When I get asked what its like to have my in-laws as close neighbours I wish I could easily show them what a huge help they are on weekends like we have just had.
With 4 kids living under our roof (19, 16, 14, 11) and the activities and driving that we find ourselves busy with sometimes the wood gathering doesn't go as quickly as I would like.
While we have this winter's wood pretty much secured, and a good start on next year's supply we are not yet the full 2 winters ahead that we need to be to be burning truly seasoned wood.
This past week my MIL and FIL started into cleaning up a new section of the woodlot that we have access to less than a mile from the house.
The FIL loads the gear in our little tractor's bucket and the MIL goes for a hike for her exercise and they head down to the bush with a thermos of coffee and a picnic lunch to cut wood for a few hours.
They have now done this three times in the past 5 days while I have been busy working and running kids to hockey, football etc.
Later today I should have some pics of a few of the stacks of rounds to prove out the story.
On Saturday the boy who is soon to turn 16 went along to add his shoulders and back to the crew. FIL even let him onto the saw for a bit but for the most part he was splitting and stacking.
According to my son the stacks of rounds are approaching 4 cords already with some of the wood already split.
The bonus in all of this is that the wood is almost entirely Ash.
Oh, and did I mention that my MIL is 73 and my FIL is turning 75 in two weeks?
Before anyone else says it.... I know that I am entirely spoiled.
With 4 kids living under our roof (19, 16, 14, 11) and the activities and driving that we find ourselves busy with sometimes the wood gathering doesn't go as quickly as I would like.
While we have this winter's wood pretty much secured, and a good start on next year's supply we are not yet the full 2 winters ahead that we need to be to be burning truly seasoned wood.
This past week my MIL and FIL started into cleaning up a new section of the woodlot that we have access to less than a mile from the house.
The FIL loads the gear in our little tractor's bucket and the MIL goes for a hike for her exercise and they head down to the bush with a thermos of coffee and a picnic lunch to cut wood for a few hours.
They have now done this three times in the past 5 days while I have been busy working and running kids to hockey, football etc.
Later today I should have some pics of a few of the stacks of rounds to prove out the story.
On Saturday the boy who is soon to turn 16 went along to add his shoulders and back to the crew. FIL even let him onto the saw for a bit but for the most part he was splitting and stacking.
According to my son the stacks of rounds are approaching 4 cords already with some of the wood already split.
The bonus in all of this is that the wood is almost entirely Ash.
Oh, and did I mention that my MIL is 73 and my FIL is turning 75 in two weeks?
Before anyone else says it.... I know that I am entirely spoiled.