Added Chores

Well Gayle and I decided to save money on our ever climbing electricity bill by burning wood this winter. I read once where burning wood is the most effecient means of warming yourself. It warms you three times...once when you chop down the tree, again when you split the wood and finally when you burn the wood.

Here's a couple lumberjacks headed out for the second warming session.


Speaking of chopping wood, I have a confession. I’m not the sharpest tool in the shed. I’m just a tool.

I decide to chop a weeks worth of wood, so I head out to the wood pile with an axe and a sledge hammer. Now here’s the problem…the axe is a wee little 2 lb job that hasn’t been sharpened since 2004 and since I can’t locate my sledge hammer…the best I can do is a framing hammer. 30 min into this adventure I’ve split maybe 2 logs for a grand total of maybe 5 pieces of wood.

Here’s what it takes to make a split…hurl the axe with all my might at log. Axe is now stuck and removing is impossible. So I take the framing hammer and belt away at the back end of the axe until my hands and arms are numb and the log mercifully splits. Repeat.

60 minutes in, the axe handle shreds/snaps, the blade makes a break for freedom flying into the wood pile and I, your humble outdoor enthusiast, fall to my knees in a crumpled heap of sweat and exhaustion. And there I sat, sharing a laugh with my new friend, despair, as we count our 8 pieces of ready made firewood.

So that night, as I swiftly burn through what little firewood I have, I hit the information highway to learn all there is to know about splitting wood. The next day at 7a finds me checking out of Lowes with a splitting maul, new axe handle and a couple sharpening stones. Splitting maul…8 lb head to give it some drive, the same 36in. handle, sharp as a razor and wide enough not to get stuck. Who knew this fantastic piece of genius existed. I felt as mighty and proud as Paul Bunyan walking out the door.