RicelandMeadows

March 3, 2025

Today, I helped my son butcher a pig. She was runt, that took awhile to get to butcher size. No worries, she will taste very good.

When my son called me, he asked me to bring a few butchering items. I took my knives and handsaw, a short chain and a longer chain. He asked me if I had a gamble (the apparatus that goes between the pig’s hind legs to hang the carcass). I looked around and couldn’t find mine, but in my treasure, I found one.

The one I found was given to me by my great grampa. I was about 10 years old when he gifted it to me. Back then it wasn’t for butchering a hog. He gave it to me to use for a single tree. The single tree allowed my pony to pull a sled. It hauled me for many miles back in my childhood.

It is made from straight grained hickory wood. The design is simple and functional. My son was a bit concerned if the old antique would stand up to the job. I had confidence in my treasure piece. I was not wrong.

I told the story of the gambrel and my great grampa. I told them about a few of my wrecks that the old pony and me had over 50 years ago now. I had a nice time remembering my great grampa. I told my grandson that the gambrel had first belonged to his great great great grampa. That made for some conversation and reflection.

It was a beautiful day for butchering, sunny but cool. The meat will hang overnight and be cut into cooking sized pieces tomorrow. Fresh chops, roasts and sausage will be the order of the day. All made possible thanks to my great grampa and his gift to me long ago.

After this job, the gambrel will be retired. I will give it a special place to hang on the wall of my “man cave”. In this manner I can tell its story to visitors and family members. I can also tell the stories of my great grampa who gave it to me. What a treasure!