We are having a little celebration today in our little house in the woods.
After fourteen weeks–three long months–we are finally FINALLY done cutting our firewood this year!
Heaving an absolute sigh of utter relief…
Please note our full wood shed. Please note the 1949 Studebaker pickup truck loaded with the LAST LOAD of firewood.
Please imagine the hours and days and weeks of sweat and toil this entailed.
You may even want to imagine how warm our little house will be next winter.
We still have some wood left to split next year. However, this year our wood shed is full–and that’s a wrap, folks. We’ll leave these extra logs to cut next spring. Nicely tarped and protected from rain and snow and falling leaves. (Snakes live under here, beware anyone who carelessly uncovers the tarp. Just sayin’.)
The wood in our wood shed, though, is probably enough for two full years. Maybe all of this–including the unsplit logs–may last three years.
It’s a day to celebrate!
The above photo was snapped maybe in June. Back in the days when we only dreamed of a full wood shed.
I’ll have you know no serious injuries occurred. Except we engaged one very bad piece of firewood a couple of weeks ago. It behaved so inappropriately. As we took it through the splitter, one hunk careened off and landed on my right foot. Just below the little toe. It still hurts a bit today, but it doesn’t appear to be broken. The other hunk of the log shot off toward Barry’s arm and cut it open in two places.
He started bleeding like crazy while I hopped around like a sailor at sea. He couldn’t figure out why I wasn’t comforting him as he didn’t see the errant log attempt to decimate my toe.
And finally I’ll show you where it all started last winter. This was the logging truck load of logs delivered to our house on a fine January afternoon.
And now it’s over, over, over and hopefully we’ll still be alive and well and rarin’ to go next year.
Thanks for joining in the celebration!
Lake Superior Spirit 
Congratulations!! That’s a relief!😊
Thank you, Ruth. It’s been a long haul.
Congratulations! WOW!
I appreciate the pat on the shoulder, Shirley!
Lord love a duck, that is so much work. Congratulations, Kathy. We all do what we must!
Lord love a duck, indeed, lol, Ally Bean! Thank you!
Yay! 🥳
Thanks, Larissa. It’s a lot of work and such a feeling of relief when it’s finally done!
Kudos to you and yours on finishing that colossal wood cutting job. We have gone through that storage challenge for 30 winters to stock up for the big wood stove in the center of the house. This will be our first real winter with a new whole house generator. Age has its rewards after all. 🙂
Thank you, Dor. It really feels like it was a lot of work. Sounds like you totally get it! Congratulations on your new generator–and, yes, we’ve had that age conversation, too. We’ll see how many years this “fun” continues.
What an incredibly full – and neat – woodshed you have, Kathy! My first thought was, I wonder how many little critters will take refuge from the snow amid those logs?
Thanks, Joanne. You know, the critters don’t really take refuge in the wood pile–they used to, before we built it and put a roof on it. Now they think it’s too cool under there. The snakes and critters like the larger unsplit log pile that’s tarped and out in the sun. Apparently it’s just right out there!
Congratulations! I’m so impressed! Good thing your injuries weren’t more serious. It must be a very satisfying feeling to work together on such a big project. And to know you will be warm and comfy all winter long for a couple of years. 🙂
Barbara, you know I think Barry and have grown closer together over the years doing the firewood. It’s good exercise and we’ve learned to work as a team out there. You have to be so careful of the dangers every minute so you try to stay alert and really aware of the other person. We will enjoy a warm and comfy winter!
Whoa. Glad you two weren’t seriously injured. Congratulations on the accomplishment.
Thanks, Lori! Wood cutting and splitting is always something to be careful about, so we’re happy when we end the year well. ❤
Yahoo! We are wood collectors too, so I get it! Congrats!
And that little red truck is adorable.
Wood collectors unite! (And I will tell Barry you love his Studebaker.)
We just stacked two cords of oak today with the help of my son. Even that felt like a huge accomplishment. We buy most of our wood now and have it delivered. Years ago when I lived in Alaska, we did it all. Besides enjoying this kind of work, it’s sure nice to know where your heat comes from!
Stacking two cords of wood is no minor feat! Congratulations on your job well done–and wonderful that you have a son who can help out. It sounds like you fully understand the ins and outs of firewood, Alanna. P.S. Cool that you lived in Alaska!
Looking at a nice stack of firewood makes me feel good. It’s nice to know that you are also a fan!
Well done! Work that is really worth it. I hope the injuries are okay by now. Since we are in the tropics, I am quite glad to not have this chore on our list. I am honestly terrified by winter. I will bake happily but not freeze to death!
I think the injuries are almost healed now. How fun it would be to live in the tropics! I think there would be advantages and disadvantages both ways, but it sounds like you are in the right place for you. 🙂
Some days, it is melting, and air-conditioning is a necessity. Cannot collect anything to make it cooler, unfortunately. But it is wet season now so the weather is mostly pleasant. The plants like it.
I am sure that is a reason to celebrate!!! Now you can relax a while until snow comes… Ha ha!
But Jeff–what will we do with ourselves now? Just kidding–I am sure Life will discover enough for us to do. LIke make zucchini fritters. 🙂
That’s a lot of wood! I’m sure you’ll appreciate it in the depths of winter 🙂
Honestly, Andrea, there is such a feeling of relief knowing we will be warm and cozy all winter long. It’s a lot of wood but it should last two to three years.
Congratulations! This is very impressive. My wood for our tiny fireplace is dropped off by truck and stored on the side of the house. I have never seen a wood pile like this. Nice!
It is a huge pile of wood. Thank you for your congratulations! Sounds like you understand a bit of the fire-making scene. Isn’t it lovely to have a nice warm crackling fire?
Absolutely