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Friday Work
May. 29th, 2015 03:46 pmToday dad rented a stump grinder ($70+fuel for 24 hours.) We spent about 6 hours using it - that's more than enough, I think. I'd rank it a step or two below the intensity of using a heavy industrial jackhammer. Some of these stumps were absolutely gigantic (Working down beneath grass level on one, it was probably at least four feet across - it was the worst one granted, but it took at least 2.5 hours by itself.) All the stumps were the remnants of old maple trees cut down years ago, with the exception of one small black cherry tree that didn't quite make it. All the trees were full and alive when I was a child, but most were hit by lightning and killed sometime during the last 15 years. It was fairly hard labor, actually, and I know I'm sunburned now (I spent yesterday outside too, so today compounded that.)
We finished up some barn maintenance we started yesterday by lifting one of the telephone pole supports that are placed at 45 degree angles on one side, cutting the end of it at a bit of a deeper angle, and bracing it back up against the barn. I'm not sure how many more years this barn has left, honestly...and it will be sad when it goes down. But I really hope all of the valuable equipment is out of there long before that happens...or we have a chance to have it salvaged and torn down before that point.
As for yesterday, dad got up on the barn roof and replaced some of the tin, and used some slats for further support on the outside of it (not much left of some of the boards underneath.) I asked if he'd rather I do it, but he turned that request down - so I just supported. It is steep enough on the second angle where working is only possible when you tie a ladder off to a heavy object on the ground (in this case, a 1950s ford farm tractor.) He wore a safety harness as well, - fairly happy he did. He's done this almost every year since I can remember...eventually, it'll be my job to do it, if it lasts that long.
I guess there's some other roofing lined up (porch roofing with shingles) for me in a few weeks. I'm sure I'll find some other junk to take care of as well - honestly, just glad there's all sorts of things to do outside. I've not been sunburned in years, and to be honest, I think my complexion could do with a good burn.
We finished up some barn maintenance we started yesterday by lifting one of the telephone pole supports that are placed at 45 degree angles on one side, cutting the end of it at a bit of a deeper angle, and bracing it back up against the barn. I'm not sure how many more years this barn has left, honestly...and it will be sad when it goes down. But I really hope all of the valuable equipment is out of there long before that happens...or we have a chance to have it salvaged and torn down before that point.
As for yesterday, dad got up on the barn roof and replaced some of the tin, and used some slats for further support on the outside of it (not much left of some of the boards underneath.) I asked if he'd rather I do it, but he turned that request down - so I just supported. It is steep enough on the second angle where working is only possible when you tie a ladder off to a heavy object on the ground (in this case, a 1950s ford farm tractor.) He wore a safety harness as well, - fairly happy he did. He's done this almost every year since I can remember...eventually, it'll be my job to do it, if it lasts that long.
I guess there's some other roofing lined up (porch roofing with shingles) for me in a few weeks. I'm sure I'll find some other junk to take care of as well - honestly, just glad there's all sorts of things to do outside. I've not been sunburned in years, and to be honest, I think my complexion could do with a good burn.
