Young Abe Lincoln the rail-splitter in 1830 as he chops out center of a split log that did not break clean.
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Log Splitter
Young Abe Lincoln the rail-splitter in 1830 as he chops out center of a split log that did not break clean.
Fall Folly
The timber along the drive into III is showing changes in color and the canopy is lighter. The cool nights and brisk mornings testify that fall is here. Although the weather predictions had put us off a bit, most of last Saturday and Sunday were sunny, warm and just right for burning brush, mowing or splitting logs.
Sometimes I get an idea in my head and it just won’t quit. I’ll think and study on something and that idea just plain gets stuck!
Himself tried to derail me from this latest project. He suggested other ways and easier methods but I had thought to build a wooden sled and when I found a drawing and vague directions in my handy dandy paperback Handy Farm Devices and how to make them book, I made up my mind.
First! my book instructed, find a tree and cut it down, as it is easier to saw green. So, I ambled up the drive shopping for a tree, Himself reluctantly following with the chain saw. After discussing two or three trees (we needed one with a natural bend in it) we finally found a likely candidate close to the drive and room enough for Himself to drop it. It would have to come down eventually anyway. It was only 8 or 10” through but it didn’t need to be too big and soon it was down. One 8’ section cut out for me and the rest was soon made into firewood and the limbs cleaned up.
We didn’t have a saw for this job so against Himself’s better judgment and dire predictions, I got an axe, a hatchet and two metal wedges. Starting at the larger end, I worked and worked at making the first split. After probably an hour of pounding, cutting, self-doubt and thoughts of conceding, I got the first split in far enough that I knew, finally! I could do this. Wasn’t going to be easy -- but it was possible.
I know that Himself, checking in on my progress periodically, thought many a time to himself that he was going to be able to say, “I told you so”. I know many a time I told myself, he’s not going to be able to say that!
As it split, that log talked to me. When it first “spoke”, I stopped and turned my head to hear the droning insect or find the airplane overhead. I didn’t know a splitting log would talk! I can’t describe that sound. I made Himself come and listen and he heard it too and after hours of pounding steel against steel, stopping to do other chores and resting between, that little ol’ log split -- talking all the way and practically spitting when I made the final swing!
I was so weary from swinging the axe and had cuts on the palms of hands from the steel wedges, that I wasn’t sure I could finish the job. I was afraid I might have to wait until the next trip down. However, grit and determination – and dread of hearing “I told you so” – took over and after another hour or two of finishing, cutting the wood fibers where they hung on for dear life, I finally had two 6 or 7’ half logs. Runners for the sled. Then I dragged, drug, drogue to the porch and fell into my rocking chair . . .
Sometimes I get an idea in my head and it just won’t quit. I’ll think and study on something and that idea just plain gets stuck!
Himself tried to derail me from this latest project. He suggested other ways and easier methods but I had thought to build a wooden sled and when I found a drawing and vague directions in my handy dandy paperback Handy Farm Devices and how to make them book, I made up my mind.
First! my book instructed, find a tree and cut it down, as it is easier to saw green. So, I ambled up the drive shopping for a tree, Himself reluctantly following with the chain saw. After discussing two or three trees (we needed one with a natural bend in it) we finally found a likely candidate close to the drive and room enough for Himself to drop it. It would have to come down eventually anyway. It was only 8 or 10” through but it didn’t need to be too big and soon it was down. One 8’ section cut out for me and the rest was soon made into firewood and the limbs cleaned up.
We didn’t have a saw for this job so against Himself’s better judgment and dire predictions, I got an axe, a hatchet and two metal wedges. Starting at the larger end, I worked and worked at making the first split. After probably an hour of pounding, cutting, self-doubt and thoughts of conceding, I got the first split in far enough that I knew, finally! I could do this. Wasn’t going to be easy -- but it was possible.
I know that Himself, checking in on my progress periodically, thought many a time to himself that he was going to be able to say, “I told you so”. I know many a time I told myself, he’s not going to be able to say that!
As it split, that log talked to me. When it first “spoke”, I stopped and turned my head to hear the droning insect or find the airplane overhead. I didn’t know a splitting log would talk! I can’t describe that sound. I made Himself come and listen and he heard it too and after hours of pounding steel against steel, stopping to do other chores and resting between, that little ol’ log split -- talking all the way and practically spitting when I made the final swing!
I was so weary from swinging the axe and had cuts on the palms of hands from the steel wedges, that I wasn’t sure I could finish the job. I was afraid I might have to wait until the next trip down. However, grit and determination – and dread of hearing “I told you so” – took over and after another hour or two of finishing, cutting the wood fibers where they hung on for dear life, I finally had two 6 or 7’ half logs. Runners for the sled. Then I dragged, drug, drogue to the porch and fell into my rocking chair . . .
Drag, Drug, Drogue
I could not find the word “drogue” used to describe a wooden sled in the internet except in the book, Handy Farm Devices and how to make them . The book was copy writed in 1910. You wouldn’t think the word would have fallen from the English language so soon. One meaning found in an on-line dictionary: “Perhaps alteration of “drag”, “drug”. the other side
NEW TOYS AT III-SEPT 28, 2006
Well, I finally got to try out my new 44inch trail cutter. It is supposed to cut down any tree that I can drive the 4-wheeler over, so I was anxious to put it to the test. As we had plenty of areas that were starting to be taken over by small oaks and cedars, I decided thats where I would start. I was very careful at first, going very slow so I wouldn't ruin the mower, but when I seen how easily it cut down the small trees, I let her go to town. It has cut trees up to 2 1/2 inches in diameter without even slowing the engine. Once the trees are mowed down, the cleared areas will become meadows, growing only prairie grass and possibly wild flowers.
I have taken dad's old snapper back to II and brought my "special" big mower back to III to try to shorten my mowing time.
I have really made a huge dent in the stumps. I have found a way to get rid of them with hardly any effort on my part. I take the axe, whack the stumps a few times, cover the stumps with charcoal, and light it. The stumps just smoulder away. Of course this only works if the stumps are more than a year old.
Herself is keeping busy with a new project: a sled to haul firewood with. This is what is really great about III. Herself does what she wants, and I do what I want. And we are both willing to help the other if the need arises. We are a team. And a damm good one at that.
The season is rapidly coming to a close. We will have to start preparing for winter. getting mower engines prepped, batteries removed and charged, etc. We are hoping for a late fall as we still have trails to blaze. When we ride the old trails, I still marvel at how we were able to plow through the timber and not get lost. Eventually I hope to get the trails wide enough to get the trail cutter through, as I am sure I have done the Snapper no good by using it to clear the trails.
This is our second season at III and we have accomplished so much, especially clearing the land.
Next season, we will have a couple of major projects. Finish the cedar post bed, and build a storage building. It will keep us busy, as usual.
All for this time.
Himself
I have taken dad's old snapper back to II and brought my "special" big mower back to III to try to shorten my mowing time.
I have really made a huge dent in the stumps. I have found a way to get rid of them with hardly any effort on my part. I take the axe, whack the stumps a few times, cover the stumps with charcoal, and light it. The stumps just smoulder away. Of course this only works if the stumps are more than a year old.
Herself is keeping busy with a new project: a sled to haul firewood with. This is what is really great about III. Herself does what she wants, and I do what I want. And we are both willing to help the other if the need arises. We are a team. And a damm good one at that.
The season is rapidly coming to a close. We will have to start preparing for winter. getting mower engines prepped, batteries removed and charged, etc. We are hoping for a late fall as we still have trails to blaze. When we ride the old trails, I still marvel at how we were able to plow through the timber and not get lost. Eventually I hope to get the trails wide enough to get the trail cutter through, as I am sure I have done the Snapper no good by using it to clear the trails.
This is our second season at III and we have accomplished so much, especially clearing the land.
Next season, we will have a couple of major projects. Finish the cedar post bed, and build a storage building. It will keep us busy, as usual.
All for this time.
Himself
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
September Visit -- Finally!
After bad weather and good family events (or something like that) had kept him away for several weeks, Himself found time to pull his new toys down to III. He had purchased the brush cutter about a month ago and had the new "toy" trailer at least a week before he could get away to Missouri. It took considerable restraint on his part, I think, not to run off south on his own and make an opportunity to try them out.
Finally, this past week, we took a couple of days of vacation and two little bairns and headed down. I and the Little Hofs stayed at Too most of the time as electricity, running water and television come in handy with the "wee" generation but Himself spent considerable time at the ranch. He mowed the lane and the clearing conventionally, hauled the Snapper to Too, hauled the "big" mower to III, did end-of-summer maintenance on all then assembled his new brush cutter, made the adjustments and went to work. I wasn't there to record the event with pen and camera so had to rely on Himself to report that it works great! He tried it out down the lane, pushing the brush back to the timber again and did the same in the clearing. (Beats having to cut each 2-inch tree with the loppers!) I think having the bigger mower there and this brush cutter will do one of two things. It will shorten his mowing time or he will be mowing 30 acres. I guess time will tell.
Meanwhile, I will have to put the Cedar Post bed project on hold as I need to make an old-fashioned sled to pull behind the Mule (wooden runners with oak planks for the bed). There are dead trees down across the river trail and Himself plans to cut the trees for fire wood. He would like to haul the firewood up to the cabin. Our trailers are too wide to pull down the trail. So that Himself doesn't have to widen the trail, a sled is the perfect solution! I found half-hearted instructions on the 'net so I'm set! I'm ready to getter done. I can sleep on the floor another month or two . . . the other side
Finally, this past week, we took a couple of days of vacation and two little bairns and headed down. I and the Little Hofs stayed at Too most of the time as electricity, running water and television come in handy with the "wee" generation but Himself spent considerable time at the ranch. He mowed the lane and the clearing conventionally, hauled the Snapper to Too, hauled the "big" mower to III, did end-of-summer maintenance on all then assembled his new brush cutter, made the adjustments and went to work. I wasn't there to record the event with pen and camera so had to rely on Himself to report that it works great! He tried it out down the lane, pushing the brush back to the timber again and did the same in the clearing. (Beats having to cut each 2-inch tree with the loppers!) I think having the bigger mower there and this brush cutter will do one of two things. It will shorten his mowing time or he will be mowing 30 acres. I guess time will tell.
Meanwhile, I will have to put the Cedar Post bed project on hold as I need to make an old-fashioned sled to pull behind the Mule (wooden runners with oak planks for the bed). There are dead trees down across the river trail and Himself plans to cut the trees for fire wood. He would like to haul the firewood up to the cabin. Our trailers are too wide to pull down the trail. So that Himself doesn't have to widen the trail, a sled is the perfect solution! I found half-hearted instructions on the 'net so I'm set! I'm ready to getter done. I can sleep on the floor another month or two . . . the other side
Lean, Mean Mowing Machine
The machine wasn't doing Himself much good, sitting at home in the garage.
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