Just about right on schedule. Last year we started cutting on December 1 and this year December 2. Funny part is that last year we cut up some large white pine limbs that had came down in a July storm. This year, well, sort of the same thing happened and when we got there today, we found another one broke off about half way up. We did not finish the job but at least got started. Wife was a big help today too. One bad one was a limb that had broken can wouldn't you know, it wedged right into the crotch of a maple. I got all but one small one out but had to use the 12' stepladder to do it and I hate doing that. But sometimes, you just do what you have to in order to get the job done. This wood will go to our friend wishlist, who will be using it in his evaporator next spring for making maple syrup. When we finish this, hopefully this coming weekend we'll drop 15 more pines at another neighbor's place. It felt good to be cutting again but I can certainly tell you folks that once you turn the corner at 70, the body just is not the same any more. I did not work that hard or that much but the body says I did. Well, hopefully I still have a few good years left but the cutting will be slower for sure.
Good to see you're getting at it Dennis Slowing down is just something you have to do, I am slower than I was 10 years ago
Still getting it done no matter the speed. I hope I can still walk at that age. My job kills my body more than the wood cutting. You're an inspiration.
Well Pyro, I still recall even at age 16 that my chances of seeing 30 were really super slim. Yet, about 5 weeks ago I hit 71. Ha! We fooled them.
Good on ya Dennis. I finally broke down and went into the woods to take care of a Spruce I cut down this fall. It was rotting at the base, and it fell across one of the trails, so it needed to get done.
I don't know Dennis, You sure kick some azz on that splitter of yours. As long as you and the wife still enjoy going out and cutting, that's all that matters. there's always tomorrow too.
Slow and steady. Keep it up Dennis. My neighbor worked steady doing recycling, fabricating, etc. into his mid seventies until cancer took him. He also had many hobbies including wood working, carving, painting, etc. One thing he reminded me of one day was as you age you need to start thinking more, using your mind more and your muscles a little less. In order to keep yourself from getting injured. How right he was. I am only 45 years old and I am trying to follow his advice so that I can keep doing the things I like and love doing for as long as possible. I often think of my father, my uncles, my neighbor I just talked about, and you Dennis when I am processing wood, I am going to use my mind and be very safety conscious, so I can continue to do all of these things that you folks have showed me you can do for such a long time. A great way of life to follow all of you.
Dennis, you still got a ways to go, no worries. My Dads neighbor in Neb. and I were talking this weekend. He was on his way to deliver and stack a ton of wood for someone when he stopped by. Told me he's slowing down, only did 6 cord over the summer but he really likes the new J-Red he bought a year ago. And off he went on his delivery. He's 86.
Ah hmmmm Gotta be a senior moment I guess. Ah ... Pictures ? LOL Bet it feels good to be outside. Good temp for cutting ?
I hear that BeetleKill. I know a guy who lives further down the road. He and his wife just built their new house last year. He is, like 82 at least. He did some of the work himself. Site preparation, helping the contractor with the foundation, construction of house, etc. He has a lot of his own heavy equipment. Gotta keep movin.
This guy is one of my heroes. Was one of my professors in college and the coach of the UMass Ski Team. Ran a chain saw at Berkshire East ski area every summer until his mid eighties to help the team "pay" for their annual passes. Passed away, I think at age 93. When I first met him, it was a snowy day at UMass. He introduced himself and then said the following: "you might look at me, see my nose is red and think it's from the cold weather and blowing snow outside. Well, it's not. It's from the three martinis I had for lunch... you see, I have a case of arthritis and it helps to kill the pain.... Okay now, what are we here for?"... I think he was in his early 80's at the time. Great guy. Very giving and worked hard his whole life. Reading this story brings back memories.. http://www.umass.edu/umassmag/archives/1998/spring_98/spg98_branches.html
Well guys, as far as age goes, a lot of this has to do with genes but there are many factors that enter into it. In my case I had to slow down many, many moons ago. At the University of Michigan, they told me I had to slow down or else. The reason is called post-polio syndrome or something like that. What they told me is true. The parts of the body that was most affected and even some that were only mildly affected tend to lose out as we age. The best way to explain it is to picture a tree. You can picture the top or the roots. In our bodies, we have nerves spreading from the spinal cord into various parts of the body. The part that was hit the worst with polio for me back in 1947 was in the left leg. Quite naturally, that is why I kept noticing every so often that thing didn't want to work very well. It kept getting worse and worse so that is why we looked for answers. But even worse than the leg (left is worst) giving out is that at any moment, exhaustion can hit me. Sometimes it may be in the legs, or the arms or the entire body. Never know what until it happens and it can happen at the blink of an eye. So, yes, I try to work more with my mind than my body but dammit, sometimes one just has to do some physical work! And it is going to stay that way too. I'm a long ways from giving up and have a faithful wife who is not only my lover but my best friend and my right-hand man. She may be ornery, but she is good. On the other hand, we planned on cutting more wood today. Whoops. We've had ice all day. Supposed to be 39 and rain today. Well, we got some rain alright but it turned to ice. Tomorrow forecast to be 50. Crazy. Saturday supposed to get up to 22.
Dennis, you go ahead and keep on beating the odds and keep cutting. The help of a good woman has kept you in the game. You two make one powerful team.
What? I won't be horizontal for sure. I am vertical....and so is the splitter. Just like when you split the wood with axe or maul, vertical is still the best and easiest way to do the work.
