Answer to yesterday's puzzle.

Not the other half of that person's head...

What's missing in this picture?

If you didn't know something was missing, would you miss it?  If the 'missing' object was itself a subtraction from what is depicted, your missing it would amount to an net addition.  If you knew what was missing was a net addition, your response would be, by definition, positive.

before, during and after revealing the long view

3 views through the cypress from the terrace.

We're splittin'

Split about a cord and a half today, stacked it and chipped about a yard of bark.  Started in the morning, finished as the sun was sinking in the west.  Remember what I said about technology and primal needs?  This hydraulic splitter fits the profile. 

Closure

First, I cut off the hub of the old clay pipe.

Remove the ABS pipe section and remove the roots.

Install the new fittings...

Ready to backfill.

Getting to the root of the problem...

There are technological advances that help us in the most primitive of our endeavors. The sewer camera is one of these. A video camera on the end of a long cable, inserted into the sewer pipe gives you a first-hand tour through some places you never want to go(no pun intended). But how else could you find the blockage that keeps interrupting otherwise festive or restful gatherings of family & friends? Such a tool lets you know exactly where to dig. Unfortunately, for me that place was under 2 feet of solid rock and mortar. Fortunately, I had the wherewithal to tackle the blockage to the blockage.

A series of holes perforate the rock along the line where I want it to break.

Jack hammer along the desired fracture line.

And the big rock is set aside to be re-installed later.

Some careful chipping away at the rock and mortar below is necessary

to reveal the root of our problem...

The smaller black ABS plastic pipe terminates just inside the hub of the clay pipe. It was sealed with mortar, which allowed roots into the juncture and then to proliferate into a clump that interferes with the free flow of...whatever. A more perfect union is highly anticipated.

Before and after and above

The cypress between the terrace and the Point, before and after phase 1 trimming.  More will be trimmed next week.

Cosmetic surgery for trees

 

For a tree whose portrait figures prominently in many a photo, a little trimming will no doubt lift it's self-esteem.

Deadwood

A dead pine tree lays down it's life for Searock.  Some of it will be new steps for the log round stairs, some of it will be split for warm winter nights around the hearth, some of it will be turned on the lathe for fruit or salad bowls.

new and old hibachi

The new fire pit for Jed's perch is stainless steel with a removable grill for easy cleaning.

Otter mom & pup

I heard a persistent crying sound, as of a gull or a lost kitten, and then realized it was this otter cub being taught the ways of the ocean by it's mum this morning. They were definitely a pair, those two. The lessons lasted well into the afternoon. Homeschool.

"Change we needed." said Yoda

So I took all these interesting pictures of the progress of work on the termite job, then accidentally deleted them.  So all I have remaining is the finished product.  Ta-da.

A termite/dryrot repair

The damage was confined to the beam and framing surrounding the dryer vent.  All infested material was removed, the area cleaned, necessary support added to floor joists, and new concrete poured instead of replacing a wood beam because of all the intervening pipe and vent business.  Tomorrow the formwork will be removed and new framing & plywood sheathing installed to close it all up.  Then new shingles will complete the repair. On to the next delightful diversion!