January 14-15, 2011

Cold Week

Friday and Saturday were really very nice with highs in the upper 40s and dropping only to the upper 20s overnight. But during the week we had the coldest weather of the season with several sub-freezing days and single digit nights. We also received a dusting of snow in town Sunday-Monday, but I'm sure the farm got several inches – it was still on the ground in many spots.

Walnuts

We arrived late and so I decided to get some walnuts cracked instead of starting any larger (longer) project. I need to get cracking on these nuts if I am going to get the remaining 3+ bags cracked and picked. I almost filled my box, and got close to finishing off bag #2. (Each bag is 40-45 pounds.)

Blow Log

While I was cracking nuts, I decided to burn the trash in the fire pit – and possibly burn the cedars I have piled up in the back. I thought with the recently melted snow the ground, grass, and leaves would be damp enough to not worry about the fire getting out of hand. Wrong! It didn't take long to realize we were still in the middle of a very dry spell. So much for burning the cedars.

Some sparks from the fire got on to my hollow log I had by the fire pit (which I was saving to impress some guests). It was so dry and rotten, I couldn't get the smoldering areas that caught put out. So I just went ahead and put it on the fire – sitting it right in the middle. I had to use a stick to prop it up. This blow log was very impressive while it lasted. At least I got some good pictures before it fell over and broke apart (maybe 10 minutes). Sally enjoyed feeding the fire with all the lose debris she could find. I'll be looking for another hollow log so I can do this again. Maybe with a beer in hand the next time.

Pond Walk

Saturday morning we walked to the pond, which I was excited to see because I knew it was frozen over. Sally enjoyed throwing rocks out on it, which made that eerie hollow sound as they bounced across the ice. It was pretty thick, but with one foot I could get it to crack so there was no walking across it. The were only two spots where it was melted: directly in front of the culverts and where the spring seeps into the pond on the south side.

I talked Sally into walking back across the pasture hoping we could find some antlers a deer had shed, but no luck. I think it may still be a bit early. Though I have found some most years, I didn't get any last winter.

Lopped Cedars

My Saturday morning project was to drive down to Plume creek and then lop cedars on the opposite north facing slope. There are lots growing there even though I have covered this area before.

I worked my way up to the bluff because I wanted to see the giant icicles there. (Later in the day I would hear them fall and crash from across the valley.) From the base of the bluff, I worked my way down through the edge of the woods lopping all the way. I cut over 1,100 cedars in an hour and half, but didn't make a dent in those shown in the picture. I just need more time.

Split/Load Wood

We decided to take another load of wood home, and since Sally likes the exercise I let her load the whole truck. While she was doing that I split the rest of the Chicago/Denver logs I had stockpiled. I then decided to split one of the 24 inch logs I had cut the weekend before. I had to use my wedge to get the log into two pieces, but after that the white oak was very cooperative. From one log I ended up with 15 stove logs. I can't wait to burn this stuff – it will sure beat all the limbs I'm using now (although some of those bigger hickory limbs make great fire wood).

Before and after the splitting, I lopped and cut cedars and other trees and scrub just below the barn. Somewhere in there is the field line for the septic system. I need to do a better job of keeping trees from clogging it up with their roots. I whacked another 150 cedars in this area.

January 7-8, 2011

I gave blood before getting out of town, so was an hour later than I prefer in getting off. Sally was having a girls weekend in Hot Springs, so it was just Tender and I. I was anxious to cut some wood, but that would have to wait until Saturday since I wasn't suppose to do any heavy lifting the rest of the day.

Eagles

Friday was nice, in the 50s, but the wind was really strong out of the north. Near Clifty I drove right under 3 bald eagles flying north. They were really working hard heading into that stiff breeze.

Walnuts

I decided to crack walnuts Friday afternoon since I had limited time, it was easy work, and I needed to get a box off to Jackie. I started in on my second full bag. They seemed to crack better than the earlier ones and there were more good nuts, about 80%. I was pleased and got my whole box filled up before dark.

Walk/Lopping

Since it wasn't quite dark yet I took my loppers and Tender and we walked up to the top of the hill. I lopped cedars along the way and Tender explored. We came back down through the woods in the dark. I got 150 cedars cut. There really aren't too many more up there, which is very nice to see.

Fire Wood

Saturday morning it was 24 and it never got out of the 30s the rest of the day. I loaded up my Stihl and McCulloch saws and Tender and we headed for the back pasture where the two huge white oaks have been down for 2 years or more (along with some decent size hickories).

I wanted to get some of the wood out before it got to wet to get back there. Even with no rain for the past week it was muddy enough where I drive the truck across the creek to cause some concern, but I didn't have any problem.

I started out with the McCulloch. Its heavy, hard to start, and a bit awkward to use, but it can sure cut good. But it suddenly died about 2/3 way through the first tank of gas, and the starter cord was locked up and wouldn't move. I continued with the Stihl but could immediately tell it wasn't cutting good. The saw dust was fine and powdery, a sign that I still had not gotten the depth gauges knocked down enough. I decided I would go ahead and take a load to the house and put my new chain on the Stihl, and retire this old one -- or at least make it my spare.

The new chain on the Stihl cut good, but I hit a couple of rocks working on a big limb that was lying on the ground. After that, not so good.

These logs were just about as much as I could handle -- lift into the bed of the truck. I ended up with three truck loads. Next time I'm out here I'll have to bring my log splitting tools just to get the logs down to a size I can lift. I'm getting anxious about getting these good trees cut and to the barn where they will be dry and not subject to rot.

More Lopping

On one of the trips to the pasture, after loading the truck I took Tender and my loppers for a stroll. There weren't too many cedars in that particular area. I think I cut about 60. They are really bad back just across the creek from where the road comes down. That inspite of working that area many times before.

McCulloch

Back at the house I took the McCulloch apart. I found oily sawdust so thick I couldn't believe it wouldn't interfere with its operation. A loop of the starter cord had come off the recoil pulley and tied it up. I spent most of the time trying to work the sawdust out of the compartment on the body side of the saw. Here's another place I could use an air compressor.

After getting it back to together, I started it up and cut the cedar limbs I had piled behind the rabbit hutch back in December. Now I need to have a huge bonfire to get rid of them.

Rake/Prune

It was getting late and cooling off, but not dark yet. I decided to rake some of the pine straw in the front yard. I also clipped the Obedience Plant out front before cleaning up and heading back. Drove the shortcut in the dark.

Dec 31, 2010 - Jan 1, 2011

Weather

It was 60 degrees Friday afternoon, 22 Saturday morning, and didn't get out of the 30s the rest of the day. We had received some hard rain (much needed) Thursday night and I noticed some road erosion just below the house heading toward the pond (some future maintenance required). Water was coming out of both culverts at the pond.

Power Cut

When we arrived we were surprised to see the chain down. I noticed the Carroll Electric pad lock hanging open, so I knew it was them and assumed they were in at the time -- but nobody was there.

We then immediately noticed they had mechanically cleared under the power lines. Several years back they had sprayed to kill the vegetation, but this time everything was cut down over a wide swath under the lines. I didn't like seeing it, but know it is necessary. They covered everywhere the power lines went: along the fence to the south, angled over the hill and down the bluff to the bottom, east along the valley, the tie in going back up the hill to the house, and even the tie in going over to Jeff's. This last run goes right over the confluence of our creeks where they left a mess of willow limbs. I cleared those because I don't want the culvert under the road to clog -- it'll overflow even when not clogged up.

I was wondering how they had done the clearing – whether any of it was done by hand. The limb cuts up the side of some of the tall trees along the side was very rough. On the way back home I found my answer. At the Rock House Road intersection there was a large 4WD tractor parked. It had what looked similar to a brush hog on the back of it, but sat lower and seemed much heavier. It must have one heck of a blade to cut through the brush they ran it over. I had also noticed where they had obviously driven it outside the power cut lane but turned off the blade (but still laying down some of my trees it ran over). Further down the road next to the Fire Station, I noticed another strange piece of equipment. It sat very high with all 4 tractor wheels the same size. It had a long boom on it that could be extended and a small circular blade on the end. I think that is what they used for the high limb cuts.

Bed Swap

We're getting a new bed at home, moving our old queen to the guest room, and therefore decided to move that double bed to the farm to replace two twins in one of the spare bedrooms. (The two twins we passed on to Lisa and CJ.) It was a lot of loading, unloading, reloading, cleaning, and setting up -- but it looks nice and leaves much more room in the little bedroom. I hope our guests will like it.

Fence Down

A section of the fence had apparently blown down in the storm. It was never attached very well -- just scabbed up on both ends, not really being long enough for the span. (This is the area that was occupied by the McDaniel's hot tub.) I'm thinking about adding a post next to the garage in order to shorten the span and better secure this section. There are always plenty of projects to choose between.

Cracked Walnuts

Friday afternoon I cracked more walnuts, finishing up the first bag I had started on back in December and then did all the ones I had hand hulled. Only 20% of the hand hulled ones were good. I hand hulled them because they had come through the huller with hulls intact. Makes me think it knew they were bad and weren't worth hulling. I am anxious to get into the next bag and see what the percentage of bad nuts is there. It's not looking like a good year for black walnuts.

Creek Clearing

Saturday morning I took the Stihl down to Plume creek to continue the ice storm clearing I had started last spring. The first picture is the mess of cedar, hickory, and maple all tied together with wild grape vines. I'd cut what I could reach and then drag those up the hill to either side, and then start again. Dragging this stuff on the slippery slopes is quite a work out -- I was sore. I felt good about what I got done (second pic), but there is more to do further up the creek -- maybe another hundred feet. I don't believe there is another mess as big as this one though. It was nice to hear the water running in the creek when the saw was shut off.

Sharpen/Split

With just a little time before leaving, I got the Stihl chain sharpened and split a few more of the logs I have stashed at the barn.