November 26-27, 2011

Being a cold and rainy day, Sally decided to stay in town with Tender. Being a cold and rainy day, I decided to do some burning.

Burning

I had three piles of limbs over past the swing, almost all a result of the ice storm. Some of it was chinquapin oak, but most was cedar. I always leave the hard wood to rot, but the cedar takes forever to break down. So I pulled the cedar limbs out, lopped them to burn pile size, and threw them on. It had stopped raining by the time I got to the farm, but I did get a little light rain later during the burn. After I finished the cedar from the three piles, there was still some daylight left so I cut two medium cedars that were crowding one of the big chinquapin's. It took a little time to get those green needles going, but they burned (and generated lots of smoke). By a little after 4pm I was bushed and amazed at how the dragging, lopping, and cutting had worn me out.

Cleaned Floors

I have to admit that I neglect inside work and prefer to spend my time at the farm outdoors. But the floors were in desperate need of a good cleaning. I only tackled the core of the house, leaving the addition and the ceramic tile there for another trip. It took me over an hour just to pick everything up (chairs and rugs) and sweep. I then mopped it all down with vinegar and water. Then I went over it all by hand with mop and glow using a large hand sponge. It was noon by the time I was done, but they do look so much better.

Burn Prep

Knowing what I went through to get the cedar limbs cut down to burning size, and the huge piles I have down in the cedar groves by the pond needing to be burned, I decided to go ahead and get them cut up – anticipating another good burn day this winter. I took the Poulan down and waded through the mess cutting anything of any size. Now, almost three years later, briars and underbrush have grown up amongst the piles. Its a mess. And the Poulan continues to be temper mental. It had thrown the chain once the day before, and did it twice more Sunday. I'm not sure what that's about – other than its a little toy saw. It would also just die on me, a tuning issue I know, but something I hate doing (because I don't know what I am doing).

While in the area, I also cut some low hanging limbs from the big cedars. At one time I am sure Ben had the area looking real nice. You can tell the cedars were trimmed up, because there are no low limbs at the trunk but over the past 16 years the higher limbs have grown down and now hang almost to the ground. I need to cut more, but need a ladder to do it.

Haul Walnut Limbs

While there with my truck, I decided to pick the pile of limbs under this one walnut and dump them in the eroding area past Kathy's tee pee pad above the pond. You can just see it, already full of limbs, just to the left of the tree and down the hill.