Early and late season at the Vermilion Valley Resort is when the projects get done. Fewer guests, a slower pace, and a chance to look around at what needs to be done adds variety to our life here and recently, gave me an opportunity to see a type of craftsmanship not often found, at least not where I've been living.
Last winter was a bad one for trees. Thousands of trees fell in the Sierra, including big, old, healthy trees. We bought two of those trees from the Sierra National Forest, and brought in a crew to mill them into usable lumber for projects around the VVR using a Lucas Mill. I spent some time photographing the process, and since I really don't know much about milling, will let the photos speak for themselves (mostly).
Check out the size of that blade!
Feather helped in her own special way....
Lots of measuring and adjusting....
Wrestling the log into place...
Chips flying....
We'll let this dry over the winter and next summer or fall it'll be remade into picnic tables, fences, benches, and whatever else we need around the resort. So cool to be able to use locally grown, locally milled lumber - who would have thought? I'm so glad there are still people who know how to work with their hands, who like being out in the forest getting covered in sap and sawdust, who can set up a saw mill around a tree and cut straight boards, and who will drive the road up to the VVR and do it all here.
My hat's off to you, the craftsmen.
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