Thanksgiving Week 2014, Firewood Tip

      Well, children, here we are again: the beginning of the "Holiday"season, 2014.  The weather is changing, Caltrans has picked up most, if not all, their signage from Highway 89, and there's not a tourist in sight.  The "'Tween" season we call it here in Tahoma.   It's very quiet.   Yesterday was gorgeous around the basin.  It began well: a stunning sunrise up over the Carson Valley that brought ricocheting rays bouncing off of Rubicon Peak, Jakes Peak, Mount Tallac, and our own Eagle Rock.  Actually, the Mayor was up in the wee hours, around 3am, to throw a log into the fireplace to keep a nice set of coals burning into the dawn.  A glance to the outside revealed a clear night sky with an array of stars, some configured in constellation order.   A predictor of a fine autumn day in the basin.
     Some contractors were seen hurrying to their work, taking advantage of another snowless day that affords easy job site access and manageable temps.   It's all good, they like to say.
       The 2014/15 seasonal guides have been distributed far and wide.   The Ski Sport guide is very well done this year-great resort maps and facility descriptions.   The Homewood Ski resort looks huge on the graphic layout- are there really that many runs in Homewood?   An added feature this year will be  snowcat tours of the mountain.  I got a closeup look at the vehicle(which doubles as a grader) since it is on display in front of the lodge.  It will seat 8 adults comfortably + driver.  For a non-skier with an adventurous spirit, it would be a nice experience, warm and cozy.
      Obexers is making progress on the restaurant/lodge remodel across from the store-it's tevak wrapped, waiting for siding.  No takers for the restaurant space yet, still hoping for some daring soul to take a considerable risk on on a high risk location in a high risk area.  Does Obexers get it?  I don't think so, given their recent history of tenants in the space.  Hey, it's a resort location with a very limited market for  4 1/2 months of the year split between summer(2 months) and winter(maybe  2 1/2 months if lucky).
     A few for sale signs pepper the roadway, but not much happening in real estate.  That's normal for Tahoma in November.

 Firewood Tip

         One last note for those who still have to replenish your firewood bin.   A cord of wood is a cord, is a cord, is a cord.  A cord is a "tightly packed stack of split pieces 8' X 4' X 4'= 128 cubic feet of wood!
Not 110'cu. ft., not 100'cu. ft., not 115'cu.ft., but 128' cubic feet.   I get constant complaints about " short cords".  Take the time to measure out the load.   Most sellers/ splitters  give little effort to accuracy, except in their favor.  Few, if any suppliers have uniform lengths in the mix.  Sizes can range from 12" to 15" or 16".   3 rows of 16" pieces= 48" inches or 4' feet.   When a delivery is made, grab a few sample pieces, measure the length of each, and make an estimate of overall sizes.  If less than 16" on average, an adjustment is necessary to add up to a full cord.  Why pay for less than delivered?   It's good business to be accurate, on both sides of the transaction.