…and you also told me I could create my last day as I wished, that day would look pretty much like this particular winter Sunday. The snow from a couple days ago was still, light, fluffy, and on the trees. The sun was shining brightly. The air temperature was close enough to zero to be able to work outside in a heavy sweater, “no jacket required”. The birds were chirping happily as they unloaded the feeder behind the wood shed. And the best part of all: a couple hours of splitting logs… one of my favourite activities. The reason I had some logs to split is because on a mild day last week I got out the chain saw and did some tree felling to boost the firewood supply.
I bucked the downed trees in the forest (I love using logger terms like “buck”… I feel like a real man, rather than one one who baked biscotti later that very same day), stacked them, and waited for some snow to fall so I could sled them out. That snow came earlier this week and so this weekend I made many trips hauling them out. I’m really impressed with this sled I bought last year. It is intended for hauling supplies for ice fishing (etc) and when I saw it for $40 (that was the sale price!) I balked at paying that kind of money for “plastic”. But this thing has carried some heavy loads, taken a fair bit of abuse, and even had a spot partially melted by a portable generator exhaust outlet. For this weekend’s log-hauling, sure, there was snow but even then the heavily laden sled was scraping over rocks and downed branches that lay under the snow. It just goes to show you, they *can* make things to last when they want to. Contrast this with the crappy plastic sleds kids use that often break or crack and get thrown out within one season!
By the end of the day your muscles remind you they have been working. That feels good. Then you look at the woodpile and see what you accomplished. That feels even better. And to top it all off with beautiful sights, sounds and solitude all around, I couldn’t help but smile my way through the day. I know it’s not for everyone, but in my books, that is the perfect day. And if I had to pick a “last day” I think would go with a smile on my face.
Sun cutting through the white pines near the guest cabin.
A beautiful day indeed, Neil!
I’m sure you can relate to a perspective we would have in the shamanic world regarding some of the amazing feelings you describe ……. the joyful gifts of peaceful energy given by all of those amazing trees!
Peace,
Marnie