Helping Out and Sugaring

Just to make things a little crazier, it actually snowed yesterday, and it was cold. We spent some time outside taking care of things in preparation for Spring and heard the sound of chainsaws nearby so we went to investigate. Our neighbor, EB, was out there cutting down a beech tree and he was all by his lonesome, so I offered to help out and he gladly accepted, not that I can do much of anything. Either way, another pair of hands can't hurt, and when doing dangerous work, it's not a bad idea to have another body around. It doesn't get much more dangerous than logging.

I got to learn a little about cutting down trees, and it's interesting when you consider that it takes decades for the tree to grow, and it really doesn't let go easily. Why should it? In fact, it seems to hold on for dear life in the worthwhile quest for survival. Makes you realize that you really have to have respect for trees, they are an amazing thing. After cutting the tree, he realized it wasn't going to fall, even after cutting several sections off, and EB decided that he'd come back and with his tractor and pull the thing down. In the meantime, he cleared some brush and cut some small saplings, things I could help out with. It was a beautiful, cold Spring day and it felt good to be outside. And I was happy to spend some time with one of our many iconic neighbors (they have a street named after them), not to mention a source for future maple syrup. We put our order in.

Later that day, after hanging out around the house, we went for a walk and once again passed EB's house (it was actually his parents-they are four generations all living within a mile of eachother-kind of cool) and he was boiling the maply syrup, so we stopped by for a visit and got the tour. His son SB was there and the grandkids, and eventually EB's mom, the great-grandmother stopped by to finally meet us. It was really cool, and she's the sweetest, nicest woman. How lucky to have all her family so close by.

The kids had a blast, got to play with our neighbor's kids, and they made some new friends. Best of all, we connected with our neighbors, who just happen to be real Vermonters.

Until the next time, thanks for reading, and thanks to Joe Zlomek for the pic.

Wood Options and Be Careful What You Wish For

I've been searching furiously for wood, and though I know I have some time, it's important to bear in mind that Spring is here and Summer will arrive before you know it, and you really need those hot summer days to dry the wood. That is, until I get my act together and have two years worth sitting around the property, I need to burn semi-dry, semi-green wood. I know, however, that one day the wood will be dry and crisp.

The problem I seem to run into is where to get the wood, the biggest problem by far being how to transport the stuff, you need a serious truck, and not the kind you can ask a friend to let you borrow. After all was said and done, I did find someone who would deliver tree length logs, but only if I buy 8 cords. I have no problem with that, except for the minor inconvenience that I don't have a chainsaw, but I can't let that stop me, can I?

So I told him that I was interested, and didn't hear back for a few days, so I started getting nervous that I waited too long and hadn't made the list. That's how my neurotic, Flatlander mind works. I didn't want to hound him and piss him off, but I also didn't want him to forget about me. Well, by the time had I worked myself into a frenzy, the guy called, and indeed I had made the list. We talked, he was very cool, and he said he'd deliver the wood in a couple of weeks.

What? Now I've never done this, and had to take a moment to consider if I was ready to buy 8 cords of wood, and where the heck I was going to put it. I can't use the old space because we are still planning on finishing the barn, and that's where the septic system is going to be-more on the barn later.

I finally decided the wildflower patch would work, because it's far enough away to not ruin our front yard, there's a road there (though it's covered with wildflowers, which we'll miss), and there's the issue of M's trees. She put her darn tree there, the one she planted for her daughter's birthday, and I think there's enough room, but really hope that in the process of unloading the wood, he doesn't level it. That would really suck.

So I think I've got my wood. I won't say for sure until it's sitting on our property, but at least I feel relieved that I don't have to keep searching for it. Of course I managed to find a way to still worry about it, because I want to maintain a connection with this guy, but I don't know if I'll buy 8 cords every year. In fact, I know I won't, but think I may have a way to work around it.

And then there's the issue of the chainsaw, but that can wait. At least until tomorrow. For now, let me relish my small victory, because they are few and far in-between.

Until the next time, thanks for reading.

Yanking My Chainsaw and Searching for Wood

I've been shopping around for chainsaws, and as I stop in the various stores in the area, I get the distinct impression that people are trying to sell me more than I actually need. The story I keep hearing is that I need at least 50cc's and 18 inches or more. While this is true, I am also aware that their impression of cutting wood and mine might not be the same.

Here's my dilemma-I am once again on the search for wood this year, and think that this will be an ongoing gig until I inherit 100 acres of prime hardwood forest to cut and split my own trees. Unfortunately, landowners don't take credit cards, so that's not going to happen any time soon.

As I may have mentioned, my previous source of wood has upped his price to the point where it's may be beyond our reach. Sure, we could afford it, but do we really want to spend that much money on wood? We need heat, no doubt about that, but we have some time. Not a lot, but some, and I figure we can shop around for a few weeks and at least see what's out there. I've been told that wood should be going down because there are a lot of guys who want to sell it, but I've yet to see this. I have seen that prices have dropped slightly from last year, but my goal, in the end, is to find a reliable source that I can turn to each year.

So far, I've yet to find it, but what do you expect from a Flatlander?

In the meantime, I'll keep shopping for my chainsaw. It looks like I'm going to drop about $300-400 easy, but that's what everyone tells me. My good friend Jim said spend at least $500 and get one that will last you a lifetime, but I don't know if I'm ready for that.

I'm looking at Stihl and Husqvarna, and maybe one of the Japanese models, but the Euro models seem to be the ones to get. Everyone I know has Stihl, and I am having a hard time locating someone who sells Huskies (listen to me, so pretentious) nearby. They say to get one from somewhere that will services it, but I don't know why you couldn't buy it somewhere else and have them service it. Then again, I'd like to support local businesses, and as far as that goes, so far, Joe's has my loyalty. I love those guys, but I'll still shop around.

More on my chainsaw odyssey later. For now, I'll investigate my wood options.

Firewood, Chainsaws, and the Bookcase

It seems like every year I've got to think and worry about getting firewood. What a pain, and this year it's no different. As I may have mentioned, our usual firewood source has raised his prices, understandably so, but has now pushed the cost into the realm of inspiring me to be more of real man and cut my own wood. I.e., it may very well be time to get a chainsaw. Mind you, I'm not about to start downing trees myself, not that we had any to spare, but you can save a lot of money, not to mention find more regular sources of wood, if you buy the stuff in log-lengths. Our biggest issue is with transportation. I know a few friends and places that would sell me wood, it's just getting it home that's the problem. If you buy cut and split, you're easily looking at $170/cord, and that's on the lower end.

It always brings me back to the chainsaw dilemma, the time may have come in my real-man training to get one. The question is, which one? I'm leaning towards Husquavarna, don't ask me why. Everyone I know has a Stihl, and I've been told the Japanese make a decent one, though it seems like no self-respecting lumberjack would be caught dead with one. I've been told to cut that amount of wood I'm looking at, I'd need about 50-60cc saw with a 16 inch bar, minimum.

It's all Greek to me, though I'm guessing I'm looking at about a $400-500 investment. Ouch. I'll also invest in all the safety equipment, which includes the chaps, helmet, and boots. Real man gear, that's for sure.

On the domestic front, since our little discussion about finishing the bookcase, I've actually finished the bookcase. It was a lot less painful than I'd anticipated, and though it needs a few minor adjustments here and there, it's basically ready to roll. I feel so empowered about the whole thing that I'm inspired to build another one, which hopefully won't take another six months to finish. I will say this-it was nice using the Ecoprocote stain and finish because it being Winter and all, I couldn't open the windows and the stain was very minimal in terms of fumes.

Until the next time, thanks for reading.