Meeting a Member

Stephen_Wiley · October 01, 2003, 11:46:15 PM

Spent a portion of today taking a tour at Frank Pender's Place.

Frank was a great host.

I am a Consulting Arborist / Forester, been about 20 years since I last was working a mill operation myself so the smells and views around me brought back wonderful memories.

Frank, had some timelines that were stretching him (to give up the time) to show me and make acquaintances. But that speaks to the good nature of his character and well being.

The love Frank has for his place and mills was distinguishable in; both the work done around his place and his stories of how it has touched the lives of his former students, co-workers and many others. Further, he continues to do so through affiliations with special education needs - reaching those that others might consider throw aways.

Yes, Frank's mill and the work he produces does more than just make lumber, it benefits others who willing alter their lifestyles through his influence and genuine care.

BTW - Thanks again Frank, for the opportunity and your time !

Just in case your thinking Frank does'nt have any problems; his woodlot has both biotic and abiotic influences which will keep him busy with abatement and protective measures in the future.
:

Frank_Pender · October 03, 2003, 12:36:38 PM

Thank you Steve. I enjoyed the time we had. You are corect in the amount of work around here and for the families of my 3,000 and some students. :-/You only got the 5 cent tour that day.

You have to come back for the $1 version ;D. It includes a can a peas and all day. 8)

Frank_Pender · October 03, 2003, 12:41:52 PM

An addition thought: I have now met four of us from the Forum; Loren, Steve, Don H, and myself. With Tillaway so close in Astoria and all we ought to set a Saturday aside, later this Fall, and meet up.

Jeff · October 03, 2003, 01:02:15 PM

I been to the midwest, to florida, but I sure would like to come west one day.

I want to see the big trees before I go.

I mean go back to Florida or the midwest. :D Don't think that way! :D

Stephen_Wiley · October 03, 2003, 04:42:35 PM

Well Frank,

I still owe you the nickel, so will have to bring a dollor with it for the next visit.

Yes, I would like to meet up with the others you already have. Just need to know a where, date and time.

Jeff, I can show you lots of big trees. Some of the hardwoods however may not be as big as those on the east coast. Here in Silverton one Psuedotsuga menziesii extends from the bottom of the canyon over the height of younger DF's on the top of the ridge.

Years ago (While operating my tree business) we were asked to prune this tree. We did not get the job....but we called it 'camp 3' as we would take climbing bags to sleep in while spending three days on performing the task. Trunk DBH/OB 12 feet +

There are several bigger, this one is just close by!

Not to long ago came across a large Castanea dentata larger than the one recorded in Oregon records. Also know of several Juglans spp.

Frank_Pender · October 10, 2003, 11:29:53 PM

Well, well, well: I will have met four forum members by days end on Sunday. Tillaway is on his way here at about noon, Pacific Time. He is dring in from Astoria, Oregon, about 3= hours Northwest of me. He called me around 6:pm this late afternoon. I was about ready to feed my face with Pizza that the wife had ordered for around 75 people, here at the house. ( Her mother had just passeed away this last Monday evening. The Wife had decided that it would be nice to have a small gathering before the "Going Home Celebration Tomorrow at 10:00 AM.) Anyway ZI feel priveleged to personally know 4 forum members by dark on Sunday. ;D

Stephen_Wiley · October 12, 2003, 10:21:24 AM

Frank, hope you remember to ask 'Tillaway' if he is interested in a get together this fall.

8)

Frank_Pender · October 12, 2003, 11:25:41 AM

Yes I will. I have that on my "honey do" list. But, thanks for the reminder. :P

Frank_Pender · October 13, 2003, 08:52:19 AM

Well, tillaway has come and gone. He arrived near noon on Sunday. I was comeing down off of a very rough night. I had just lost one of my very best friends due to macho thinking, that, "I am ok" syndrom. I had spent half the night at his home just down the road a couple hundred yards.

Anyway, enough of that. We had a very fine visit and tour of the farm. We had gone for a "Gator" tour ride. Around 3:30 we decided to head for town and I bought him a very late lunch and he was off, back to Astoria for a 3 hour drive. I now have four of us from the forum I have met. We will be haveing a gathering sometime later this year. I thought that it would be better to wail until Tillaway was able to get his family and all moved here for the gathering.

Jeff · October 13, 2003, 12:50:00 PM

Frank, Doesn't Sawmill John make 5?

Frank_Pender · October 14, 2003, 06:34:21 AM

You are right, Jeff!. Whoooops. Sorry, John. Where is he anyway. The last I heard, he had gone to the islands for a short vacation with the wife and to visit Steve, on the big Island. I will have to call this afternoon and see if he deciided to stay and saw Koa. :

DanG · October 14, 2003, 08:56:26 AM

No use to call, Frank. John is in Moultrie, Ga. for the Ag Expo.

I called yesterday and talked with Ron, who gave me the help I needed. What a cool bunch of folks! 8)

I will be taking John to task, however, for not letting us know he would be at the Expo. I look forward to meeting him tomorrow, and seeing how a brand new machine works, compared to my 19 year old one. Maybe he'll even let me lay hands on it. ;D If so, I'll be sure Tom gets pics.

Frank_Pender · October 14, 2003, 02:52:53 PM

DanG, you will want to get one of the new machines, for sure. You might be able to just purchase the demo. ;)

Jeff · October 14, 2003, 05:13:35 PM

DanG, dont screw that saw up. Its da one I sawed on. I'm kinda partial to it.. ;D

oldsaw · October 17, 2003, 11:50:48 PM

Had breakfast with one and a half last week (JR you gotta quit lurking and get "out of the closet"), but Sawwood is "official" . Hopefully can catch up with Electric Al in the next couple of weeks, and I may have a chance to drop in on Bibby if I have to go to St Louis next month. I've had a pretty good phone conversation with both Noble and Larry Copas.

All and all...not too bad. The good part is that they are all pretty dang nice people...whooda thunk it.

Mark

PS: the forum is a great place. Just wish some of these guys lived closer to me and I had more time to go out and get in trouble with them.

Stephen_Wiley · October 18, 2003, 12:14:08 AM

oldsaw,

Just read your bio, says your travelling salesman !

If you ever travel to the west coast let us know maybe some of us can meet you................well that is unless your selling AT&T :D

oldsaw · October 18, 2003, 08:01:33 AM

I can get by with.

Nothing to do with ATT. Sell audio/video products to retailers, so I don't get to really hack off too many people. Have a couple of companies we represent from CA, maybe a third coming on line.

Would like to get out to Seattle again to see my brother though.

Mark

If I get a chance to go anywhere with time to spare, the FF is the first place I check anymore. Sawdustheads are cool.

oldsaw · October 18, 2003, 08:03:00 AM

places in the world. She always said she wanted to retire there. Beautiful country. Would love to come out.

Mark

Stephen_Wiley · October 25, 2003, 11:02:39 PM

Mark,

If you get out to Seattle try to make a trip down here. You will love Silverton .....the falls and surrounding area.

Would'nt want to take you to Frank's and Loren's although those wooded lots are just ugly with trees....view of coastal hills.... smell like sawdust.......and occaisonaly have wild animals running around their properties - sometimes those wild animals have branches on their heads ! . :D

Yep, just nothing but ugliness all around. Nothing to make a fuss about.

Hope to meet you some day !

Stephen_Wiley · October 25, 2003, 11:41:53 PM

Well.......I did it again.

Spent the day, late into the evening meeting another member from the (Pacific Northwest division of) Forestry Forum.

This time the member was: 'Oregon Sawyer' alias Loren, his wife and two daughters. All of them were wonderful hosts ! ;D

Exchanged a lot of ideas, produced lumber between exchanges (all though that slowed down the process). Took a tour of property and made observations of health and structural issues.

BTW, Frank I think this was a 'nickel' tour also, now I am going to have to go back and due a 'dollar tour' with Loren as well. :D

Learned the secret of how in his earlier pics contrast in his logs with specs of black / orange lines were notable. If any of you are interested; send one dollar and a return stamped envelope and will send you this wonderful secret.

(NOTE: cannot guarantee 'secret' will be alive upon receipt. if secret does arrive alive and your state has regulations governing them please mail secret to adjacent state...)

Not to worry, plenty of clues available........however, cold temperatures may find 'secrets' hiding in bark or other places.
;D :D

Loren, better get ready for orders,

:D :D

Frank_Pender · October 26, 2003, 06:53:08 AM

Stephen, sounds like you are expanding outside on site work by getting into the mail order business. 8) 8) 8) 8)

Stephen_Wiley · October 26, 2003, 08:01:33 AM

Making a suggestion for a solution, as yesterdays (fall?) weather seemed to bring out the elders. Thought they might look good in little box's.

Besides even though I only met Loren yesterday " I know he would share them. :D :D ;) 8)

Frank_Pender · October 26, 2003, 10:58:24 AM

The South side of all of my buildings around here are just covered. I bet the wife sprayed and killed a pound of them critters a few days ago. Now she want me to use the leaf blower and remove them from the deck. :-/

Perhaps I could sent Kim a few for a class project? :P ;D What say ye Teach.? 8) 8) 8) 8)

D._Frederick · October 26, 2003, 01:28:05 PM

Frank,
Glad to here that you have "box elder" bugs down your way, they need to be shared! My neighbor has a 30 x40 ft. shop next to a wooded area, in the fall, on a warm day this building is covered with them. I was doing some work for him in the winter and we had a fire going, there was so many of these bugs flying that it was impossible to work. So he go an insectacide bomb and set it off in the evening while the shop was still warm. The next day the floor was covered, we cleaned-up 2 five gallon pails full, it thinned them out but there was still plenty left.

Stephen_Wiley · October 28, 2003, 09:41:39 PM

Met D. Frederick today,

He managed to leave only one live 'elder' that I quickly smashed on the end of a 1x4. (Did this mid - conversation, so I don't know if he noticed).

This makes three members with three different saws, that I have met.

His place was along a rural route - that I use to drive everyday to work seven years ago.

For those of you who have read his bio. he has had to face some major health issues and continues to do so. Allthough his body does not allow him the freedom of movement it once did, his mind and knowledge still have a lot to offer. Has an excellent memory for old american sawmills, chainsaws, etc., ........would love to write down the 'technical information he can quote.

Thanks for greetings and visit "D."