I didn't take a photo this year but found one from last time he brought it round, which turned out to be longer ago than we thought....... 12th March 2017, not long after moving in.
The log splitter - which is a converted dumper with a hydraulic bit on top, is still going despite looking like it was on it's last legs nearly three years ago. It's in regular use in BiL's wood supply business. He and a friend pay to take fallen wood from a woodland in summer then in winter they split and bag it to sell. He says they've been very busy this winter so far.
Back in March 2017 Colin was relatively OK, although he didn't look very well. The doctor had put him back on steroids so he had a bit more energy, you can see him pushing a wheelbarrow in the background, we were waiting to see what would happen next after finding that his own bone marrow transplant hadn't worked.
It seems an age ago now.
Anyway, thanks to Andrew two thirds of the logs are now split and added to what he cut the other week to make two giant heaps, taller than me, in the wood shed. They are very wet from sitting outside for 2 years but I won't need to use them until spring 2021 so will have dried although they are poor wood and burn too quickly.
Once I've emptied two out of the four builders bags full of wood that I'm using this year.I think Andrew will come back with the chainsaw to finish the few logs that he didn't do last time and there's also lots of odd small bits in the workshop that need cutting ready for splitting for kindling.
I've contacted the tree cutting people who are coming to look at what can be cut down and left to season. Brother in Law reckoned I might have moved by the time I need more wood but I said if I'm still here it will be no good waiting 'til it's run out as I doubt he'll give me mates rates if I have to buy it off him!.
Back Tomorrow
Sue
That's the way to be! Just a bit of organisation for an easy mind. No stress, no worries,. Simples!
ReplyDeleteIt will be good to have a few overhanging branches cut down
DeleteThat's a most satisfying pile of wood, isn't it. It exudes warmth and security to me. Lovely.
ReplyDeletexx
I should be able to keep warm next winter
DeleteIt’s a satisfying feeling have a good wood supply stored up. Must be a poignant moment to catch Colin in the background in a photo like that.
ReplyDeleteIt certainly was.
DeleteA lovely lot of logs, I can imagine a nice smell that had.
ReplyDeleteIt's a beautiful day here.
Just going to order some new knitting wool to crochet a baby blanket for me granddaughter to give to her friend as a present.
The sky is lovely and blue so will have a walk afterwards.
Have a nice weekend Sue and others.
Hazel c uk
It was fine here too but no walking today for me
Delete"A lovely lot of logs"? That's a tongue twister, Hazel, lol. A good weekend to you too.
DeleteShame he doesn't live a bit closer he could have the fallen wood from our wood - we often have too much to cope with! It always feels good to have everything safely gathered in and know you have enough to keep you warm for years to come.
ReplyDeleteLuckily the woodland where they are able to take wood from is huge, one of the oldest and largest in Suffolk which is why they are only allowed in on certain months and only able to clear some of the fallen trees each year
DeleteYou have a nice supply of split wood there and will be toasty warm come the time you need to use it.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Should keep me warm for quite a while
DeleteWood supply here is low. Would use your BiL wood services, but transport costs across the Pond would be a tad prohibitive. :)
ReplyDeleteA neighbor a couple of doors down has had a tree cutting service at his home for more than four weeks--working almost 5 days a week (can't even begin to imagine the cost-my daughter had one large tree taken down on her property and it cost over £1,900). So far they've taken down at least 20 trees so far--all at least 18-24 meters tall--mostly pine and poplars. They towered over his house, so it has required a great deal of machinery and time to do it safely. The huge logs have been carted away by a logging truck that comes every few days. Quite an operation.
Hope it won't cost me that much for what needs doing here
DeleteWe've just finished selling all the oak from the oak tree we had cut down when we moved here in 2013. Although the tree cost us £1,500 to have cut down and it cost us a further £400 to have it planked, we have come out at a profit after storing it to season until a couple of weeks ago. And of course we had all the smaller branches to burn in the year after it was felled.
ReplyDeleteThe wood we are logging and storing now is from the trees that the local electricity company have had to come round to trim and fell, they seem to do it every year. We always ask that they leave the branches for us and they do all neatly cut into 3 foot lengths.
I do love to see a well stocked log store, and yours is certainly that!!
He had to stop splitting the logs when the heaps got too high for me to throw the bits up!
DeleteA log splitter - that sounds like a machine I'd like to play with.
ReplyDeleteOne that runs off a tractor hydraulics is much more practical - we always borrowed one to use at the smallholding - but BiL converted this himself and it works OK.
DeleteI always found stocking the wood pile was hard work - but the results were always worth it :)
ReplyDeleteYou reminded me that three abodes ago we had a lovely wood stove that heated the house. The heat pump rarely came on. But to feed the stove we had to have wood delivered late spring early summer. A huge pile would be unloaded at the front of the house and we would have to shift it and stack it in the back. We always wanted to start the winter with 4 cords but never had to order that much because there would be wood for the prior year. When we built the last house we owned we debated woodstove or not. Deciding factor was where would the wood pile go and where would we bring the wood in to the great room. We opted for a gas burning fake fireplace that produced heat. It was lovely but with radiant floor heating we didn't need the fireplace for heat and rarely used it. Now, no fireplace or woodstove in our retirement apartment but there are two in the public areas we can sit by.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like your BiL has a good business and that log splitter must be a big help. I am so glad he can help you with your wood. A good collection of wood gives a secure feeling for coming winters.
ReplyDeleteThere's something so satisfying seeing a wood pile, maybe its just me as I have an open fire! Well done BIL.
ReplyDeleteThat is some log splitting "contraption"!!!!
ReplyDeleteHooray for getting this done!
🔥💛🔥