My neighbor is moving. Has about 2 cords of red oak out back, one year old. Ready to burn. I watched the tree guys drop it and him split it. Now... I figure this guy has enough on his plate. Building a new monster home, playing with the kids, working, keeping the Mrs. content. So I ask his wife one day if they are planning to take their monster woodpile with them. She says some of it. I say I'm interested in buying the rest. Days pass. No update. Weeks pass. I ask again. She says, the husband says, "Anything is for sale at some price." I figure he's proud of that wood and wanting a pretty penny. I figure I'll wait him out until moving time gets closer. The standoff is on. Then... one night, late, dark (our street light is out), I hears a "beep, beep, beep" of a truck backing up in his driveway. He's either getting robbed or he's moving that firewood! I notice it's he and his wife. The next day, after about 5 trips, the two cords of red oak is gone. Sigh...
After that, I was feeling a bit down for about two weeks. Dreading a call to one of the local Wood Men. Oh God... Please... No...
Then, four days ago, I awake to the sound of buzzing chainsaws... like a musical solo, beautiful... Those suckers are close, too. I jump into my britches and head out the door. Oh blessed virgin of the woods! It's my neighbor across the street. There are two chip trucks and a monster Bandit chipper, four guys, and two huge white oaks glaring down at them. Those suckers were about 80 feet tall. One was about 16 - 20 inches in diameter, the other around 24 - 26 inches.
I ask one guy for some firewood. He refers me to 'the boss' (el heffe
. I find el heffe and ask. He says, "We're cuttin' down those two big ones. How much you want?" I say, "Good morning xxx", to my neighbor who is watching me approach with a perplexed expression. Then tell el heffe, "I'll take all you got if you'll buck it up firewood size". He turns to el hombre and says, "16 - 18 inches amigo". And the whittling began.
At the end of the day, after my four new amigos crossed the street with about one cord of goliath rounds, I proceeded to roll them down into my woods for processing. Luckily, my heart held out and there were no apparent strokes in my profusely sweating head. Total cost, four Cokes, a little conversation, and a sore back. My new amigos seemed suitably impressed with the Holz Hausen, as well.
I even scored an old film camera and took a few shots of these guys up high, their equipment, and a few more of the rounds in the back yard. Since they are on film, it may be a while before I post them. Since it's a new, and untested camera, nothing may come of it, and since I don't have a working scanner, there may be yet another delay, and since my dog got bitten by a snake on his eye this morning, and his neck is swelled up to a point that he now looks like a basset hound, there may be a bit more or a delay, even if he survives, which we are thinking looks pretty good after a quick visit to the vet.
To be updated with photos if possible...
After that, I was feeling a bit down for about two weeks. Dreading a call to one of the local Wood Men. Oh God... Please... No...
Then, four days ago, I awake to the sound of buzzing chainsaws... like a musical solo, beautiful... Those suckers are close, too. I jump into my britches and head out the door. Oh blessed virgin of the woods! It's my neighbor across the street. There are two chip trucks and a monster Bandit chipper, four guys, and two huge white oaks glaring down at them. Those suckers were about 80 feet tall. One was about 16 - 20 inches in diameter, the other around 24 - 26 inches.
I ask one guy for some firewood. He refers me to 'the boss' (el heffe
. I find el heffe and ask. He says, "We're cuttin' down those two big ones. How much you want?" I say, "Good morning xxx", to my neighbor who is watching me approach with a perplexed expression. Then tell el heffe, "I'll take all you got if you'll buck it up firewood size". He turns to el hombre and says, "16 - 18 inches amigo". And the whittling began.At the end of the day, after my four new amigos crossed the street with about one cord of goliath rounds, I proceeded to roll them down into my woods for processing. Luckily, my heart held out and there were no apparent strokes in my profusely sweating head. Total cost, four Cokes, a little conversation, and a sore back. My new amigos seemed suitably impressed with the Holz Hausen, as well.
I even scored an old film camera and took a few shots of these guys up high, their equipment, and a few more of the rounds in the back yard. Since they are on film, it may be a while before I post them. Since it's a new, and untested camera, nothing may come of it, and since I don't have a working scanner, there may be yet another delay, and since my dog got bitten by a snake on his eye this morning, and his neck is swelled up to a point that he now looks like a basset hound, there may be a bit more or a delay, even if he survives, which we are thinking looks pretty good after a quick visit to the vet.
To be updated with photos if possible...
!!
