Author Archives: John S. Quarterman

Mouse PEX 2024-11-03

Update 2024-11-11: Fixing hot water line 2024-11-08.

Why does the well pump run in the night?

Why is the water hot immediately at the outside sink?

[Gnawed]
Gnawed

A mouse gnawed through the duct tape at the end of the PVC pipe around this hot water PEX tube, and gnawed a hole in the tube.

[Label]
Label

We had to dig it up, but it’s easy to fix.

Wrapping it in aluminum foil this time.

-jsq

Turtle in driveway 2024-10-31

Stopped pretty quick to avoid this turtle.

[Left]
Left

Not sure what kind of turtle. I’m guessing river cooter or pond slider. I’m leaning towards pond slider, Trachemys scripta scripta, due to the vertical thickness of the shell. Continue reading →

Removing large pine deadfall 2024-10-27

This slash pine was almost 100 years old when Hurricane Helene toppled it across our back driveway.

[Movie: Logging chain (11M)]
Movie: Logging chain (11M)

Here’s a video clip:
https://youtu.be/wqOaL1NYwBk Continue reading →

Deadfalls everywhere 2024-10-21

Walk anywhere, take chainsaws.

We hadn’t finished cleaning up from Hurricane Idalia, more than a year ago. Hurricane Helene was ten times worse.

At least the dogs get some amusement out of climbing logs.

[Most woods paths are like this, or worse]
Most woods paths are like this, or worse

Continue reading →

Little House Survived Hurricane Helene 2024-10-20

A bright spot. It survived Hurricane Helene: the Little House the Three Stooges Built in the Woods.

[Beyond tree roots]
Beyond tree roots

Trees north and south of it blew west and missed it. Continue reading →

Large pine, small chainsaw 2024-10-15

That one almost caught me when it sprang up four feet.

[26-inch pine with 18-inch chainsaw]
26-inch pine with 18-inch chainsaw

That EGO 18-inch electric chainsaw will gnaw through big stuff eventually.

That slash pine tree was pushing 100 years old until Hurricane Helene. Continue reading →

Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS after sunset 2024-10-14

The 80,000-year comet.

[Venus in trees on left, with Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, 8:09:55 PM, 2024-10-14]
Venus in trees on left, with Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, 8:09:55 PM, 2024-10-14

It was quite visible to the naked eye, an hour and 10 minutes after sunset, despite the bright waxing gibbous moon behind us.

All taken with a Galaxy S10+, night mode, 5-second exposure. Continue reading →

Finding Gretchen’s Sycamore Tree after Hurricane Helene

We raised this tree from knee-high, so we wanted to see how it was doing after Hurricane Helene.

[Finding Gretchen's Sycamore Tree after Hurricane Helene with chainsaw and dogs 2024-10-12]
Finding Gretchen’s Sycamore Tree after Hurricane Helene with chainsaw and dogs 2024-10-12

After I chainsawed through many yards of fallen trees, bushes, and vines, we found it battered but still standing.

Blondie and Honeybun were almost as happy as Gretchen to see it.

Here is a video playlist:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLk2OxkA4UvwnPsm5_5P9lTV26Mqd-SWR&si=1HpY-Z3kg72Izfyx

gq

[The tree with the afternoon sun, 16:59:15]
The tree with the afternoon sun, 16:59:15

jsq

[Movie: Gretchen comes to her tree, 17:40:09]
Movie: Gretchen comes to her tree, 17:40:09

PP

[Movie: Big pine on path to the pond, 17:43:40]
Movie: Big pine on path to the pond, 17:43:40

DFSP

[Deadfall on south path, 17:55:46]
Deadfall on south path, 17:55:46

-jsq