[RHClarke]

The uncharacteristic good weather in December allowed us to complete the winter preparations without frostbite or the need to fire up Lucifer. All of the vehicle shelters had their tarps replaced and the sea cans have been put to good use for vehicle or parts storage.

Bob took his truck out for a muddy run recently, and my HUP took a few turns around the buckwheat field. Other than that, the focus has been on sewing machines and fighting one of mother nature's most annoying pest, the North American beaver (genus Castor).

These rodents took advantage of the good weather and dammed up the creek at the back of Bob's property. Usually there is ice in the creek and that normally curtails the beaver activity. The warm weather had them destroying trees and building a number of dams. So, one warm day this past weekend, we decided to open the dams up a bit to lower the water level. We will see who wins the war of wills - a single minded group of determined workers, or the beavers.

Photos:
1 - Damned dam 1
2 - Water flowing again at dam 2
3 - Bob's new hobby - making Frankenstein sewing workstations