[April 29 → spent 45' walking around property and picking up trash]

2.5 hrs → mowed the lawn for the 1st time this season & repaired recoil mechanism on motor (which was supposedly repaired by A2 Implements earlier in April!)

April 18, 1991

1 hr → cleaned road of 2 trees that fell at same time as 4 above (a basswood & box elder) → along creek road.

April 15, 1991

3 hrs → sectional & cleaned droad of 4 trees that fell to the N. & W. of 3rd Sister Lake (2 Norway spruces, 1 White pine, 1 Black oak).

April 8, 1991

1 hr → Chopped a wind-thrown Prunus avium that fell onto main drive into 4 long sections & rolled them out of the way. Despite my best precautions, I got a nasty case of poison ivy from the thicket like growth surrounding the entire length of the tree.

2 hrs → Minor repair work on screens, frames & screen door on cabin porch.

March, 1991

Spent ~4 hours picking up several garbage-bags-full of trash along Liberty and gate parking area. Recycled cans & bottles.

3-4-91

Saw flock of 5-7 robins along road near small kettle swamp → SPRING IS HERE!