Friday, August 24, 2012

Lynchburg Symphony, Things to do at SML



The Lynchburg Symphony


About 45 minutes from The Halesford Bridge at Smith Mountain Lake
Head to Bedford
Go right on Rt 460 into to Lynchburg

2012-2013 LSO Season


Olympic Journey
Sunday. September 30, 2012. 
3:00 pm
EC Glass Auditorium

Date Night with Strings Attached
Friday. November 2, 2012. 
7:00 pm
James River Conference Center

Home for the Holidays
Saturday. December 8, 2012. 
7:00 pm
Academy Warehouse Theater

Four Seasons to Fiddlers
Sunday. February 3, 2013.  
3:00 pm
St Thomas More Catholic Church

Festival of Brass
Saturday March 16, 2013. 
7:00 pm
Court Street United Methodist Church

Glorious Voices II

Sunday. April 21, 2013. 
3:00 pm
EC Glass Auditorium

2012 Season

Winter Evening Feast
Jan. 10, 2012

Country Villa Dinner Party
Jan. 21, 2012
(This dinner is SOLD OUT)

Cupids & Cuisine
Feb. 18, 2012

Piano Concert and Buffet Dinner
March 30, 2012

Afternoon Tea
April 29, 2012

Bike Tour
June 9, 2012

Donations Accepted

For more info: (434) 525-9058 or (434) 845-6604

To see their schedule of events for 2012, FAQ, directions, how to contribute and what to wear, go to ...

www.LynchburgSymphony.com

Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra
621 Court Street
Lynchburg, Virginia 24504
Email LSO at lso@ntelos.net


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This information is brought to you by LogHomesByJack.com. Serving Virginia and the Southeast from Smith Mountain Lake and North Carolina from the Piedmont Triad. Offering a very good combination of price, quality of materials and service. When in doubt, give Jack a shout. 800 767-4916.


Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Tip: Tools and their uses


Toolology 101 for Log Homes

DRILL PRESS: A tall upright machine useful for suddenly snatching flat metal bar stock out of your hands so that it smacks you in the chest and flings your beer across the room, denting the freshly-painted project which you had carefully set in the corner where nothing could get to it.

WIRE WHEEL: Cleans paint off bolts and then throws them somewhere under the workbench with the speed of light. Also removes fingerprints and hard-earned calluses from fingers in about the time it takes you to say, ‘Oh sh — ‘

ELECTRIC HAND DRILL: Normally used for spinning pop rivets in their holes until you die of old age.

SKILL SAW: A portable cutting tool used to make studs too short.

PLIERS: Used to round off bolt heads. Sometimes used in the creation of blood-blisters.

BELT SANDER: An electric sanding tool commonly used to convert minor touch-up jobs into major refinishing jobs.

HACKSAW: One of a family of cutting tools built on the Ouija board principle. It transforms human energy into a crooked, unpredictable motion, and the more you attempt to influence its course, the more dismal your future becomes.

VICE-GRIPS: Generally used after pliers to completely round off bolt heads. If nothing else is available, they can also be used to transfer intense welding heat to the palm of your hand.

OXYACETYLENE TORCH: Used almost entirely for lighting various flammable objects in your shop on fire. Also handy for igniting the grease inside the wheel hub out of which you want to remove a bearing race.

TABLE SAW: A large stationary power tool commonly used to launch wood projectiles for testing wall integrity.

HYDRAULIC FLOOR JACK: Used for lowering an automobile to the ground after you have installed your new brake shoes, trapping the jack handle firmly under the bumper.

BAND SAW: A large stationary power saw primarily used by most shops to cut good aluminum sheet into smaller pieces that more easily fit into the trash can after you cut on the inside of the line instead of the outside edge.

TWO-TON ENGINE HOIST: A tool for testing the maximum tensile strength of everything you forgot to disconnect.

PHILLIPS SCREWDRIVER: Normally used to stab the vacuum seals under lids or for opening old-style paper-and-tin oil cans and splashing oil on your shirt; but can also be used, as the name implies, to strip out Phillips screw heads.

STRAIGHT SCREWDRIVER: A tool for opening paint cans. Sometimes used to convert common slotted screws into non-removable screws and butchering your palms.

PRY BAR: A tool used to crumple the metal surrounding that clip or bracket you needed to remove in order to replace a 50 cent part.

HOSE CUTTER: A tool used to make hoses too short.

HAMMER: Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the object we are trying to hit.

UTILITY KNIFE: Used to open and slice through the contents of cardboard cartons delivered to your front door; works particularly well on contents such as seats, vinyl records, liquids in plastic bottles, collector magazines, refund checks, and rubber or plastic parts. Especially useful for slicing work clothes, but only while in use.

Source: One of those emails that show up from a friend periodically.
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This information is brought to you by LogHomesByJack.com. Serving Virginia and the Southeast from Smith Mountain Lake and North Carolina from the Piedmont Triad. Offering a very good combination of price, quality of materials and service. When in doubt, give Jack a shout. 800 767-4916.

Monday, August 6, 2012

Question for Log Man Jack - stain maintenance

Q Hey Log Man Jack, How often is it necessary to stain log homes.
ANSWER. Maintenance of the exterior of log homes is done by a process called staining. Conventional wood sided homes are commonly painted. Paint does not allow the wood grain to show and that is an attractive feature of log homes.

The number of years between maintenance coats of stain varies with the product used. Some products require repeated staining every year or so. Other products require two coats of stain plus one coat of clear coat with maintenance coats over a longer interval of time – usually three to six years. Yet other products suggest that two coats of the same product be applied initially. Then add a maintenance coat in 3-4-5 years.

Staining can be done with a bucket and brush or a sprayer. When a sprayer is used, the stain penetrates into the cracks and crevices more evenly than with a brush. It should be noted that when a sprayer is used, the windows and doors should be covered with a plastic wrap. The specialists seem to prefer brushing.

This initial staining will begin to wear off due mostly to sun, rain and snow. The need to apply maintenance coats of stain is most evident on the afternoon and evening side of log homes. It is necessary to restain weathered logs or wood to keep them looking fresh. Depending on the stain product used, this might need to be done again in three, four, five or six years. That is, your log home will need a new coat of stain plus clear coat. There are products on the market where the stain and clear coat can be mixed. Obviously, this reduces your work load and two-coat products are usually less expensive than three coat products.


_ _ _
This information is brought to you by LogHomesByJack.com. Serving Virginia and the Southeast from Smith Mountain Lake and North Carolina from the Piedmont Triad. Offering a very good combination of price, quality of materials and service. When in doubt, give Jack a shout. 800 767-4916.

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Showroom at Halesford Center on Rt 122



SHOWROOM for LogHomesByJack.comHalesford Center - Near Tuscan Tavern
16483 - G Moneta Road on Rt 122
Moneta VA 24121




Open Most Weekends and By Appointment Weekdays Periodically
Call Jack at 800 767-4916




Price. Quality. Service.
All three count. Just ask your lender.




www.LogHomesByJack.comwww.Twitter.com/JackHutslar
www.HonestAbe.com

Repairs + Stain + SIPs + Doors + Flooring + Workshops

- Log Homes
- RuStick stick built "log" homes
- Timber Frame Homes - 2 styles
- Recreational Cabins
- Additions and Garages
- Repairs and Renovations

Jack and Sally Hutslar
LogHomesByJack.com
P O Box 140
Huddleston, Virginia 24104
800 767-4916 - Jack@LogHomesByJack.com
Jack.Hutslar1 @ www.skype.com

www.SHSscholarships.comTwitter.com/Jack57SHS
www.Facebook.com/JackHutslarClassmates.com

SHS Scholarships Program
c/o Jack Hutslar, PhD
P O Box 140
Huddleston, Virginia 24104
800 767-4916 - Jack@SHSscholarships.com
Jack.Hutslar1 @ www.skype.com

A portion of our sales income goes to support the SHS Scholarships Program. I started it, along with a couple of classmates, for the new graduates at my high school in Springfield, Ohio. All donations accepted.

Saturday, August 4, 2012

Why log homes are dark inside

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I receive periodic complaints from shoppers that log homes are dark inside.

Here are a few reasons why this might be true. They are:

Small windows. Heavy curtains. Big porches. Small rooms. Inadequate interior lighting. Dark interior stains. Dark furniture. Dark cabinets. Inadequate Planning.

The solution to darkness is: larger windows, sheer curtains or no curtains, more ceiling can lights, light or natural interior stains, lighter furniture colors, lighter oak-type cabinets, and light colored paint on the sheet rock portions of the interior walls.

When planning your log home, ask Jack about other suggestions for a brighter interior.

For more information or assistance in designing your log home, contact:
Jack Hutslar at 800 767-4916 or Jack@LogHomesByJack.com.

www.LogHomesByJack.com
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_ _ _
This information is brought to you by LogHomesByJack.com. Serving Virginia and the Southeast from Smith Mountain Lake and North Carolina from the Piedmont Triad. Offering a very good combination of price, quality of materials and service. When in doubt, give Jack a shout. 800 767-4916.

Friday, August 3, 2012

AAF Tank Museum in Danville, Virginia

American Armoured Foundation Inc
Tank and Ordnance War Memorial Museum




Highly recommended ... The Tank Museum to visit when in the Smith Mountain Lake area or NC Piedmont Triad. Indoors. Plan on spending 3-4 hours walking around, at a minimum. Special events during the year include flame throwers, tank crushing a car, war game tables, remote control tank battles, car show. My photos below just scratch the surface. A memorable experience ... Jack Hutslar



3401 US Highway 29
Danville VA 24540
434 836-5323 - aaftank@gamewood.net
www.AAFTankMuseum.com


Tanks: US. German, Soviet. Swedish. WW I and much more
Personnel carriers. Canons. Machine Guns. Military Uniforms.
Remote Control Tank Battles ET.
Restorations in progress. Items for sale.
Gift Shop with models, clothing, badges etc for sale.
WW II music all the time.

_ _ _
This information is brought to you by LogHomesByJack.com. Serving Virginia and the Southeast from Smith Mountain Lake and North Carolina from the Piedmont Triad. Offering a very good combination of price, quality of materials and service. When in doubt, give Jack a shout. 800 767-4916.

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Tip: Squirrel repellents


Critter repellents for squirrel and deer

It has been suggested to me that critters like squirrels and deer seek salt. That may be why they are chewing on your home. So, perhaps you can add a small salt lick in your yard away from the house as a way to draw critters toward what they are really seeking. I have not verified this.

Commercial answers to chewing critters.

Try Critter Ridder and Deer Off. 

Critter Ridder irritates the paws and mouth of a variety of animals. 

Deer Off adds eggs smell to the other repellents in this mixture.

Woodstream web site is www.HavaHart.com

See the animal button to find the product that best fits your need. 

Order on line or call Customer Service at 800 800- 1819, ext 455.

When calling them, please remind them that you learned about their products from LogHomesByJack.com.


But wait, there is more.


Go to www.bitrex.com to see another repellent line. It is called Bitrex.


Your own brew. You can concoct your own brew of hot stuff or look through the Old Home Remedies books.

Other Pest Products in stock at the Showroom for LogHomesByJack.com

Bug Juice ... an additive for stain to eliminate pests like Carpenter Bees that walk on walls, ceilings and overhangs.

NBS 30 ... an irritant to pests that can be mixed with water or stain.

Mold Buster ... a wash to get rid of mold, mildew and algae.

LogHomesByJack.com
800 767-4916
Jack@LogHomesByJack.com

Showroom in The Halesford Center on Rt 122 at Smith Mountain Lake in Moneta, Virginia 24121.

_ _ _
Do not mean to bug you but this information is brought to you by LogHomesByJack.com. Serving Virginia and the Southeast from Smith Mountain Lake and North Carolina from the Piedmont Triad. Offering a very good combination of price, quality of materials and service. When in doubt, give Jack a shout. 800 767-4916.

Tips: Electrical Safety Questionnaire

Safety answers below
1. A live electrical line has fallen on my car. What is the safest thing I can do?
a) run b) walk c) crawl d) stay in my car

2. What was the number one cause of death during Hurricane Bertha?
a) falling trees b) drowning c) electrocution d) carbon monoxide poisoning

3. Birds can safely sit on power wires that would kill people.
True False

4. Power lines coming from the transformer to your house are covered and OK to touch.
True False

5. It is safe to climb a tree located near a power line as long as the limbs are not touching the line.
True False

6. It is safe to touch a power line with a pole, antenna, or other object.
True False

7. If you see a downed or low hanging power line, you should:
a) move it out of the way and call your electric cooperative
b) don't worry about it
c) stay clear and call the electric cooperative immediately

8. How much voltage is needed to hurt or kill people:
a) 120 volts b) 240 volts c) more than 240 volts d) any voltage

9. Which of the following can conduct electricity?
a) metal b) tree limbs c) human body d) all of the above

10. Electricity travels at the rate of:
a) 120 mph b) 2,800 feet per second c) 186,300 miles per second (speed of light)

11. Most power lines are:
a) bare and dangerous to touch
b) insulated and touchable
c) bare, but OK to touch

12. Flammable materials should:
a) always be stored near electrical equipment that may cause a spark
b) not be stored near electrical equipment that may cause a spark

13. Where is the safest place to be during a lightning storm?
a) in a car
b) middle of a field
c) in a house
d) lying face down on the ground

14. Using a telephone during a lightning storm is dangerous.
True False

15. A car is a safe place to be in an electrical storm because it has rubber tires.
True False

16. The average number of people who die in the U.S. each year from being struck by lightning is about how many?
a) 10 b) 100 c) 1,000 d) 100,000

17. The greatest number of people who die from being struck by lightning are who?
a) golfers b) fishermen c) farmers d) joggers e) log home owners

18. All overhead power lines are completely insulated.
True False

19. Water is the best conductor of electricity.
True False

20. Electricity is always seeking ground.
True False

21. Do not release ____[what?]______near power lines.

Answer key:

1.d 2.c 3.True 4.False 5.False 6.False 7.c 8.d 9.d 10.c 11.a
12.b 13.c 14.True 15.False 16.b 17.c 18.False 19.False (silver)
20.True 21.Kites


_ _ _
This information is brought to you by LogHomesByJack.com. Serving Virginia and the Southeast from Smith Mountain Lake and North Carolina from the Piedmont Triad. Offering a very good combination of price, quality of materials and service. When in doubt, give Jack a shout. 800 767-4916.

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Honest Abe log home survives devastating tornado


Disaster avoided

by Bobby Maynard

Worsham family credits their log home’s solid construction with saving their lives.

Linda Worsham knew that severe storm warnings were in effect on the night of Feb. 5, 2008, for the Macon County area of Tennessee. But safe and secure inside her Honest Abe log home outside the city of Lafayette, she never thought she would be in the destructive tornado’s direct path.

“Before the tornado, I used to love storms,” said Worsham. “I loved being in my cabin and hearing the rain and wind outside. With our home nestled in a valley, it never occurred to me that we’d take a direct hit. But all at once that night, the pressure inside the house changed, and the wind sounded different.”

Worsham’s log home, which was located in Macon County about 50 miles northeast of Nashville, was in one of the hardest hit areas of the string of storms that killed nearly 60 people nationwide.

“My husband, adult son and I were in the home on that night,” recalled Worsham. “When the storm hit, I braced myself in the enclosed hallway holding onto a doorframe. My husband, who is disabled, was in one of the bedrooms in a hospital bed, and our son was in the basement. It happened so quickly that we didn’t even feel the house move.”

The Worshams’ log home was lifted off of its basement foundation and moved 12 feet to the right and 4 feet forward. The home’s wraparound porches were detached, and the large stone fireplace and chimney collapsed. The log walls and heavy timber roof system remained intact.

“When the tornado moved the house, the basement garage walls and decks collapsed, and the back portion of the house fell to the ground,” said Worsham. “The doors and windows blew out, and the inside of the house looked like the contents had gone through a blender, but all of the log walls held together.”

Before the tornado, the Worshams’ log home was a gorgeous 2,000 square- foot custom Honest Abe model that was completed in 1998. The home featured three bedrooms, a large cathedral ceiling in the living room and custom kitchen cabinetry fashioned to look like antique furniture. Constructed out of solid Eastern White Pine logs with an interlocking dovetail design, Worsham said the log home’s sturdy construction and materials saved her and her family’s lives.

“A frame house would have been a pile of splinters,” said Worsham. “Three people and a cat came out of the debris with nothing more than a few scratches and bruises. I haven’t yet been able to grieve for the loss of our home – I’m just so grateful that no one was seriously injured. I truly believe that the solid log walls saved us.”

With the home not habitable, Worsham said she and her family have no immediate plans to rebuild and have since relocated to Sumner County. However, they are retaining their property in Macon County and the log home’s foundation in case they decide to rebuild in the future.
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This information is brought to you by LogHomesByJack.com. Serving Virginia and the Southeast from Smith Mountain Lake and North Carolina from the Piedmont Triad. Offering a very good combination of price, quality of materials and service. When in doubt, give Jack a shout. 800 767-4916.




Bed Bugs




Some Useful Information

A bit of information that you might like to know about. We have friends here in our community and one of their sons is an entomologist (insect expert), and has been telling them that there is an epidemic of bed bugs is now occurring in America. Recently I have heard on the news that several stores in NYC have had to close due to bed bug problems, as well as a complete mall in New Jersey.

He says that since much of our clothing, sheets, towels, etc. now comes from companies outside of America (sad but true), even the most expensive stores sell foreign clothing from China, Indonesia, etc. The bed bugs are coming in on the clothing as these countries do not consider them a problem.

He recommends that if you buy any new clothing, even underwear and socks, sheets, towels, etc. that you bring them into the house and put them in your clothes dryer for at least 20 minutes. The heat will kill them and their eggs.

DO NOT PURCHASE CLOTHES AND HANG THEM IN THE CLOSET FIRST. It does not matter what the price range is of the clothing, or if the outfit comes from the most expensive store known in the U.S. They still receive shipments from these countries and the bugs can come in a box of scarves or anything else for that matter. That is the reason why so many stores, many of them clothing stores have had to shut down in NYC and other places.

All that needs to happen is for you to bring one item into the house that has bugs or eggs and you will go to hell and back trying to get rid of them.

He travels all over the country as an adviser to many of these stores, as prevention and after they have the problem.

Send this information on to those on your e-mail list so that this good prevention information gets around quickly.

Freedom is Not Free

_ _ _
This information is brought to you by LogHomesByJack.com. Serving Virginia and the Southeast from Smith Mountain Lake and North Carolina from the Piedmont Triad. Offering a very good combination of price, quality of materials and service. When in doubt, give Jack a shout. 800 767-4916.

Tip: Dryer sheets ... for bugs


Bounce This Along to your Friends and Co-Workers


The U.S. Postal service sent out a message to all letter carriers ... Put a sheet of Bounce in your uniform pockets to keep yellow-jackets away.

1. It will chase ants away when you lay a sheet near them. It also repels mice.


2. Spread sheets around foundation areas, or in trailers, or cars that are sitting and it keeps mice from entering your vehicle.

3. It takes the odor out of books and photo albums that are not opened too often.

4. It repels mosquitoes ... Tie a sheet of Bounce through a belt loop when outdoors during mosquito season.

5. Eliminate static electricity from your television (or computer) screen.

6. Since Bounce is designed to help eliminate static cling, wipe your television screen with a used sheet of Bounce to keep dust from resettling.

7. Dissolve soap scum from shower doors ... Clean with a sheet of Bounce.

8. To freshen the air in your home ... Place an individual sheet of Bounce in a drawer or hang in the closet.

9. Put Bounce sheet in vacuum cleaner.

10. Prevent thread from tangling ... Run a threaded needle through a sheet of Bounce before beginning to sew.

11. Prevent musty suitcases ... Place an individual sheet of Bounce inside empty luggage before storing.

12. To freshen the air in your car ... Place a sheet of Bounce under the front seat.

13. Clean baked-on foods from a cooking pan ... Put a sheet in a pan, fill with water, let sit overnight, and sponge clean. The anti-static agent apparently weakens the bond between the food and the pan.

14. Eliminate odors in wastebaskets ... Place a sheet of Bounce at the bottom of the wastebasket.

15. Collect cat hair ... Rubbing the area with a sheet of Bounce will magnetically attract all the loose hairs.

16. Eliminate static electricity from Venetian blinds ... Wipe the blinds with a sheet of Bounce to prevent dust from resettling.

17. Wipe up sawdust from drilling or sand papering ... A used sheet of Bounce will collect sawdust like a tack cloth.

18. Eliminate odors in dirty laundry ... Place an individual sheet of Bounce at the bottom of a laundry bag or hamper.

19. Deodorize shoes and sneakers ... Place a sheet of Bounce in your shoes or sneakers overnight.

20. Golfers ... Put a Bounce sheet in their back pocket to
keep the bees away.

21. Put a Bounce sheet in your sleeping bag and tent before folding and storing them. It will keep them smelling fresh.

22. Wet a Bounce sheet, hose down your car, and wipe love bugs off easily with the wet Bounce.

23. Put a sheet of Bounce in your suitcase when traveling, it will help keep mites or any other critters out of it. While you are at it, travel with several Bounce sheets and run them up and down your bed linen before getting into bed, it will cause all the critters already in your bed to run. Keep a sheet in your suitcase even after you have unpacked to protect your suitcases from bugs nesting in it.

Comments:


Use them all the time when playing baseball and soccer. I use it when I am working outside. It really works. The insects just veer around you.

All this time you've just been putting Bounce in the dryer!

Bugs have always loved Jack. I will certainly give this a try.

Quick, bounce this on within the next 5 minutes! Nothing will happen if you don't, but your friends will be glad to hear these hints!

If you have other tips for outdoor people at work or play, send us your suggestions. I will add them to "News from Jack."

Thanks ... Jack Hutslar
Jack@LogHomesByJack.com

_ _ _
Do not mean to bug you but this information is brought to you by LogHomesByJack.com. Serving Virginia and the Southeast from Smith Mountain Lake and North Carolina from the Piedmont Triad. Offering a very good combination of price, quality of materials and service. When in doubt, give Jack a shout. 800 767-4916.