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.