Cutting Firewood

The people, places and machinery change over the years but the sturdy poplar tree remains the tree of choice for our firewood in this part of Sask. I think this is one of the earliest photos I have of cutting firewood here about 1940. My dad at left, Uncle Sandy at far right. Too bad no view of the tractor running that drive belt.

Big wood piles called for big crews to get the job done in a day. I can see at least 5 neighbours in that photo above.
Later years we burned less wood so it became sometimes just a two man job. This photo from 1987 shows my dad at the saw.

My uncles  continued to rely on wood heat and cookstove right up to the end. I helped saw huge piles of wood there and it took more than a day. Usually just three of us working by then. This photo shows my Uncle Don and Pete Babiak at the saw in November of 1999. There was a huge pile of firewood and a lot of sawdust by the time we finished there. That ringing saw blade was accompanied by the two cylinder background beat of the old reliable John Deere AR tractor.

Moving up to modern times, (yesterday), I helped my brother and his family cut a small load of firewood into stove lengths to replenish the stack in the wood shed. This time accompanied by the relaxing tones of a 65 year old Wisconsin V4 cylinder engine.

How I Waste Some Time

I guess some would consider it a waste of time but I put a lot of effort into parking as much of my machinery as I can indoors. Not that any of it is particularly modern or expensive but I like to keep it looking good and away from the devastating effects of sun and rain on paint and rubber.
Having limited space means everything needs to be parked pretty close together. Seldom used vehicles need to borrow a battery from a "runner" . In fact I think I used that same battery to start 3 vehicles that day.
Plus, it is an excuse to take the "toys" out for a bit of exercise. Neat to hear the sound of the old John Deere 2 cylinder . It was my Uncle's tractor and this marks just about to the day, ten years since he died.
In other news, haying has begun for me. I cut a few patches of grass and baled it with the square baler. Needed a few small squares to replenish the supply in the hayloft. The rest I will do with the round baler as it is a lot less labour intensive.
More grass to cut but lucky I waited til last night's big rain was over. An inch and a quarter on top of hay swaths is not a good thing. Hopefully we get a week of mostly dry weather now.