This pair of tree trimmers have always been called loppers in the family,  more specifically Pap’s loppers.  They would probably be about a hundred years old, cos Pap would be well over a hundred if he were living.  I never really knew either of my grandfathers, so when I got married and my husband had this crotchety old grandfather, I was glad to get to know him.

He used to sit and tell stories, and they were fascinating stories. Stories about the depression and about farming on a small scale, and about having to work very hard to feed his family then, and  about how to grow things.  I could listen to his stories all day.

He also used to be the bouncer at the town’s worst old  bar back in the 50’s.  He was a tall man, over 6′, big for his time, and it was said that he would just pick guys up at the bar and throw them right out into the street.  It was that kind of a bar, in that kind of an era, and Pap was that kind of a guy. He was also known to chase people coming on to his porch to discuss various religions off the porch with the broom.  It was said that  all left very quickly, this large man with the broom telling them that’s what they needed to do…..

But he loved his little dog, and the dog would sit on his lap and sleep.  And he loved his kids and grandchildren, and bought each new great grandchild a little wooden rocking chair, kid sized.

He was already an old man when I got to know him, but he would still go out and work in the yard.  He said these loppers were already old then, but that they were a good strong tool to do a hard job.  He would trim bushes and branches and then spray some WD40 on the blades of the loppers, to keep them in good shape.

Pap died a long time ago now, and I got the loppers that seemed that nobody else wanted.  I remember the strength of the man, who did whatever it was he needed to do to make life work for him and  his family.  And I remember the strength of the tool, and these loppers have served me well for many years now. They hang in a dry place and several times each year and in the fall before they go into the garage, they get sprayed with WD40, to keep them in good shape.  I use them many times each spring and summer, and having them in my hands brings back memories of sitting on the porch,  having Pap tell stories…………it’s funny how a thing can take you back to somewhere.