Sunday, December 6, 2009

LICHEN
















48 IN THE SHADE



The other day in the local post office (closest to us is 10 miles away) while Sweetheart sifted down book packages for customers, I met up with an old builder friend I haven't talked to in almost 25 years


We built a hefty footbridge together back in those years


He wanted to know how that bridge was faring since it is a mile up river from our place


I told Pete I had to replace the stringers he cut with me from ironwood trees because the contractor we worked for refused to believe, like we both knew, that the bark should be peeled from the logs before setting them in as supports


So the good wood rotted


I told him I had to work right in the river with my aluminum ladder...12 feet deep and the top of the ladder tied to the bridge, steady as you go


I took each old stringer out and put new 4 x 4 pressure treated braces in


Holding up that small part of the bridge momentarily with my shoulder


Today I'd make sure to charge accordingly; back then I bet I thought I was rich with a few hundred dollars in my pocket


Pete liked the story


Later in the day, I got everything done up at a carpentry job across town in the woods, and Sweetheart napped on the lawn in the warm sun


Faraway from anywhere


48 in the shade




Pete also told Bob Arnold he read one of his books and recognized everybody in the book, but one


star-roof & photo © bob arnold