On
this Saturday after Thanksgiving, I’m sitting by a warm fire reflecting on the
year that is quickly drawing to a close. With five inches of fresh snow on the
ground, all is quiet except for the dripping of melting snow from the roofline
and the crackling of the stove. It is a good time for thinking about the past,
and the future.
This
has been another busy year. Once again, I spent a total of 76 days away from
home this year fighting wildland fires in five different states. That didn’t leave
much of a summer for anything else. I’m getting too old to keep that up. Maybe
one more year and then I’ll quit. It seems like I’ve been saying that for a few
years now.
After
returning from my last fire near the end of September, I had to quickly try to
accomplish all the household chores I didn’t get done during the summer.
Finally, in late October, I was able to get back into the shop and begin
working on saws again. In the past month I’ve completed four saw restorations, finished
building a couple of saws that I’d started months ago, and sharpened a few saws
for outside clients. Things are in full swing now. I have several more saws to
restore this winter, and I’d like to make a few more new saws as well. That
will be in addition to all the other things that must get done, like the
furniture restoration and picture framing projects for the wife. The work never
stops. But that’s the way I like it, spending my time productively.
I’ve
listed a few more saws on my “For Sale” page. Be sure to check them out. The
matched set of brass back sash and dovetail saws is particularly nice. Here is
a picture.