Today's big push was to drag as much wood out of the back-lot as possible while the snow was still firm.
I got a huge boost from Kubota, my youngest son. He had a doctor's appointment at lunch and rather than going back to work he came over and helped me! Yeah family!!!
I put in about four hours and Kubota worked for about two. Frankly, the little nipper did as much in two hours as I managed in four.
I had a proud moment when he latched a hold of one of the larger diameter, 16" long pieces and picked it up. "Holy crap! This is heavy."
Kubota works in construction so he is not a shrinking violet. I have to admit that I secretly puffed out my chest. The secret is on how you grip them. If you get a good grip on them, then you can lift them up close to the centerline of your core. If you get a crappy grip then you are bending over and lifting with your back.
Kubota was NOT impressed with my equipment. "Say dad, I have a buddy and we could have this job knocked out in a few hours."
How do you explain to a "kid" that my priorities are different than those on a commercial job-site where having your trade finish their dance-card and then clear the room so the next trade can come in and start work is not the highest priority.
I am also gathering "intelligence" in terms of how little equipment I need and how many hours it will take. I am also studying the limits of my endurance at the age of 66. I can probably work 2 hours a day at this level three-days-out-of-four and not be hammered into a grease spot on the pavement. At my present level of fitness, four hours a day, three-days-out-of-four would be WAY too much.
The big thaw
I saw some raccoon tracks frozen in the slush yesterday. With the big thaw coming I anticipating some VERY hungry predators around the farmstead, I baited up a live-trap with chicken bones scavenged from a SB party, best-by sale, hot-wings package. Thanks to SNH for the tip.
Re how to tell Kubota, just tell him it's the difference between commercial and home operations... :-)
ReplyDeleteThree weeks ago I spent a day and a half running around on a slope covered with felled trees, working as a ground guy on chainsaw duty for a man running an excavator- he was picking up the logs, it was my job to buck them into 12' lengths and de-limb them.
ReplyDeleteI was tired to start with as the previous weeks work was mildly physical. I am 71. It really slammed me- still have a sore neck and back. The overstressed muscles just take a long time to recover at this age.
I got hammered by old age in the last year, plus one knee is about gone. Takes me a couple days to recover. Working out with weights seems impossible now. Best I can do is stretch, stationary bike, keep moving, rest a lot.
DeleteThe spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.
SouthernNH
Winter is hard
Delete"Shucks, take him up on the offer - the time he saves you on this job you can put to use on other jobs. On those you can measure "personal capacity per unit of stress loading" while basking in the knowledge that the wood dragging is done.
ReplyDelete