You can call me a bit crazy, but...

   It's amazing what some folks will do to help speed up the transition from Winter to Spring, especially when this year the  weather seems to have arrived earlier than normal and still has not let go. We are several days away from March and the temperature  was -10 degrees at 7:00 am. The weather forecast  was for a 'slight' warming trend for the remainder of the week. I guess that means temps in the upper 20's and it may even hit the 30's by Saturday. Time to get out the shorts.

   Speaking of shorts, with the wind blowing at 'gale force' the other day, two young men entered the local grocery story wearing shorts, sandals and tee shirts. They were stocking up on chips, dip and beer. Why the shorts? It was the result of a bet and the two of them had lost. But the trade off was going to be …...free beer. They must have been college kids!

   Several weeks ago it turned into a sunny afternoon with the temperature hovering around 33 degrees. The driveway was clear so I decided to wash the cars. A quick wash and towel dry and the vehicles were sand and salt free for the next few days. It did feel pretty good being outside, involved in a 'spring-time' activity and I suspect the neighbors and those who passed by the house got a pretty good laugh. Maybe they were just jealous, because my cars were clean.

   Later that week, there was a fresh dusting of snow and the sand and salt trucks were busy again on the highway and by the time I got back from town....well, you know.

  The snow banks on the side of the road in front of my house are still2-3 feet high, mostly packed in ice, but the road is clear, except for the sand and salt from all the storms. Each time a cars goes by, it creates a bit of a dust storm.

   I needed “something” to throw on the ice that still covers several of the walkways around the house. Even Lucky has a bit of a problem as he slips and slides. The solution was simple. Sweep up some of the sand in the road and spread it about on the icy walkways. Recycle, reuse.

   I know its a bit too early to sweep, but it did cause a beep or two from several who drove by. Maybe, next time I'll go out under the cover of darkness.

   Can Spring be far behind if it's almost time to set the clocks ahead. If you are reading this on 3/8, you may want to make sure that you set your clocks ahead. It's ..Spring ahead and Fall behind or something like that.

   Truth be known, this week I have been pretending that daylight savings time was already in effect. See how light it is at 7:30 pm... I would say to myself. It must be Spring. (In reality, it was only 6:30 pm. until March 8 but I can always dream.)

   I had just finished opening a path to the tool shed and decided to take a peek inside. There, waiting for warmer weather were the garden tools and lawn mower. Perhaps if I straightened up the tools and start the mower, just to check it out, it may send a signal to Spring to arrive just a bit sooner.

   It got pretty noisy for a minute or two, the snow blower roaring on one side of the driveway and the lawn mower on the other. Now if that didn't get the neighborhood people talking, nothing will.

   Planting seeds, washing the car, rearranging the garden tools, starting the lawn mower, what else could I do? There was one more thing I could do. After a quick phone call.... yes, there was a time slot available in about an hour..... it was just enough time to get my summer hair cut. If that doesn't do it, nothing will!

 The forecast for tomorrow.....heavy snow, mixing with some rain and lots and lots of wind. Oh boy!

Hand Tools

   Every once and awhile I make an attempt to clean up the area around my work bench. This has been one of my indoor winter activities the past several weeks. (It's safer in the basement than out on the ice in the driveway,) There are tools, tape measures, rags and dried spots of glue that missed their mark. Let's not forget paint spills either.

   Now I have an assortment of power tools: drills; sanders, saws, electric screw drivers and more. But scattered among the power tools are the hand tools, those that require no electricity or rechargeable batteries.

   I can not remember the last time I purchased a 'new' hand tool. Most of my tools were either picked up at auctions or passed down from my father and grandfather. If tools could talk, I am sure they would have some interesting stories to tell. Maybe they helped repair the priceless dining room table at grandma’s house or were part of a mad Christmas Eve frenzy to finish putting the toys together.

   Some of the hand tools are true pieces of art. The crafted wooden handles and the delicate etchings on some the saw blade represent fine craftsmanship. . The handle on the crosscut saw is well worn and fits comfortably in my hand. Who knows the number of boards its teeth have cut?

   There is a well used screw driver, bent near the tip. Its handle is smooth to the touch from many turns I am sure. And although well used and a bit battered, the wooden handle remains rich in color from sweat and toil.

   My father must have really liked pliers. In his old tool box were at least a dozen pair ranging in size from very small to a pair that almost requires two hands to hold.. Pliers can be a very handy tool, not only for gripping things but also for scaring little children when a tooth is about to fall out.

   The true measure of a craftsman might rest with the quality of the chisels. From flat and narrow to curved and beveled, each has its own sleeve in the leather case. The ties to hold the case secure are long gone, but the faded initials of my grandfather are still visible.

   Anyone who has a tool bench knows you can’t have just one hammer. Now I know there are new hammers that are used by carpenters that can be quite expensive. But no metal handles here; just claw hammers of different sizes and shapes. There is a very small hammer that I remember as part of the “junk drawer” in my grandmother’s kitchen. I wonder if she ever used it on my grandfather.

   Part of my hammer collection includes a ball peen hammer. To this day, I still am not sure of its purpose, but it is fun to say. All I know is that it works nicely when removing glass from old window frames.

   With my current collection of power tools are my hand tools. But I hope that in fifty years from now my grandchildren will be looking at the old hand tools, wondering what they were used for or who used them. There truly is something fascinating about them.