This is a shot of the rear of the shop. The County made me put in a levee in case it ever rains again. At least now I can sing “American Pie” with feeling! ”Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry…”

I got everything out so I could sweep the floor.

I need to run the dust collector down to the table saw. 4” to the dust port and 4” to the Shark Guard (you can see it on the saw towards the rear- not attached for the moment). Dust collection will also go along the back wall for the lathe, and along the side wall for the bandsaw, OSS, and miter saw.
As you can see, wall storage is non-existent. A tool cabinet and some shelves will help out a lot. I just don’t like pegboard, probably from getting poked by hangers. I still think slatwall with custom holders is the way to go.

The plywood will be my outfeed and assembly tables. I need to go down the hill for some MDF today.

When the moose weathervane points in this direction, we all get jittery, because that’s where the Santa Ana winds come from.

Yesterday, I pulled everything out and started to sort through the pile. It really wasn’t as bad as I feared, but it has become apparent that I really have to have pegboard, cabinets, and shelves. I also am struggling with the machine layout. I think I’m pretty close to what I will ultimately end up with, but the table saw placement is giving me grief.

I originally had my saw somewhat in the center, feeding from right to left, with the jointer at the right side towards the back wall. Then I got my Unisaw, and my buddies talked me into placing it in front of the overhead door, feeding front to rear. Since I typically work with the door open, it makes sense to leave it that way, but it feels like it blocks access to the shop. Maybe after I get the stack of plywood converted into an outfeed table my perception will change. Not having my son Tommy around anymore to help me move stuff around kind of forces the decision! It was hard enough to get him to help when he lived here, but now I have to feed him carne asada and guacamole just to lure him up, and then he takes off as soon as he smells work :)! But, all in all he’s a good kid, and I’m proud of him. I digress.

For today, I’ll continue to sort out stuff, and maybe go buy some baltic birch plywood for my tool cabinet.

BTW, have you priced Baltic birch plywood lately? Sheesh!

I got our 2 pygmy goats back yesterday. They seem happy to be home, as do the rest of the animals.

The National Guard packed up and left this morning. They were across the street at the Middle School, running security patrols and playing a lot of touch football.

Other than cutting up a downed tree and cleaning up piles of leaves, there really isn’t much to fix. The fire came within a couple hundred feet of us, but all the damage is from the wind.

As far as emotions go, this has been pretty tough on all of us. The kids are very clingy, and my dear wife is pretty shook up, with periods of panic. I was able to spend a little bit of time in the shop today, making those breadboards for class. Hearing the whine of the sawblade and watching the dust whirl around in the cyclone was as therapeutic as anything could be. I screwed up the first glue-up by trying to do too many joints at once, so I slowed down on the second one, and it’s much flatter!

So, my friends, I think I will close out this blog series. It’s time to get back to work. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your care, concern, and especially your prayers. Please continue to lift up those less fortunate than us; they have a very tough time ahead of them.

God bless,
Myron

There are tree limbs scattered about, and one live oak tree blew over. The smell of burnt wildlands is everywhere, and the National Guard is camped across the street for security.

A few notes from the experience:

The volunteers from the American Red Cross are the sweetest, most caring, generous, compassionate people I have ever met. They took wonderful care of us, and we owe them. Big time.

Always take a Sharpie (permanent marker) to a shelter. That bottle of water you just set down blends in remarkably well with the others; I don’t know how many were wasted because of that.

I’ll get some pictures posted soon- after we get the kids washed and in bed!

Myron

My dad is going to drive up to the house later today and check things out. If the smoke is down enough and the area looks safe then they might be able to return today, but it’s more likely that they’ll have to spend one more night at the High School.

Thank you all so much for your prayers and concerns. They know for sure that the house and shop are okay and they’ll be able to move back in soon.

Hopefully the next post will be from my dad.

-Tommy

It’s starting to look up.

http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=92082&MR=1

Just go down to the personal weather station section and my dad’s is the second one down that says “near the middle school”.

As long as that’s broadcasting it means the house is still there.

Right now, the Witch Creek fire or “Witch Fire” as they’re now calling it isn’t the main concern. The fire my parent’s are dealing with is the new “Poomacha Fire” which seems to be burning threw Pauma Valley, the North East end of Valley Center and headed toward Palomar mountain. So far, the burn area of this fire isn’t showing up on any maps. The map that seems to be the most accurate is:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=114250687465160386813.00043d08ac31fe3357571

Prayers are still very much needed.

As of now, things are not looking too good. My dad left with the rest of my family to my uncle’s house early in the morning on the other side of Valley Center. However, they were shortly after evacuated from there and sent to the High School gym where they currently still are. The last they’ve heard, the fire is up behind their house which is exactly where it was four years ago. It’s getting close, but so far we can tell the house is still there by checking on my dad’s weather system that broadcasts online.

The situation is somewhere between grim and really bad so prayers are still very welcome.