Twine, wire, wind and sun. Hands that crack before the chores are done.

Outside, every day, in every weather.

Cold water and wind strip the oil from skin in winter. Sun and dust do it in summer. Baling twine and fence wire build calluses that catch and tear, and fingertips split where they grip. Gloves help with the friction and trap sweat at the same time. By evening the back, shoulders and forearms have done a day of lifting and pulling.

The routine is short because the days are long. Repair before the gloves go on in the morning. The Split stick in a shirt pocket for the crack that opens mid-chore. Split+ overnight. Massage Cream for the back. Central Oregon is ranch country. These hands are our neighbors.