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| Mike cuts red fir #5 |
You
probably think we came here to the farm to relax and enjoy the cool breeze away
from the heat of town. Nothing could be further from the truth. With the
exception of yesterday (we took a break in honor of my birthday), we have
devoted mornings to working “in the woods,” and it was work. Mike
felled, skidded, bucked, and loaded the wood of four dead red fir trees sitting
on the bank of the draw just off the north field. In fact, we really loaded the
wood from each tree twice – once into the 4-wheeler trailer and then from the
trailer to the pick-up. Mike also felled and bucked a fifth tree, but we
already have a heavy load on “Ol’ Silver.” We dare not add more.
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| A "logger's" tools |
These
trees are casualties of the fire that swept through the draw two years ago, and
it’s high time they were cut and gone for the health of other trees in the area.
As a result of the same storm and fire, we have a lot of pine on hand, and it’s
not the best firewood, so the fir will come in handy.
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| If only we could have felled the trees into the field |
It
had been Mike’s hope to fell the trees into the field, which would have made
the work so much simpler, but alas! they were leaning into the draw, so that’s
the way they had to fall. We couldn’t drive to them, so we had to haul the wood
out with the 4-wheeler.
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| For Hazel |
It’s tough work, and Mike has to do most of it since I
have neither the skill nor the brawn. I just do as I’m told while visions of
other activities dance through my mind. I have always been a dreamer and while
I try to compensate, when the going gets tough – or boring – I’m apt to
disappear within my own thoughts.
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| Matted grass is slick |
“I
hate to think of the two of you doing that work,” lamented #3 son on the phone
yesterday, safely 250 miles away.
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| Three trees on 'Ol Silver |
“NO
KIDDING!” I responded. “Sure,” I told Mike, “we’ll have plenty of wood. We can
enjoy the fire from our wheelchairs, provided somebody else carries it in.”
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| Mike cuts Tree #4 |
Even
though we have been working, we did enjoy the cool breeze until late yesterday
afternoon when it suddenly turned hot. It remained warm through the night -- a "Hot August Night" -- and today
it’s hot again (100 at the barn as I write). The “light rain” did not materialize. It continues smoky, and
the dust is always with us this time of year. It’s also hot and stuffy in the
house since we weren’t here this morning to close the windows. Rest assured,
it’s still summer. KW
4 comments:
It is looking better with each load onto the pickup.
We agree that one or two more trees could be thinned from that stand. We estimate that the trees we cut were 50 to 75 years old. It's tough to count those rings.
BTW, the wood isn't split. Mike will do that in town -- in his spare time.
Nick and I could have helped with this task on a visit, but Dad just won't let us help with the things he considers his chores.
Your visit is necessarily short and we both want you to enjoy it and to leave refreshed, not worn out. I have suggested that you and Nick could help him prune the maple. It needs it. And there's other low-key pruning as well.
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