[color:"#00cccc"]The fire was warm and the fish was plenty, Jurak was stuffed full
and could eat no more...viper, virgo and womble were discussing who was going to do the dishes,
and they realized there were no dishes, just a short plank of wood with a large green,
fan-shaped leaf on it. They all scraped what was left into a pile
for "meat" and "fe" to nibble away!
Womble suggested going for a stroll to "walk off" the hefty helpings. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" /> Yeager piped up and said,
[color:"orange"]"that would be a great idea, we could go to the lake and I’ll show you
where I found our dinner.... and plates, at the same time!
As well I’ve been looking at a few prime sources for the lumber,
and I’ve stumbled across a win fall...and a tall straight one, still standing...[/color]
Womble's little pointy ears stood at attention, and he expectedly said
[color:"orange"]Well we'd best have at it then, cuz I can't wait to get my furry butt up in the air. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />[/color]
viper agreed,
raving on about how free it is, and peaceful, and the views
....well, you've never seen such before! was all he could say.
Womble grinned like a Cheshire Cat (whatever that was)
and rubbed his hands together so fast, they started smoking.
Virgo was not saying much, but looked happy and a bit nervous at the same time,
he still had that nervous twitch though', looking around and constantly
monitoring the surrounding area...
The fresh thin blanket of snow deadened the sounds of the forest, making it
somehow feel "thicker", with only the sound of crunching footfalls, and water
falling in the distance, they came to "the Tree", and one must admit it was a mighty sight.
It was an excellent well preserved old-growth stand of the "
perfect piece ", and the little Yeager,
got so excited he danced right over to it's huge trunk and looked up it's
length, judging it for straightness of growth, and absence of knots!
Yeager kicked the trunk, listened...kicked it again...
[color:"orange"]"sounds like a hollow butt", could be not much
good wood for the first few meters!"[/color]
he looked at the rest of them,
[color:"orange"] "Womble, you said you wanted to learn,
over here then...we'll start right now!"[/color]
Womble approached eagerly towards the giant straightwood.
"Now come here close, and look up the side of this tree...see the top,
It’s leaning over that way and if it falls that way...without rolling, it'll land
on the knotty side, and leave the clean, straight side up,
thus making it that much easier to extract our needed lengths....do you see?"
Womble nodded in a rapid fashion "now here we have a hollow leaner in the
perfect position, which doesn't happen all the time, so it's going to be a
fairly easy takedown...
Viper, Virgo and Jurak looked on, and the thought struck...Yeager!!... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />!
What if there are any birds
Who have nests in the tree? Or squirrels or other animals?
[color:"#33cc33"]HeY ! Viper, you should fly up and have a peek and see if there is any sign of wildlife...[/color]
Viper agreed, and said he felt much better than the other day.... and smirked.
He flew up and down and all around the tree, right up to the treetop and down
the other side...
he came back to report there was an osprey nest at the top and two burrowed
holes, with fresh nestling's inside...
[color:"#33cc33"]Well, it's a good thing we could at least check first, and lucky for those inhabitants too! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />...[/color]
Yeager seemed a little put off but conceded,[color:"orange"]
well then I guess we have no other choice than to take the fat piece
that is already laying down......[/color]
it was only a short walk further, and Yeager sure was proving,
he knew a good piece of wood when he saw it <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />
this
winfall seemed to disappear into the bushes quite a few feet away.....
Jurak said he would make a quick trip back to the camp,
and get the sled and the rest of the ropes,
to haul this monster back
to where good ole Yeager can start to work on it! ...
and with this fresh snow it should just glide right along... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />
