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Mistwalker · Nov 4, 2009

Today was a fun day! After work I spent the afternoon out back around the fire pit area again clearing out more of the downed Pine trees killed by the beetles. Just so Bryan doesn't start thinking I'm going to wear out his knife before I send it back to him I decided to use a machete today...Bryan's Mega chops things like this better though.

If I had it to do over I'd not by the version with the saw teeth. I guess it may work great for cutting your way out of an airplane I don't know, but I've yet to find anything the saw can do in the woods that I wouldn't rather do another way...it cuts on the pull stroke and I just don't like it.

After the chopping I did a little more raking in prep for starting a fire later with the chopped up brush. The little one couldn't resist throwing leaves at me....I might have started it I don't remember....

Then she found the Honeysuckle Berries, and I found the last pear on the tree. This is the biggest they've gotten so far.

I did manage to get a little help out of her...she spent about an hour "raking".

Mistwalker · Nov 4, 2009

Then it was finally time to get the fire started.

Judging by the pictures it may look like I must be either expecting, or having, a phone call but I'm not. I was just conducting another experiment. The above pics were taken with a flash...this is what my view actually looked like.

Mistwalker · Nov 4, 2009

Dry dead pine gets very hot, and very bright...very fast.

I got a couple of other cool night fire pics. I like this one.

6shooter · Nov 4, 2009

Very cool, cute kid too.

Were you lighting the fire in the dark, or did you have a lightsource with you?

I hate that where I live, it's a $100 fine for backyard fires. Not sure how strictly enforced it is, as we've had fires in my friends backyard in a pit without issue, but the fact remains, it's dumb.

jca21 · Nov 4, 2009

6shooter said:
Very cool, cute kid too.

Were you lighting the fire in the dark, or did you have a lightsource with you?

I hate that where I live, it's a $100 fine for backyard fires. Not sure how strictly enforced it is, as we've had fires in my friends backyard in a pit without issue, but the fact remains, it's dumb.

seriously? lol, i light bonfires in my backyard all the time and no one seems to mind.

~

nice pics mist, pine knots are definetly great for lighting fires, especially when you want small ones that throw off alot of light and heat. only thing about them is that they seem to make your pot sootier than normal.

cheers

JC

6shooter · Nov 4, 2009

jca21 said:
seriously? lol, i light bonfires in my backyard all the time and no one seems to mind.

~

JC

It might be different in Richmond, but in Coquitlam there's a bylaw against it. That said, I really don't think anyone minds out here either, but I've never had one in my own backyard, pretty much just because I don't have a pit set up.

Mistwalker · Nov 4, 2009

6shooter said:
Very cool, cute kid too.

Were you lighting the fire in the dark, or did you have a lightsource with you?

I hate that where I live, it's a $100 fine for backyard fires. Not sure how strictly enforced it is, as we've had fires in my friends backyard in a pit without issue, but the fact remains, it's dumb.

Lol, I used my cell phone back light as my light source...other than that it was pretty dark out there.

We have laws against brush fires and leaf fires, however cooking fires are perfectly legal so...I just always have some hot dogs or sausages on hand, and cook a couple while I watch the fires burn

dawsonbob · Nov 4, 2009

Yet more great pics, in yet another great thread. Your little girl is really cute. Makes me miss having kids around (mine are all grown and living elsewhere).

KuRUpTD · Nov 4, 2009

Nice pics ... must be sweet to be able to walk out back and build a nice fire :thumbup:

Here, where I live, in NYC the closest thing I can get to that is on the kitchen stove.

Mistwalker · Nov 4, 2009

dawsonbob said:
Yet more great pics, in yet another great thread. Your little girl is really cute. Makes me miss having kids around (mine are all grown and living elsewhere).

Thanks Bob, I'm glad you enjoyed it.

My oldest will soon be grown but I've still got a ways to go with this one

Mistwalker · Nov 4, 2009

KuRUpTD said:
Nice pics ... must be sweet to be able to walk out back and build a nice fire :thumbup:

Here, where I live, in NYC the closest thing I can get to that is on the kitchen stove.

Thanks, I know what that's like too. I grew up here...literally...but then I've lived in the inner city in Dallas, St. Louis, and Miami. I'm glad I made it back here!

Tuxdad · Nov 4, 2009

Great pics Mist.. Your li'l helper is a cutie !! Thanks for sharing :thumbup::thumbup:

cuphead · Nov 4, 2009

I use to live in the suburbs, and at the time was working for a landscaping company where we would make a fire in the back and have bbq, neighbours complained of the smoke and wasn't long before city officials were at our door informing us of the does/donts.

Now I live in the country, and I don't know of a single house without a firepit in the back and I must say it really kicks ass!

great pics and a great way to spend some family time!

TheGame · Nov 4, 2009

Very cool pics. Fire is always so mysterious looking in pictures. Never know what you are going to be getting out of them.

:thumbup:

ratamahatta · Nov 4, 2009

great pics brother!!!!

sicily02 · Nov 4, 2009

Hi all,

Mistwalker, great pics. Your little helper is a cutie lol. Glad you are using that MEGA.
Use it up like you stole it LOL.

Bryan

kgd · Nov 4, 2009

Good stuff mistwalker. Yeah I see a lot of folks using their cell phones as lights nowadays. It looks like your model would make a good boomerang also. I tried that with the first cell phone I had. Very, very fortunately it never came back

Video pointer 1:00 minute is relevant to the thread!
[youtube]wtB3AsKungg[/youtube]

fujita yuji · Nov 4, 2009

Looks like you had a good time with cute helper.
Thanks for sharing great time as usual.

Mistwalker · Nov 4, 2009

Tuxdad said:
Great pics Mist.. Your li'l helper is a cutie !! Thanks for sharing :thumbup::thumbup:

Thanks man, oh she cute...but d#mn she's a handful. I think she gets that from her mom too!

cuphead said:
I use to live in the suburbs, and at the time was working for a landscaping company where we would make a fire in the back and have bbq, neighbours complained of the smoke and wasn't long before city officials were at our door informing us of the does/donts.

Now I live in the country, and I don't know of a single house without a firepit in the back and I must say it really kicks ass!

great pics and a great way to spend some family time!

Thanks man, I'd go nuts without my fire pit.

TheGame said:
Very cool pics. Fire is always so mysterious looking in pictures. Never know what you are going to be getting out of them.

:thumbup:

Fire is one of my favorite meditation elements.

ratamahatta said:
great pics brother!!!!

Thanks bro. Haven't heard from you in a bit, where'd you disappear to? Been hunting?

kgd said:
Good stuff mistwalker. Yeah I see a lot of folks using their cell phones as lights nowadays. It looks like your model would make a good boomerang also. I tried that with the first cell phone I had. Very, very fortunately it never came back

Even without the flashlight function they put off a lot of light in a darkened wood.

I've thrown a few myself...a couple for distance

wanted to ensure they never returned.

sicily02 said:
Hi all,

Mistwalker, great pics. Your little helper is a cutie lol. Glad you are using that MEGA.
Use it up like you stole it LOL.

Bryan

Thanks Bryan, glad you like.

I'm also reeeeaaallly glad you feel that way as that means you won't mind that I could take no more of the machete and got the Mega back out. Man the weight and grind on that thing chops soooooo much better!!

wildmike · Nov 4, 2009

Great thread and looks like a fine and fun time with the little one.