See that big empty spot? That's where the first pile of wood to be split was. Friday we got most of it done and then finished it yesterday morning before moving on to the other (bigger!) pile.
Why didn't I take before and after pictures? Too much sawdust on the brain, I guess. Anyway, I took this picture this morning of what is left of the second and last pile. There was just too much to work through even though we gave it a good try.(Yep, we had a very light dusting of snow last night, but nothing to write home about.)
You can't see much in this picture except the last tier of stacked wood (and the wood splitter and some other equipment) in this, our smaller wood shed, but Chicken Mama stacked and stacked and stacked wood on Friday and Saturday and now this shed is nearly half full.
None of the wood we've been working on will be used this heating season. The wood that we'll burn this winter is in the bigger wood shed shown here and has been drying there since early this summer. When this heating season started, we still had some year old wood in the smaller wood shed so that's what we've been using and haven't even touched this stash yet.
I've posted this picture before but for those of you who may not have seen it, this will prove Chicken Mama is used to doing wood work as we broke her in early on. For several years we had a contract with a local state park to provide bundled wood to them for their campers. Although she used to complain (mightily) about it, she was a big help.
24 comments:
Hooray-at least SOMEBODY got some snow. Us? Rain. Still. I don't think I'll ever see snow this year.
I was just looking at photos from NOV 25 of 2008--we had TONS of snow on the ground. This is the latest we've gone without...and no sign of it in our forecast for the week either.
Chicken Mama sure is a huge help to you guys. I'm sure you remembered her favorite cookies..........
Didn't you?
Sue - Yup, it has been an unusual year both summer and winter so far. Your two snowmobiles must be getting downright dusty waiting for their first outing.
No, I didn't make our little daughter any cookies . . . but I fed her two really good lunches complete with apple pie for dessert. Can I get by with that?
Way to break them into work early, MamaPea! That's the way to do it. And I love the picture because now I can prove to my boys they aren't the only child under the age of 18 who has had to work. :)
Goodness you work hard! It's looking like we may have a snowless Christmas here. Only sun in the forecast.
Now if I would have trained my two earlier they may not whine so much when I ask them to help with chores. I have to bribe them to get them to help. sheesh!
Your little woodchuck was brought up right!
Mama Tea - We're doing our children no favors by never teaching them how to work or handle responsibilities! (I'm a terrible, big ol', mean mama, aren't I?)
Sparkless - I think it's built into teenagers to put up one heckuva fuss whenever they're asked to do any kind of work or help. Our daughter was no different and there were many days during her teen years when she drove me crazy!
APG - She sure is a hard worker now! (Ha! I think I'm gonna start calling her our Little Woodchuck!)
Bet it feels good to be that far ahead on the wood stash. Hope all the backs are holding out :-)
Awwww, that's a great photo of CM! I just love those photos of your full woodshed but wow I need to put up my feet and have a back rub just from reading this, so hope you are having a relaxing evening tonight and hopefully enjoying a little bit of snow.
That's a LOT of wood. Well I didn't make it to get wood yesterday, but I did today, one log will need to be split since it was the base of the fruit tree. Note to self ... go on a week day and they have someone to load it for you. Oh well didn't take me that long to throw in a pu load. I am enjoying a nice warm fire in my woodstove tonight. Enjoy yours.
Whew! I'm tired just reading this. But what a great feeling it must be to have the security of a full woodshed. Now, get some rest!!
Judy
if a wood chuck would chuck wood....oh I wish my eyes worked better-that maybe chicken momma but I can't tell next appt. GLASSES
i KNOW THERE MUST BE A FEW NORWEGIANS WHO FOLLOW YOU .DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THE ROSETTE'S =THEY WENT LIMP WITH NOT MUCH TASTE AFTER MAKING---THANK YOU IN ADVANCE
Wow, you all deserve a day's rest at least! Great job!
dr momi - Yes, it certainly does feel great to be ahead on our wood supply. It hasn't always been this way so this feels especially nice! (The backs and a few other body parts are feeling it, but we're holding our own.)
Erin - Absolutely no snow here other than that dusting yesterday morning. Temp first thing today was 7 degrees so we really need the snow cover for insulation!
Tombstone Livestock - Glad you did get your load of wood, even though you had to work a little extra hard for it!
Judy - Get some rest?? Sounds like a good idea to me! Don't know how we'll work that 'cause we're back at the remodeling today.
judy - I tried to think of an appropriate title for my post using "if a woodchuck could chuck wood" but couldn't come up with one that sounded right!
I'm not Norwegian and don't make rosettes but my guess would be that the oil you fried them in wasn't hot enough???
Stephanie - Thanks, ma'am. We had planned on a day of rest yesterday and although we didn't do any physical work, we spent it working out plans concerning the next step on the remodeling.
Boy, there's nothing like a full woodshed to make you feel all warm and toasty inside and out! What a lot of work! And look at Chicken Mama - that fresh-faced kid!
Wow! That is a lot of wood...and am most impressed that it is for NEXT year!
Hum, should I be more jealous of the fact your wood shed is full or that you have more than one wood shed? Do you think Santa could fit a wood shed in his sleigh?
You may have more wood sheds than I have sewing machines!!! Not sure though. I am sure it is a wonderful feeling to have them full and to have accomplished all that you did. Re: Kids - yep, they almost all rebel at work when they hit a certain age. If we as parents can just hang in there, it will all be worth it .... as your "little" Chicken Mama demonstrates.
Oh my, your wood shed looks fabulous! (Who but a bunch of homesteaders would get excited over a pile of wood, LOL). It's so wonderful too, that Chicken Mama is so close and so willing. :)
Susan - A lot of work, for sure, but ooooh! so satisfying to have it all dried and ready!
Lisa - A running old joke up here where so many people heat with wood (started by those who are probably a smidge bit envious) is: "All that hard work! What if you die before next year and somebody else gets all that wood!"
Jane - I am certain that he could . . . you just have to put the hint out to the right people. ("Oh, Mr. Ice Maaaan!") (Is it weird we homesteading gals lust after wood sheds instead of jewelry or cruises?)
Karen L. - Yep. Our daughter has said that when she absolutely HATED working up wood and having to get wood in the house every day as part of her chores growing up, she NEVER would have guessed that's how she'd be living her life by choice now.
Leigh - I was thinking about our "strange" desires and things we envy (in the best sense of the word, of course) while reading your blog today and looking at your bee-yew-tiful wood cook stove. Those are the kind of things we fantasize about! (Others may label us crazy but, to me, those are the things that make life meaningful. 'Course, our whole lifestyle is working toward that end, isn't it?)
Mama Pea ~ can I 'comment' back on your comment 'reply'?! I shared with my husband that ya'll stock up on wood a year in advance and he said that was his ultimate goal for us one day.... so now taking into consideration the 'what if you die before next year and someone else gets the wood'... does that mean we should include that in our 'financial planning' and 'wills'!!! Hey...it's worth 'gold' to me! Thanks!
Lisa - Haha! Yes, I would advise putting your wood supply in your will. That will save people fighting over it!
When we first moved up here we were introduced to an elderly couple (heck, they were probably younger than we are now!) and we asked to see his wood shed for construction ideas. In the tour he mentioned that he had wood at the very back of the shed that was 15 years old. He'd never had to empty the shed of a heating season. I was so impressed that that's kind of been a goal for me. (Although I do wonder if wood wouldn't get punky being that old!)
As they say "It warms you more then once!" I do not use wood for heat, with only a small fire place in the living room. But I use to sell fire wood years ago. Cutting and splitting wood is hard work, But is something I really like to do. And I have been known to do it just to do it!
Wood look great!
Tom Stewart - Hubby and I both really enjoy working up wood (which is fortunate, I guess) so I know what you mean. It's a good thing to know you can provide your own heat source!
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