My, how our desires change as we get older. If you’d asked me 20 years ago what I’d want for my 54th birthday, I’m pretty sure a chainsaw wouldn’t have been on the short list.
But that’s what I bought myself today: a 20-inch Stihl chainsaw, protective chaps, protective helmet with face guard, and a Stihl weed-whacker with a blade attachment that will bring down the briar patches I’ve hated since we moved in. I’m ridiculously happy to own these shiny new tools. (So is Chareva, and it’s not even her birthday.)
Now I’m off to play a birthday round of disc golf. I wish Jimmy and Christine Moore were still here to make it a competition, but it’ll be fun anyway.
One more year, and I’m a senior citizen.
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Happy birthday old man. My elbow is still sore from the 5 million holes we played last week. Trying to heal up to throw a boomerang in Oz. I’ll be back to kick your ptooey soon enough. 😉
My elbow feels fine, so who you calling an old man?
Bring it!
Just don’t ever join AARP. It’s a Leftist organization that struck a backroom deal with Obamacare. Besides, there’s other alternatives now.
I swore I’d never join AARP even before they got in bed with Obama. They’ve become advocates for mo’ better government, never mind the ticking debt bomb.
Happy Birthday Tom! We moved to a rural area about the same time as you and I cannot describe my elation at all powered yard tool acquisitions. It’s very strange because I couldn’t have cared less on our tiny little lot in California. But on 5 acres in Washington; give me some tools!
I could’ve cut our “lawn” in California with scissors.
We wish we were there with you, too! Happy birthday!
Well, if the choice is between here and Australia …
Happy birthday old man. My elbow is still sore from the 5 million holes we played last week. Trying to heal up to throw a boomerang in Oz. I’ll be back to kick your ptooey soon enough. 😉
My elbow feels fine, so who you calling an old man?
Bring it!
We wish we were there with you, too! Happy birthday!
Well, if the choice is between here and Australia …
Happy Belated B-day!
Hope you’ve recovered from your pizza. I go on cheating benders once in awhile but I always start to feel like crap and can’t wait to get back to eating “normal.”
Notice I didn’t mention the beer. In my world, beer is what I call “good carbs” haha. Just not too often and not too much.
And oh yeah, I must be going to the wrong kinds of restaurants – I’m 56 and I never seen a discount on anything anywhere…
Clearly you don’t take advantage of the fine dining at Denny’s.
Happy Belated B-day!
Hope you’ve recovered from your pizza. I go on cheating benders once in awhile but I always start to feel like crap and can’t wait to get back to eating “normal.”
Notice I didn’t mention the beer. In my world, beer is what I call “good carbs” haha. Just not too often and not too much.
And oh yeah, I must be going to the wrong kinds of restaurants – I’m 56 and I never seen a discount on anything anywhere…
Clearly you don’t take advantage of the fine dining at Denny’s.
“I’ll take some of me using my toys later.”
Please get Chareva to do it, you’ll need both your hands if you’re using them and, unless you’re a lot more flexible than me, you can’t operate a camera with your feet.
Hog heaven = log hell?
I second (or fourth) the second chainsaw, good for more appropriate size tasks. De-limbing a tree with small branches and a 20 inch bar is always overkill.
Make sure you warm up, stretch and warm down (!) before lifting big rings (not sure of your scale but when I split rings its usually with one other person on a hydraulic ram splitter and picking up 100kg rings between us is not unusual) and use the proper lifting. I’ve seen plenty of aches and strains from this sort of work. Same goes for extended splitter/axe use.
I’ve heard people say that if you are sore you have worked harder (and in some odd reality are therefore a better person). I prefer to work smarter, particularly when I don’t fade fitness-wise a couple of hours into the work (must be all the butter).
Working smarter is always better.
“I’ll take some of me using my toys later.”
Please get Chareva to do it, you’ll need both your hands if you’re using them and, unless you’re a lot more flexible than me, you can’t operate a camera with your feet.
Hog heaven = log hell?
I second (or fourth) the second chainsaw, good for more appropriate size tasks. De-limbing a tree with small branches and a 20 inch bar is always overkill.
Make sure you warm up, stretch and warm down (!) before lifting big rings (not sure of your scale but when I split rings its usually with one other person on a hydraulic ram splitter and picking up 100kg rings between us is not unusual) and use the proper lifting. I’ve seen plenty of aches and strains from this sort of work. Same goes for extended splitter/axe use.
I’ve heard people say that if you are sore you have worked harder (and in some odd reality are therefore a better person). I prefer to work smarter, particularly when I don’t fade fitness-wise a couple of hours into the work (must be all the butter).
Working smarter is always better.
A personal rule: Take a break whenever the saw runs out of gas. It’s easy to get tired and sloppy with a chainsaw.
I love the 20″, but also have a little 14″ I still use for branches and those inevitable times the 20″ saw’s blade gets pinched like Don mentioned. Before I bought the 20″ I used to have to get the 14″ bar out of a jam by having a second bar and chain for the same saw.
Your advice is spot-on. I was using the weed-whacker with the blade attachment to clear the briar jungle today and ran out of gas. When I took the enforced break, I realized my hands were getting numb from the vibration. I didn’t feel that while using it. I decided to stop cutting and start dragging the briar out to a burn pile.
A personal rule: Take a break whenever the saw runs out of gas. It’s easy to get tired and sloppy with a chainsaw.
I love the 20″, but also have a little 14″ I still use for branches and those inevitable times the 20″ saw’s blade gets pinched like Don mentioned. Before I bought the 20″ I used to have to get the 14″ bar out of a jam by having a second bar and chain for the same saw.
Your advice is spot-on. I was using the weed-whacker with the blade attachment to clear the briar jungle today and ran out of gas. When I took the enforced break, I realized my hands were getting numb from the vibration. I didn’t feel that while using it. I decided to stop cutting and start dragging the briar out to a burn pile.
Tom, don’t forget to get a portable grinder sharpener, See link. It’s essential for when you’re away from home and in a pinch…
I also have a 20″ Stihl plus a cheapo Homleite 16″. I never use the Homelite but lend it out when a friend needs a chainsaw so it has it’s uses… Remember to always use ear and eye protection…
Never owned a splitter but would borrow a friends. If you’re going to buy one make sure it’s a vertical style so you don’t have to lift heavy logs..
http://www.amazon.com/0000-882-4001-Portable-Sharpener/dp/B005DC28I2
On a side note if you are going to use the wood stove while you have no power make sure (if on a well) that you have fire extinguishers on hand…
We have a fire extinguisher in the kitchen, just off the dining room with the stove.
Tom, don’t forget to get a portable grinder sharpener, See link. It’s essential for when you’re away from home and in a pinch…
I also have a 20″ Stihl plus a cheapo Homleite 16″. I never use the Homelite but lend it out when a friend needs a chainsaw so it has it’s uses… Remember to always use ear and eye protection…
Never owned a splitter but would borrow a friends. If you’re going to buy one make sure it’s a vertical style so you don’t have to lift heavy logs..
http://www.amazon.com/0000-882-4001-Portable-Sharpener/dp/B005DC28I2
On a side note if you are going to use the wood stove while you have no power make sure (if on a well) that you have fire extinguishers on hand…
We have a fire extinguisher in the kitchen, just off the dining room with the stove.
Thank you for your blog and your hardwork finding and interpreting studies for us. Happy Birthday!
Thank you.
Thank you for your blog and your hardwork finding and interpreting studies for us. Happy Birthday!
Thank you.
Happy birthday from me to you! 54!
The day before you turned 54, I turned 45.
Happy, happy birthday!
And happy birthday (belated) to you as well.
Happy birthday from me to you! 54!
The day before you turned 54, I turned 45.
Happy, happy birthday!
And happy birthday (belated) to you as well.