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…