Decided to start on my ugly/oddball elm and ash pile that has been lingering in rounds for almost three years now. I want to get this stuff split and stacked (or burnt) so I can make room for the big Elm I cut down this year. Temps were in the single digits but the wind was mild so it really was great weather to split. The cold temps didn't hurt with splitting the elm either. This stack is full of crotches and short and long rounds. I had help from a cousin (which was very nice of him) when I was bucking it down so the lengths aren't to0 consistent I tested the splits and they were already at 13% moisture so the small stuff went right into a wheel barrow and then the truck for the trip to my house. They are waiting their turn for stove duty today. The regular length splits got piled up to be stacked later on the pallets as I make room for them. I didn't get a lot done because my bride reminded me that there is some kind of romantic holiday or something today. Got home to exchange cards and found out that we both bought identical cards to give each other! LOL.
Ugly wood burns just as well as the nice splits do. It just stacks for chit. If the uglies don't go on the top of the stack, it goes right next to the patio door to burn. Yeah, is that day. I bought my wife her dozen pink roses, a heart shaped balloon, and a small cake yesterday. Add that to the rib eye I'll grill tonight, and the lobster tails ( sorry -warm water tails, not whole Maine lobstahs) and bubbly, its all good. She made crab cake eggs Benedict this am. Nice day to spend in front of the fire with my wife and dogs
I've been told that crotches and knots burn hotter. Not sure if its true but could be since the wood seems more dense and compressed there.
Sounds great! We settled for eating Chinese last night...the food that is, after all we aren't cannibals.
You just now posting some pics from last fall? Where's the snow? Yeah the knotty pieces for sure produce more BTUs - now whether or not they do inside the stove...
Schlot-the card must've nailed the sentiments exactly! We also had Chinese yesterday...the food, not the people kind. p.s. you are burning the right kind of wood for today (some kind of romantic holiday) as the uglies traditionally burn a bit longer, giving you more time in between firing up the stove!!
One man's uglies are another man's, ummmm, not so uglies. How is that a pic of Iowa right now? I've got more coming down right now than you on the ground. Not fair man.
Haven't seen a shoulder wood type thread in awhile. Looks nice and dry and the work area is dry and free of four feet of snow.
I love the snow.....wish we had more. Like you guys said, looks too much like fall! Making shrimp scampi, biscuits and asparagus.....perhaps if things go right it will get knotty tonight ..in the stove guys. Get your mind out of the gutter! After all, there isn't much room with my mind always being there!
Running pretty low on steam man. Don't think I will make it to 1am....check to see if Im up when you reload that stove
