Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore

[longtime lurker]

This post isn't to brag, it's to tell you a story.

Few years back - 14 years give or take a few months if we must - I bought a Lucas Mill. I was a single dad to two little girls living in an economically depressed area. I had a dozer and not much work for it locally, I had plenty of other skills that weren't particularly marketable without moving away and a court agreement with my ex that had my feet nailed down,  and I had had a pretty bad accident 12 months previously that meant was in pain to some degree or other 24/7.
Yanno if you're going to hurt you may as well hurt from working right? Least ways that's how I saw it when I dragged my miserable behind out of bed each day. Anyway... lucas mill.

So I had logged a little, worked in mills some, was underemployed in terms of income and overemployed in terms of my parental obligations, the odd decent log was available as a by-product of the dozer work... buying a portable mill wasn't a bad decision. So i got it and started sawing. I had a plan see...

Plan failed.
Keep sawing, change the plan.
Next roadblock.
Keep sawing, go around it.
Hiccup.
Keep sawing, suck it up baby.
Major headache
Keep sawing, take 2 asprin and get your butt out of bed.
Econonic disaster.
Keep sawing, get a day job until the dust clears.
Over and over and over.

Then a kiln
More mill.
Drymill equipment
More equipment
Onwards and upwards but at best its been two steps forward and one step back, and a lot of the time More like shuffling along a ledge on a cliff hanging on by my fingernails.

Headaches and roadblocks have never stopped coming yanno... but fortune favours the stupid, the stubborn, the smart, and those who aren't afraid of sweat and I was born tarred with all four of those.
It just keeps on growing not because it's easy but because I water it with blood sweat and yes... the occasional tears.

No matter what comes along I just keep on sawing. My kids  (now grown and gone) reckon I'll likely die in the mill one day.
I hope they're right, but I also hope it's not for a long time yet. I'm having way too much fun.





Got it!!! Guess we're playing in the majors now. Guess what I'm saying is believe in yourself and keep on sawing

[thecfarm]

Now that's a check we all could use!!!!
Good for you!!!!!

[Andries]

Saw this the other day.

The secret is there is no secret.

Consistency over intensity.
Progress over perfection.
Fundamentals over fads.

Over and over and over again.
No secret.

[longtime lurker]

Now that's a check we all could use!!!!
Good for you!!!!!

Oh it ain't a check yet... all it is at the moment is a logistical nightmare followed by a whole lot of toil with a side of grovelling to the bank manager cuz I've bitten off moren I can chew again.  And like every other job it's mostly all cost with a little bit of profit on top down the road.
But the order is backed by The Commonwealth of Australia, so I figure it's going to get paid. For now its just more blood sweat and tears

[longtime lurker]

Saw this the other day.

The secret is there is no secret.

Consistency over intensity.
Progress over perfection.
Fundamentals over fads.

Over and over and over again.
No secret.

I love that!

[YellowHammer]

I remember some of the tough day posts you had years ago, and your spirit to "keep on keeping on" and that is something that is a great to see.  Congratulations, you've earned it!   

[WV Sawmiller]

   I saw this post and thought it was going to be a political commentary.

   Cobgrats of keeping on keeping on. I hope life just gets better and better for you.

[doc henderson]

Well, you may not be in Kansas anymore, but must be from here, with a strong and stubborn spirit.  Keep it up.  What is the viable alternative? ... not much!  Cheers, Doc.  still in Kansas.

[mudfarmer]

"Do not take lightly small good deeds
Believing they can hardly help
For drops of water one by one
In time can fill a giant pot."
-Patrul Rinpoche

Congrats!

[Nebraska]

That's a good read, happy for your success. I was told when I was young the toughest thing to most accomplishments is just doing it.

[Stephen1]

That is great to see! 
Hard work does pay off. 
It will be nice to see this project unfold as we all watch. 

[customsawyer]

Congrats. It's rewarding when things start to come together.
I hate to admit it, but my first though was, how much is it going to cost you to get that check and how much of it was going to be yours? I guess I have spent to many years in the grind and know that check wasn't going to be all profit. However even if you only have a 10% profit margin then it's still a decent payday. I find it interesting that you are charging the Common Wealth of Australia taxes.