November 10, 2009
-
A stisfying afternoon
Yesterday afternoon Doug and I took a walk. In all of my life living with this man I have learned that when men and women take a walk they are doing it for different purposes. While I am walking along enjoying his company, the scenery, and the general loveliness of the day, he is looking at Ian’s wheat field assessing how well Ian did planting it, looking at the pile of bad round bales to see how fast they are decomposing, and scouting dead and down trees to be cut into stove wood.
After that pleasant little interlude it was determined that there were quite a few trees down in the valley past the wheat field that we could spend a productive three or four hours making a load of wood for the basement. So, back to the house we trekked to get Matthew and the equipment and so I could change my shoes. The dogs and I went ahead because I would always rather walk than ride. We headed down the slope behind where the barn used to stand. This pond is in the valley below our house. The valley is about 23 feet deep there. My husband used to swim in this it when he was a little boy, although I cannot imagine it since it has always been brackish and green since I have known it. When we were first married there was even an outhouse standing at the head of the pond right in the bend of the path.
Across the path from the pond is the creek that carved out the valley. According to the abstract of our farm there used to be several sawmills on this creek over the years. It’s hard to imagine this gentle flowing body of water supplying enough power to run a sawmill. But I have seen it in flood several times now and I know the awsome power of that water.
My silly dog, who doesn’t like getting into his bath, spent a great deal of time in that green slimy water. He was having a grand time.
When they finally came down into the valley with the tractor and the wagon they had to clear the path that is there. There were several fallen trees across their path. This one, unfortunately, was box elder so it was merely cut up and pushed aside to rot back into the earth and sweeten the soil. Not a lot of heat in that tree.
Matthew went ahead of the tractor pushing brush aside and cutting some of the larger pieces with the chainsaw.
The dogs and I followed in the trail made by the wheels of the dumpwagon. The farther back we got into the woods the deeper the underbrush got for awhile. Then we came out into the trees and it was nice and clear.
Now it’s time to get to work. Doug ran the chainsaw cutting up anything that had fallen down and wasn’t rotting yet. There are quite a few trees down in the valley so that we can make another couple of loads.
Matthew went after him standing up the blocks that were made with the chainsaw and split them with the go devil. This not only makes them of a size that will fit into the furnace but it also helps the wood dry out better.
One swing of his mighty go devil and each piece goes down. The wood was surprisingly dry so it split fairly easily. After splitting it we threw it up onto the dumpwagon to be taken home and dumped down into the basement.
I think this does as good as any shot with my camera of showing how deep the valley is. Up above where Matthew is working is the field of wheat that Ian planted.
Across the valley from where we were working the creek flows slowly along as it always has.
Comments (11)
God has given you a beautiful piece of land to care for. It looks like you got your exercise for the day!
Gorgeous pictures! That’s quite a slice of Heaven!
Such productivity out of a simple walk! What a beautiful piece of property.
Sounds a lot like life with Wil…..I never go anywhere with him without a book….I never know what he will find to check on/fix/do.
@TheSunnyC - Don’t take a book but I do take my camera. I like to help Doug in whatever he does. I usually consider things like splitting and loading wood my workout for the day. Unfortunately sometimes I pay with sore muscles but it is worth it for the time that I get to spend with him and outside. For many years I was unable to be with him for one reason or another so it is a privelege to be with him now.
So cute… Loved your opening statement about how men and women take a walk differently! It cracked me up! You are so right! - Looks like a very productive day of chopping wood! You should be well on your way to have comfy cozy winter! – Such beautiful land.
@Camarige - Spent the day today in the same way. This time of year I feel a certain urge to spend all the time I can out in the woods soaking up the nice weather before the snow and cold set in. The feeling of having the basement and garage full does give a certain feeling of warmth and satisfaction.
I always learn so much from you.. I always thought that wood was wood and it would produce heat…now all I have to do is learn what a box elder looks like so I won’t ever turn it into firewood..ah who am I trying to kid. I don’t have a fireplace (or a basement) or a woodstove (or enough property to walk around). It was a joy to see your property and listen to the beauty of your words. Thanks for sharing.
@ugotafriend - Fear not, we all have a lot to learn and from each other too. The lessons that I teach here are unimportant. Besides, bet you don’t even have box elder in CA. I have found, in my limited traveling, that the same trees that I enjoy here aren’t everywhere else. When I was in SC they didn’t have maples! What a shame. The only ones I saw were growing on peoples front yards which lead me to believe that they had been imported.
Maybe in some future time we will be together here walking in my woods visiting with each other and sharing in person rather than in cyberspace. Until then you enjoy the pictures and imagine yourself beside me as I walk the woods. I know that we are kindred spirits.
Look at my Dad’s arm! Just ridiculous for a 50+ year old man to be that strong.
I love that Mack is blousing his boots. He’s never even been in the army. He’s getting pretty strong too.
@P_Obrien - All my men are the most awsome in the world. Especially your father.