Shavings on a well loved Jeep.
Gratitude #83 - Sweet Biddies!
11 years ago
Thursday, April 8, 2010
wood heat
We heat our house with a wood burning stove. Right out of a Laura and Mary book, sorta.
Our house is better insulated (by miles) then theirs was and our stove is a LOT more efficient, but we still heat our house by burning wood.
The interesting thing is that each fall I fill, or nearly fill, my smallish wood shed and then trust it will be enough to take us through the winter. The shed holds about 3 cords and we can get by with half that amount if we are careful and have good wood.
Lately I have been burning wood that others have donated, plus the trimmings from the many trees on our place. Odd sized palettes, remodel debris and such, with an occasional boughten cord.
This winter we had “enough” but a lot of it was small wood we got from others remodeling. Small wood burns hot, but does not burn long. Right now we are getting close to being out. We will make it alright, but there won't be a lot left over – maybe a couple wheelbarrows worth.
But that is how it works.
This summer I want to make a wood getting forage into the mountains. I can get a wood cutting permit, and we can take the pickup and the teardrop trailer and spend whatever it takes to get a pickup load of good wood.
Our definition of good wood is ours! We don't have hardwood forests out here. We have pine and fir and spruce, but no oak or maple or beech. If I am lucky I might get some good Douglas Fir, but probably I'll get lodge pole pine.
But, in the middle of the winter, when the wind blows and it is cold, what kind of wood I am burning is less important to me than the fact that I (and my Miriam) are reasonably warm.
Our house is better insulated (by miles) then theirs was and our stove is a LOT more efficient, but we still heat our house by burning wood.
The interesting thing is that each fall I fill, or nearly fill, my smallish wood shed and then trust it will be enough to take us through the winter. The shed holds about 3 cords and we can get by with half that amount if we are careful and have good wood.
Lately I have been burning wood that others have donated, plus the trimmings from the many trees on our place. Odd sized palettes, remodel debris and such, with an occasional boughten cord.
This winter we had “enough” but a lot of it was small wood we got from others remodeling. Small wood burns hot, but does not burn long. Right now we are getting close to being out. We will make it alright, but there won't be a lot left over – maybe a couple wheelbarrows worth.
But that is how it works.
This summer I want to make a wood getting forage into the mountains. I can get a wood cutting permit, and we can take the pickup and the teardrop trailer and spend whatever it takes to get a pickup load of good wood.
Our definition of good wood is ours! We don't have hardwood forests out here. We have pine and fir and spruce, but no oak or maple or beech. If I am lucky I might get some good Douglas Fir, but probably I'll get lodge pole pine.
But, in the middle of the winter, when the wind blows and it is cold, what kind of wood I am burning is less important to me than the fact that I (and my Miriam) are reasonably warm.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
wrong?
In the last few days I have been reminded of some troubling times.
Our country has a pretty good legal system, it may be as good or better than any around, but our system makes horrible mistakes sometimes. Without doubt we have executed innocent people. Other times in a rush to find someone guilty for a crime, we have rushed into action that later proves to be woefully wrong.
Tonight I was reminded of the story of Ferdinando Socco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti. They were Italian immigrants that were executed for a murder they most certainly did not commit. But they were immigrants, so it did not matter (some one, at that time, actually wrote a line similar to that) that they died.
Every one in prison (I am told) claims to be “innocent”, but some actually are.
I am always troubled by the way we treated the Japanese/Americans at the beginning of WWII. There are quite a few Japanese people around here, they are some of our best citizens. But then, our country was so frightened that we walked all over innocent people. It took a long time for us to apologize about that one.
Although we are a nation of immigrants (most of us any way), we are not too good to others who come after us, whether Irish, Italian, Chinese or Muslims.
All of this reminds me that even though we (I) have great intentions, even though my course of action seems right at the moment, it may turn out to be hurtful to people who deserve better.
I wish it were not so.
Our country has a pretty good legal system, it may be as good or better than any around, but our system makes horrible mistakes sometimes. Without doubt we have executed innocent people. Other times in a rush to find someone guilty for a crime, we have rushed into action that later proves to be woefully wrong.
Tonight I was reminded of the story of Ferdinando Socco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti. They were Italian immigrants that were executed for a murder they most certainly did not commit. But they were immigrants, so it did not matter (some one, at that time, actually wrote a line similar to that) that they died.
Every one in prison (I am told) claims to be “innocent”, but some actually are.
I am always troubled by the way we treated the Japanese/Americans at the beginning of WWII. There are quite a few Japanese people around here, they are some of our best citizens. But then, our country was so frightened that we walked all over innocent people. It took a long time for us to apologize about that one.
Although we are a nation of immigrants (most of us any way), we are not too good to others who come after us, whether Irish, Italian, Chinese or Muslims.
All of this reminds me that even though we (I) have great intentions, even though my course of action seems right at the moment, it may turn out to be hurtful to people who deserve better.
I wish it were not so.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
reunion
I attended a small private high school.
The school is down the road a couple of miles from where we live (go the other way a mile to where I was born).
About twenty of my family members attended the same small school. Miriam and I met there. I thought that was a huge number but one other family has had 71 members attend!
This weekend was the annual home coming. For a small school the alumni are an active group. Each year several hundred return to talk and smile and shake hands and listen. Something like a fourth of the graduates are married to other graduates. Wow.
It was my 55th anniversary, Miriam's 54th. It was not a big deal year (we have another one of those in 5 and 6 years). I was the only one who stood for our year during the class roll call. But there were a few others there.
In the afternoon 5 of us: Lorraine and Eddie (married to each other) Wilmer, Miriam and I found a quiet corner and sat and talked for several hours. Like my talk with Charlie a couple of months ago, it was the first time that we had ever been able to share time together.
It was a rich wonderful experience. We shared our ups and downs. Wilmer has had a kidney transplant. Eddie had a minor stroke. We are getting older. How many of us will be around in 5 years for our next “big deal” gathering? Only time will tell.
But for a few wonderful glorious hours 5 friendships that had laid largely dormant for so many years were rekindled for a brief shining hour and it was so good.
The school is down the road a couple of miles from where we live (go the other way a mile to where I was born).
About twenty of my family members attended the same small school. Miriam and I met there. I thought that was a huge number but one other family has had 71 members attend!
This weekend was the annual home coming. For a small school the alumni are an active group. Each year several hundred return to talk and smile and shake hands and listen. Something like a fourth of the graduates are married to other graduates. Wow.
It was my 55th anniversary, Miriam's 54th. It was not a big deal year (we have another one of those in 5 and 6 years). I was the only one who stood for our year during the class roll call. But there were a few others there.
In the afternoon 5 of us: Lorraine and Eddie (married to each other) Wilmer, Miriam and I found a quiet corner and sat and talked for several hours. Like my talk with Charlie a couple of months ago, it was the first time that we had ever been able to share time together.
It was a rich wonderful experience. We shared our ups and downs. Wilmer has had a kidney transplant. Eddie had a minor stroke. We are getting older. How many of us will be around in 5 years for our next “big deal” gathering? Only time will tell.
But for a few wonderful glorious hours 5 friendships that had laid largely dormant for so many years were rekindled for a brief shining hour and it was so good.
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