Recent rains have delayed plans for lumber cutting at the cabin.

My camp stands on 20 acres, which hasn't been thinned in at least 70 years.

This spring I made plans to have a woodsman take down oak, maple and poplar as well as the dead fir and spruce trees.

But there has been so much rain that he can't get his skidder in.

(An aside: A logger has been taking down trees on a lot west of my parcel. But Your Scribe, a giddy optimist, is not asking the question, 'If he can work, why can't my Bob. Noooo . . . '")

Bob and I will have a 50-50 split of proceeds should this enterprise ever get off the ground.

Notes1: Seeing how many loggers and lumber yards have been idled by bad weather makes you realize again how difficult some Maine trades are. These guys don't get paid if they can't work.

Notes2: We did get the corn planted this week. And the pumpkins have broken ground and have been thinned. The grape "arbor" I put in last fall is also showing progress.

Notes3: If I do make any money from being a lumber baron, I plan to invest in a generator. I was disappointed when I went to Hammond's Lumber, and the (lethargic) salesman said the cheapest they had was $1,500. I could have Central Maine Power run a line in for close to that amount - maybe I should do that.

Notes4: I didn't get much work done during my vacation on the canoe-launch on the river. Too many bugs, brought on by the rains. What did pioneers do about bugs? The Native Americans? Clearly they endured but Your Scribe has trouble functioning unless lathered in a coating of Off, and enveloped in a fog of Raid .. . .

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