Filling the woodpile

As I look out the window at the sliver of moon in the easter sky, my eye shifts to the thermometer reading minus 1.  While contemplating the cold,my mind wanders to the woodpile that is quickly diminishing in the woodshed.  With all of the fall work and activities, this project just kept being put aside.  But now, it's payback time!  Farmer Rick spent a good deal of time after milking last night sharpening saws, mixing gas, and checking oil levels.  Today we will be spending almost the entire day in the woods trying to catch up on the wood supply.  When walking the woods during deer season, we take a mental note of fallen trees and blow-down branches.  There's a huge oak that is blown over from the roots on the backside of our heifer pasture that will be about a 3 day project to cut up.  But, it's nice to know that the wood won't go to waste.  Farmer Rick will take the John Deere 3020 with the wood-hauler (retired) manure spreader, and I'll take the four wheeler and cart for hauling saws, chain oil (and tired dog) to the woods.  As long as one can stay dry with a thermos full of hot chocolate of coffee, you can last a long time in the woods, even if the temp doesn't meander much above zero for the day.  We are supposed to get a few inches of snow starting this afternoon, so it'll be nice to have the bulk of the wood loaded in the old spreader before it hits.  But, it will be so much easier to relax and watch the falling snow this evening after chores, knowing that we've made a substantial gain in the supply of wood.  It will take a full week of days like this to get the woodshed full, but it'll be worth it.  Having wood heat compares to none other when it comes to constant warmth that fills every room.  After spending many a cold winter in drafty old farmhouses, it's a welcome caress of warmth that greets you when you come in the door after a long day in the woods and chores in the barn.