Almost there

[handhewn]

I've almost got the 60" circular saw going after I walked away from it approx. 35 yrs. ago. I figured seven normal working days left. It's taken 8 months to re-build the old 3-axle yard dog boom truck and the totally burned out 2 axle IH. 1800 12' flatbed with heavy extendo-boom. This truck was a complete burnout except for most of the extendo-boom. I had 3 of same truck (minus booms) already in my parts bone yard.One had even been a fire truck and the cab was perfect. The 3-axle boom truck worked well for swapping cabs on the 2-axle. When finished the 2-axle brought in approx. 20,000 bd. ft of nice logs. Next re-build was the edger for the mill. Some parts had been laying out for so long that I thought they were gone. I went back looking and found they'd sunk into the mud. This edger had been set on wood and had become non-usable due to wood rot after many years. I've re-built using all bolted metal (because mill is portable). It only lacks two out-roller chains to be finished, in and out rollers and all. The mill needs a couple days to finish up the guide rail and carriage rollers.
   Trucks done and logs in the yard. Mill and edger almost done. I sat in my pick-up a couple days ago and my back was killing me. I coughed, just coughed, and my back went out big time. Drove to my front door but almost couldn't get to the door. Now, after eight months hard work and a week away. So much for figuring I'd be sawing in a week. Now I dread a trip to the bathroom just feet away. I'd already been ignoring the mounting pain from old broken ribs from so long ago.
    Now many questions arise such as do I wait to finish the mill or hire help now? I knew I couldn't run the mill myself so I was already looking for help but (as discussed in other recent threads) this is easier said than done. I could hire one of the local pot grower when their season is done to help saw the logs already there. I could sell the mill. As we know, mill prices are up. But, it seems the whole world around me is on fire and logs are so cheap I'm literally turning down free logs. Now add in beetle kill trees and there's even more free logs.
    Everything's changing, it's hard to figure which direction to limp as I approach my 70th next month.

[moodnacreek]

That's a lot of work. I am doing almost the same thing, replacing my mill with a larger one. When it finally gets in the fine tuning starts and that never goes fast. Everything changes so be careful what lumber you cut. It took me years to figure out what not to cut. Around here oak plank and 1" barn boards always find a home. On the fancy side you never lose with walnut and cedar.