Bill Lantry
Member
- Messages
- 2,663
- Location
- Inside the Beltway
So, as you may remember, everything in my shop is on wheels. Workbench, assembly table, lathe stand, bandsaw, planer, even the tablesaw/router table combo. I have to do this because the shop is small, and needs to be reconfigured often depending on the project. It even lets me "steal" some shop space on warm days, when I can wheel some tools out onto the drive. This means everything in the shop is two to three inches off the ground.
Now, I don't mind that I live on the edge of a forest: I like that a lot, here in the middle of the megalopolis. It's an island of peace. And this spring, while Jeff was building his wren, I had an actual wren nest on some storage shelves near the bandsaw. It was kind of cool. And sometimes, when I leave the garag, err, shop door open, birds fly in and out. No problem, even if some did get in there when we were on vacation, and had to be gently persuaded to leave their home on our return. I like the wildlife here. Even had bats flying around yesterday evening, while James and I did some work.
But last night, I went out the front door to get some trim for the playhouse out of the truck. And there, on the front walkway, was a big old snake. Not a copperhead, thank goodness, likely some kind of rat snake... grayish, about four feet long, and as big around as James' arm. Not big, in other words, but big enough to give me a bit of a shock. One doesn't expect to meet a snake when walking out the front door. I was a bigger shock to him, so he skedaddled to the nearest safe hiding place. You got it: he slithered right under the shop door. I used a big long stick to lever up the bottom of the door (I really should get around to putting on the handle... I wonder where *that* has gotten to?)
Anyway, the design flaw. Everything is one wheels, two or three inches off the ground. In other words, it's a GREAT place to hide if you're a four foot snake! Sawdust everywhere, stuff in piles on the floor, a bunch of things leaning against the wall. Geez...
Needless to say, I didn't go in after him. Maybe I'll just go in, turn on the air compressor (at the far end of the shop) and walk away for a while. Maybe the vibrations will drive him nuts, and he'll quietly leave?
Thanks,
Bill
Now, I don't mind that I live on the edge of a forest: I like that a lot, here in the middle of the megalopolis. It's an island of peace. And this spring, while Jeff was building his wren, I had an actual wren nest on some storage shelves near the bandsaw. It was kind of cool. And sometimes, when I leave the garag, err, shop door open, birds fly in and out. No problem, even if some did get in there when we were on vacation, and had to be gently persuaded to leave their home on our return. I like the wildlife here. Even had bats flying around yesterday evening, while James and I did some work.
But last night, I went out the front door to get some trim for the playhouse out of the truck. And there, on the front walkway, was a big old snake. Not a copperhead, thank goodness, likely some kind of rat snake... grayish, about four feet long, and as big around as James' arm. Not big, in other words, but big enough to give me a bit of a shock. One doesn't expect to meet a snake when walking out the front door. I was a bigger shock to him, so he skedaddled to the nearest safe hiding place. You got it: he slithered right under the shop door. I used a big long stick to lever up the bottom of the door (I really should get around to putting on the handle... I wonder where *that* has gotten to?)
Anyway, the design flaw. Everything is one wheels, two or three inches off the ground. In other words, it's a GREAT place to hide if you're a four foot snake! Sawdust everywhere, stuff in piles on the floor, a bunch of things leaning against the wall. Geez...
Needless to say, I didn't go in after him. Maybe I'll just go in, turn on the air compressor (at the far end of the shop) and walk away for a while. Maybe the vibrations will drive him nuts, and he'll quietly leave?
Thanks,
Bill
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