Wow, great story. If you are a believer, it is a great opportunity to remember someone in prayer. I cut on my own land, but I generally remember what tree the wood came from and why I cut it. Usually it has fallen, is diseased, or is a danger.
Your post had me thinking about our cabin. It has trees all around it 8'-10' away. One old maple is gonna hafta go soon. Thankfully, it's not leaning toward the cabin so I don't have to worry about dropping it on the roof... ... nope, not a chance...
Good thoughts Jon1270 I remember the vast majority of the pieces. Also a scrounger, I have met very nice people along the way. Today it is pine from my own yard that Nemo knocked down several years back, and white oak from the neighbors yard that I cut with my then refurbed 038 Mag on its maiden wood cutting adventure. "Skidded" it in rounds with the jet sled a couple a day with my 3 year old daughter (now 6) sitting on top. Yup, good thoughts!
I am burning Chestnut Oak from a neighbor whose kids were Boy Scouts with mine, Black Walnut from the yard of a couple from church, and Honey Locust that I happened to find on the curb while hauling the Black Walnut. I also have started on some White Ash that was dropped by the power company as part of a road widening project that necessitated moving some power lines. I believe I know where all of my wood came from.
A bit different here. I do remember most of the wood and can tell you where that tree was on our place. It is rare to get wood from somewhere other than our place. But another thing is some memories we have of folks we've been able to help occasionally. Some have come here to cut their own. Some we've taken wood to. Some have come to get wood we've already split and stacked and we've even sold wood at some good discounted prices. Some we sold but later kicked ourselves for taking money for it as we should have donated it. But that's all part of life. We are just happy to have our own wood and also to be able to help out a few folks now and then.
My very good friend, neighbor and wood cutting partner passed away 3 years ago, the kind of friend that would do anything for you, and TO you. He had a habit of throwing all the knarliest splits, trunk crotches and anything else he could sneak into my truck. I'll come across these now and know exactly where it came from, what kind of day it was and see his s**t eating grin as he hides it in my truck. I'll split a little more off it for the stove and put it back in the pile.........wood is good
Absolutely great story and I am one to remember as well. I know where all of my stacks came from - the forests at work, side-road scores from road crews, neighbors property, my property, scrounges from asking folks about a tree down, and on and on. This is a big part of the good feeling of hard work, meeting folks, and warm toes - nicely done Jon! Cheers!
Great stories guys. I have many great memories of my youth when cutting wood with my grandpa. I really enjoyed the time spent in the woods and it usually ended up with us hunting deer at the end of the days work. I try to do the same with my kids now, although it's a little easier on all of us with a splitter, bigger saws and such but, the principal is still the same
Great topic, and some great stories! I also have a very personal connection to my wood. (I know - "touching story", right Eric VW ?! ) The house I purchased and the 70+ acres I manage have been in my family for generations. I remember riding around the woods that I now own in the back of my grandfather's wood trailer - that I still use to this day. The red pine that I've been burning this year was planted by my grandfather when he was a teenager. It was meant to act as a wind break for my great-grandparent's peach orchard. I've been making stuff out of it lately too. I made some walnut + maple cutting boards for Christmas for the ladies of my life. The walnut came from a massive yard tree at my great-grandmother's old house, and the maple was from a tree that grew in my woods. My mom was very sad to see that old walnut tree come down, and her reaction after receiving it had my dad in tears. I may have gotten a little misty myself... I built this rolling shelf unit from some maple that was snagged in the crown of another tree when I first purchased my house. Now break time is over and it's got to hold up some lumber of it's own.
"The walnut came from a massive yard tree at my great-grandmother's old house, and the maple was from a tree that grew in my woods. My mom was very sad to see that old walnut tree come down, and her reaction after receiving it had my dad in tears. I may have gotten a little misty myself... " ... that's the good stuff right there Shawn... memories that matter...
Here's another one. A few months back I visited my sisters new (existing) home. In her dining room sat the walnut corner china cabinet my dad built for my mom for their 40th wedding anniversary. The walnut came from my brother-in-laws dads front yard that my dad, myself, my brother in law and his dad cut apart after a storm blew it down. My sister and her husband have it in a great place in their home and I felt pride to have had a small part of it. My sister commented on the tears welling up in my eyes. As they are now just writing about it. Why does wood do that to us??? IMO... is it because from the rough of nature the rough of the living tree we humans craft things that are appealing and give us comfort.
That, and having built a piece with a dad or family member, or using material from a family's property.... It's a real sentimental thing.
