About working,cutting splitting ,firewood. Yesterday I found myself remebering childhood memories of cutting wood with my dad. Thinking of what size new saw i was going to buy Just sitting there on a log splitting wood and it felt as if i was in a quiet place reading a book. It wasnt work for me it was enjoyable momemt Even thought about the challenger disaster which was the 29 anniversary yesterday I know it sounds stupid but i really do like that time to myself with my thoughts. I get rewards from the heat it provides the time to just think to myself I just wanted to share it. I guess no particular reason. Just my thoughts at 6:30 am while I watch the fire burn in the stove
I know what your saying woodrat. Because I am more of an introvert, I really, really enjoy getting out and working by myself. Felling/bucking/splitting/stacking, great type of work. It is even more enjoyable if I have a good amount of time and can set a slower pace of work. Know just what you mean man.
Great thread! I like the physical workout, but I think the mental workout/cleansing is even more important. Best times of my childhood with my dad were on the baseball field and working on the woodpile.
I solve all world problems while processing firewood. Some of my own too. It's a nice time for reflection.
I agree! Lately I've been taking my kids to help, which is nice but definitely less peaceful! I still like being out there alone once in awhile.
Nothing stupid about that at all! I find myself the same way when I'm out stacking or working rounds....heck I use most of my time when I'm in the woods hunting to reflect on life and even talk quite a bit to God when I'm out there. I may not shoot a deer but I still harvest plenty when I'm out hunting! Good post, my friend!
Got your own little back-yard Guantanamo going on there ? The french came up with a great chopping block solution for the disparity of wealth once too.
My parents didn't heat with wood until I was 20, but I was making memories this past weekend while moving my split wood and stacking it. My 6 year old step daughter of 6 months was out "helping" me, which meant she was really just running through the woods playing with the dogs. But I found myself stopping work to listen to her play and enjoy the outdoors, since she's spent most of her life in the suburbs. At one point I heard her scream when she was down in the creek, and she came running to me telling me she was never going into the woods again because she just saw a dead animal in the creek. I did some quick thinking and told her I felt sorry for the animal, it probably froze in the cold because it doesn't have a warm house like us. I asked her some questions about the animal, and soon she was back in the creek up close and personal checking it out to answer my questions (it was a first year coon). Hopefully I settled that fear of seeing something dead, because that's a common occurrence to see in the woods.
I know exactly what you mean!! I love it. I `ll go out and split wood in the rain even just to be "away". My kids come with me at times over to the wood splitting area to play, but I never have them close by when I`m running a saw, yet. They play forts, chase animals, etc.
My day job is to figure out the absolute most efficient way to do things using all sorts of technology. Making firewood is about the exact opposite. It is a "mental washing machine" for me.
Great thread. Spending time in the woods, making firewood is a very mentally freeing activity... Mental cleanse. Love it, and I'm using it.
I to can relate... can also relate to the mental ramblings at 6:30 am wile watching the fire re-kindle in the stove... both can be very peaceful and reflective times. My parents never heated with wood, at least not since I can remember. But my best friend in high school, his family heated with wood, and I always enjoyed helping them cut wood. My best friend was built like a bull moose and split everything by hand, the day after we graduated from school, his dad bought a hydraulic splitter lol. ~Nathan
Since I am one of the few that smoke and don't smoke in the house out of respect to my wife I grab my coffee and cigarettes about 5:30 in the morning while the wife is reading the local newspaper and head out back of my property where the wood piles are waiting for the day light as I work my problems out in my head. Like someone wrote it's a cleansing of the mind. The peace of being alone and sometimes talking to God thinking about what my father told me years ago when I was maybe 14 years old, he loved to walk in the woods. If you need to talk to God talk to him when you are in his church, his nature and his beauty that doesn't come through in a church. This isn't meant to start any disagreements about church it's just the way my father thought as I do. To each their own as long as you remember to talk to God.
The woods are my sanctuary too. There are a lot of folks on this FHC forum who feel the same way. As they say... if you understand, no explanation is needed... if you don't understand, no explanation would do...
Well my friend, as you can see from the above posts, if you think it sounds stupid, then I guess we are pretty much the same. I too love to do the same thing and like Scotty, I also enjoy sitting in a tree stand soaking up nature. I understand that many say don't go to the woods alone but personally, I've always loved it. That does not mean I don't enjoy being with others but there is just something about working alone. And if it is not too cold, I will purposely shut the saw off and park my body on a stump. Yes, it is a great place to talk to my Father in his Nature that He made. I too remember the challenger disaster and one thing I do remember about it is the disrespect of the television cameras and announcers. I recall watching the thing go up and then explode. At the explosion, the camera went right to the parents of that female. Why did they have to show the faces of someone who just lost a daughter. That is just one more reason I watch very, very little television. We may watch the Super Bowl if it is any good but typically the tv goes dead for months before we turn it on again.
I too enjoy finding, cutting, working with, splitting, stacking wood. It's just so natural and peacefull even though your often working hard. I love it! The fact we get free heat is just a kicker! Yep, we are ALL stupid! This forum is for exactly that, stupid people! However, about once a month I hear the sound of a diesel truck parked and running in front of my neighbors houses. I'm not sure what they are doing, maybe putting out a fire? cause they always drag what looks like a fire hose up to their house. All the while on the back of the truck there is a dial with numbers on it spinning around making a "Ding $ Ding $ Ding $ Ding $....." type noise. Not sure what that is, but it sure does make me smarter according to my neighbors!! Good for you!! Wish I could say that, I'm going to have to make that a goal of mine. There is a LOT of crap on the dang squawk box isn't there? But then again, I mostly watch the Alaska shows, Deadliest catch, Alaska the last frontier, Goldrush...
