By Comparison
This morning it was 20 degrees! And compared to how it's been, it feels like spring. Really! There is also no wind.
I shoveled a path to the wood pile, the snow was light and powdery. I spent the rest of the day stacking wood inside, the sun came out for a change,
Soul-o seems to be content to hang out by the fire.
The trash can is still out by the road. Since Wednesday morning. It's been so cold, I stayed in and retreated to the chair by the fire.
I just couldn't tolerate the wind chill. I 'll get it now.
So, loaded up with wood again, a little damp but it should be ok. I feel as if the wood that was delivered was not properly seasoned. Just from experience, but good enough, I might find another wood guy.
A little extra time before dinner... chores done. A little of this and that, considering fire, and a little talking in the Zone...



We have a long chain fastened to the bottom edge of one side of the roof, going over the top right by the chimney and hanging all the way off the edge on the other side of the roof. Might take some thought on a round roof. Anyway the point being if you have to service the chimney especially during wood burning season you’ll have the chain to help you get there. It can get frozen in with an ice storm of course. The chain was installed after a giant hassle of a story too long to tell. Hassle not injury. As all of us wood burners here already know it’s best to service the chimney in summer!
We added a woodburning range to our rustic log home, heated with wood nearly 30 years. Order loggers cords, cut/split/stack was part of our way of life. The wood men are never truthful about “seasoned” wood. Order two years worth next time, a year to burn, a years worth to dry for the following year, then always stay that year ahead and you will always have dry wood. My husband died 20 years ago. Kids and I kept doing the wood, they grew up and left, then it was me. I live in town now, but oh, how I miss the woodrange, and that wood prep part of my life. Hope you find a new wood source , someone reliable. There is no heat that can match the woodfire in winter. And sitting near it to stitch.
I admire you.
Thank you for sharing all of this.
Watching a fire can be relaxing and cozy. Enjoy the warmth!
It’s great therapy.
Wood warms you many times, cutting, splitting, stacking, and finally the best — burning.
then climbing on the roof to clean the chimney
it was exciting
Ha! This round roof will be tricky.
Yes, the whole story is warming… and there is plenty to work with right here, a little forest management is needed anyway.
when we lived at the cabin
we heated with wood
we found out stacking the wood in the house
in a long cabin configuration helped it dry/season/
I’d start with the older seasoned then would alternate fresh and seasoned. Poplar would burn hot and fast but oak would burn longer and smell like pickles, maple would not smell like burned sugar luckily. the birch smell best.
I like having the wood stacked inside, the convenience, the look of it.
I’m not familiar with birch, I love the hickory.
birch is a soft wood
mostly used to start fires because of the high sap content- paper birch bark is great incense
its a wonderful fire starter.
the brown cambium layer is often scrapped off to make a tea. it helps with respiratory stuff
Oh I heard that, there has never been much birch where I lived, except as a young child.
A heart on fire. I wish we could heat with wood. Someday..
It’s a lot of work.
Glad to hear you are not burning the furniture, yet! Xxx
I did that once , way back when…😂
Love that lemony little heart–you know what hey say about lemons.
I do!
Jude, I am looking forward to watching this heart evolve, thanks for showing us the drawing.
As a New Englander there is nothing we like to talk about more than heating systems and the processes involved with staying warm. We have 4 methods of heating our house that have accumulated over the years and, best of all, we have put in good insulation. Wishing you much warmth.
Insulation is a very big thing. Will be working on that .
You are one brave and strong woman! Thank you for being so inspiring.
Well, thank you for saying that. Maybe brave is just going ..
Jude, do you have a dry airy place to store the wood outside?
Not yet.
A friend of mine developed a compression fracture, so was not able to do wood stove anymore. Instead, she bought a pellet stove. Whenever she had company, she had them move the sacks closer to the stove. She liked it because of the thermostat on her stove. She said the only “con” was it wasn’t the radiant heat she loved with the wood stove.
Yeah, I know folks who use pellets. I like the wood for now.
I’ve loaded the stove only once today! Heat wave, indeed! Good to find a reliable wood source, it makes such a difference.
Yeah, and gonna build a woodshed.
💪you can do it! my role model 💙🕊️
Ha!!!
I like the way you present the story (Journey with Jude Hill).🍀
Storycloth is my thing.
I’m probably stating the obvious, so I apologize. Could you get some tarps to help shield the wood?
Got tarps. It’s a long story…😂 maybe a wood story is in order…