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Roosty6 @B110

Friday, October 21, 2011

Autumn and Smoke

Actually the movie was called "Summer and Smoke" but this is October 21 as I was making smoke today. The weather has been nice the past while and I'm catching up on a lot of jobs I didn't think I would get the chance to. Like piling and burning this flax straw. One less job to do next spring. I also got all the hay bales (71) hauled home, putting well over 60 miles on the little Massey in the process. Funny how a 60 mile trip sounds like a lot on a tractor but when you divide it up into 7 separate ten miles journeys it is no big deal.
Watching the smoke and flames and the few remaining autumn leaves it brought to mind one of the few things I remember from school days. An old poem Indian_Summer-by-William_Wilfred_Campbell, "along the line of smokey hills the crimson forest stands, and all the day the blue jay calls throughout the autumn lands". No Blue Jays calling today and precious few crimson leaves left on the trees. And I guess those "hills" are none too impressive. But there sure was smoke.
As I walked the fields with a pitchfork carrying piles of burning straw I also thought of my Uncles who walked these fields before me. They'd have been right out there helping out too I imagine if they were still living. And at quitting time invite me in for a cup of coffee to sit beside the old wood stove and talk a while, maybe watch the news and weather on tv.

4 comments:

  1. "As I walked the fields with a pitchfork carrying piles of burning straw I also thought of my Uncles who walked these fields before me."

    Percentage-wise, few folks have that sort of connection anymore, Ralph. I think that's a pity.

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  2. Gorges, once again I am part of that small percentage. Theres hardly a day goes by I don't consider how fortunate I am to be able to do this.

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  3. We are not allowed to burn fields here. Too much air pollution they say. But it is a long discussion. I think there are too many people in the world today.

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  4. Budde, as is often the case, Sask. is a little behind the times. No restrictions on burning here. No doubt that will change in the future but hopefully , by then, I will be retired or flax straw will have become a valuable commodity that we don't have to burn to get rid of.

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