I suppose to be really accurate, I should include a photo. However, if I go back out to do that, this post will not happen because I will get sidetracked. Happens every time (almost).
I was hanging around outside in the expectation of our young worker to arrive at 8 AM. Already had one chore lined up for him, but knowing it would not take long, planned to have another ready. There are always branches to be dragged to the appropriate burn piles. [Don’t get excited anyone, we do NOT burn during fire season. This is ongoing every summer cleanup work.]
In addition to the stuff blown out of the trees, some as recent as this week, there is always dead wood to be trimmed, live branches that are encroaching and so forth. If you live in the country you understand. If you don’t and never have, just imagine it.
Up by our old chicken coop, there is a black walnut tree, part of which is dead, and several plum bush/trees. Branches in them were damaged in last winter’s snows and the way they grow, it is almost as bad as ‘Bre’r Rabbit’s Briar Patch’ or could be soon. Okay, I’ll start cutting the bad wood out and dropping it where it can’t be missed. I rather like brush and tree trimming, you can see progress and get to make the decisions. It is no secret that I don’t like actually hauling the brush. Whenever we’ve had grandkids or friends kids work around the place, they always wanted to do the cutting and lopping. Nope, that is what I do, you are paid to do the part I do not want to!
On with the chore at hand, which was going pretty well with the loppers, then the limb saw (it is a bit weak, but has its uses). Hmm, there are larger parts than I thought of the walnut dead. Time to go bring out the big guns, um saw. Not the chain saw but an old familiar family tool.
As many of you know, we grew up on a homestead in SE Alaska. One that could only be accessed by boat or air. Our folks had four daughters, and we all learned all the jobs (dependent on our age abilities of course). One that occupied much of my time when I was 12 was cutting green alder for firewood. (excellent firewood, the source constantly replenished because you can almost watch it grow up there) Fall, trim and cut into kitchen stove lengths. With a swede saw. Many of you know this as a bow saw, which I also have. The swede saw however is an antique, about 4 foot long, and has our family fingerprints permanently in the metal from so much use! (Must be a little psychic to sense them.)
Not that easy to hold in one hand while you take photos of!
I just recently acquired that tool as we sorted through our Mom’s storage shed.
I had not used it in probably 50 years, but it fit my hand perfectly and the black walnut’s dead branches are history! Okay, they are just laying on the ground waiting for someone to drag them off because, well, you know I don’t do that part and also I must have lost track of when our young worker was coming back because he didn’t! There is however another job lined out for him if he makes it next week.