Tools by Season

Not in a philosophic mood today and sort of ready to get away from all the serious concerns of the world at the moment ... at least for a little while. For some unknown reason I am thinking about the basic and real tools of life... not mental tools... just physical/hands on/put your back into it working tools. Perhaps it is keeping busy as an escape. 

Now there are inside and outside tools to be sure, but with the change of seasons upon us, I am simply concentrating on the outside implements. I have come to the conclusion that there are basically ten or so important tools that make my life easier.  They are seasonal.

As Spring comes in, first in importance is my Grandpa's Weeder which allows me to dig weeds without bending over.  Second is a knife for serious digging in the soil that I, for some unknown reason, have dubbed the snake whacker. I have seen only one snake in the past twenty-five years and I didn't whack it.  I screamed.  Nevertheless... it is the snake whacker.  Oh ... I cannot forget to mention my trusty battery powered chain saw for small downed pasture limbs. Can't live without that.

Summer tools are those of Spring with the possible addition of a weed burning tool, heavy duty weed whacker (the kind with plastic string) and lawn mower, of course.

Primary for Fall is a competent leaf rake, but also essential is a sturdy battery operated trimmer for cutting back the most stubborn plants at the end of the season -- hopefully well before the snows hit. I do not recommend cutting back in the snow. Plants tend to get slimy and gross ... or worse.

Then in Winter the shovel(s) appear or perhaps a leaf blower that can double as a snow removal device. Oh -- snow plows as well -- how could I have almost left that one out. I don't have a plow, but know someone who does. My plow guy even salts my driveway when necessary.  Huge ...  as there is a slight downhill slope that makes a walk to the mailbox terrifying on an icy day. I am at that stage in life when I no longer joke about breaking a hip. Have been in that stage for a while now. Can you relate?

So...  Those are the tools by season in Northwest Pennsylvania ... or at least the basic ones. Soon it will be time to dust off my shovels.  I have two. I live in a notorious snow belt after all. Winter sometimes comes early and... we have more than one kind of snow here.  If you live in snow country or are a down hill skier, you know what I mean.  If you don't... well... you are missing out on something that can be wonderful and difficult at the same time. You have to experience a true winter in snow country to fully get the meaning of that and to know that shovels come in wimpy and heavy duty.

Boys and their shovels...

 

Just happened to look out a window one snow foggy morning this past week to see a utility truck patiently waiting while two men seemed to be exploring the area below the stone wall at the bottom of my front yard -- one man digging away where my property meets the road. They other man was giving what I assume were digging instructions, then he would squat down and move things around before motioning for the digging to begin again.  They were both focused and intent ... would dig a while, stop and look it over, dig some more, talk again. It became a pattern. I began to wonder if they had remembered the warning to "Call Before You Dig", but ... they had on those cool vests with glow in the dark stripes, so I figured they knew what they were doing. This went on for a several minutes. (I got an entire load of laundry folded while I watched them.) I think the digging guy even took a "phone photo" once -- or perhaps he just checked the time.  Anyway -- it made me stop for a moment and think about men and boys and their bond with shovels.  Not sure this bond exists with all men really, but boys, in my experience, always have digging at the top of their fun things to do. Must mention that I always think I would like to dig, but when I get started -- not so much.  It's hard work!  I have great respect for diggers of the dirt no matter how old they are.  Moving on...

I had a garden when my kids were little and we ate everything as it came on – nothing left to bring into the house and have for dinner, let alone preserve for winter. I had to buy by the bushel to do that. Anyway -- the snow peas were our fave. I had great hopes, though, for the Idaho potatoes because they seemed to be safe underground.  Should have known better.  My son and two cousins of like mind dug them all up early on in the growing season. Having discovered their treasure-- smiling and all sweaty dirty,  as little boys are apt to be after heavy digging, the trio came galumphing around the corner of the house dragging a small wagon load of dirt and mini potatoes – so proud.  The potatoes looked like those little ones that are preserved in jars. My sister and I just looked at each other and laughed. So much for visions of dinners where the main course was to be home grown huge Idaho potatoes with a variety of different offerings as toppings. I would have to resort to "store bought" for those and everyone who has ever had a garden knows that "homegrown" is always better.

Ah -- little boys and their shovels.  Those three always liked to dig – even if there was nothing to dig for. Always a treasure hunt with no map.  I had holes scattered about in strange places around the property for many years.  You sort of had to watch your step – those boys, especially my son, were like groundhogs as well – heavily into tunneling. Come winter, my son would have won any competition in tunneling through snow banks hands down. He would dig for hours. I sometimes took food and water out to him.  I will have to have a conversation with him the next time he comes to visit and ask him if he wants to dig out a few thousand dandelions... or perhaps plant some Idaho potatoes.  Anyway... not one single one of them grew up to be a professional hole digger, but I bet all three have a favorite shovel in their garage, and I bet it is dirty.