Jun 13, 2014

Sue MacKay's keeping warm this winter

I don't mind winter - as long as I'm warm and dry, right? And as long as it doesn't last too long. Anything past a month ... ok I know how unrealistic that is.
So out here in the Sounds it's a given that we have a fire. There's so much wood lying around it's easy and inexpensive. There are many pine plantations (the national weed) which are thinned at regular intervals. These thinnings are often quite large trees - perfect for fire wood.
Keeping warm starts here:



 
Then there's a wee amount of effort required. And yes, some did fall down the bank which is a regular occurrence if I do the stacking. Who'd have thought there was a science to wood stacking!



When the wood's dried some we move it so make room for more, and to keep it dry.



And finally: what we've been aiming for all along.

 



Of course this is time consuming and takes a fair amount of energy so there is an alternative.


 Nah, not quite the same ambience is it? Guess all that effort is worth it after all. Must remind my self of that next time I'm in the forest trying to haul logs with my man.

Do you enjoy a fire? Or do you prefer the ease of flicking a switch and having instant warmth?



12 comments:

  1. Hi Sue

    I do love that fire and bottle of wine there is something about a fire :) but it is not that cold here and we have a split system air conditioner that we use to warm the house when needed I think for us a fire would be expenseive as we would have to buy all the wood we don't have anywhere near to get some from. Enjoy that fire and wine

    Have Fun
    Helen

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    1. Yes, Helen, it is definitely one of the advantages living out here having all that wood source at the door.

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  2. Sue, that log fire looks glorious! But when I look at your wood piles I just went, Nah, way too much work.TBH, I think that bottle of red would do a fine job of keeping me warm. ;-)

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    1. Michelle. you're so right about the wine and its warming abilities - no need for a fire at all.

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  3. I love a nice cozy fire, Sue. Just watching the flames dance along the wood makes me happy, let alone the warmth. We're a bit low on firewood here, though. In the past we've collected from fallen trees while out and about and although there were a lot of fallen trees in Auckland this week with the storm, none of them were near enough for us to collect any of the wood!

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    1. Sorry I don't live closer, Yvonne, we could've delivered. And enjoyed a bottle of red sitting around your fire.

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  4. LOL, Sue! Nope, you're quite right about the the little oil heater - doesn't look nearly as inviting and romantic as the fire!

    We've got a wood heater too and it's a lovely cosy heat source. Got my dh turning ours up now because we've just got home and it's chilly out there!

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    1. Funny thing, Sharon, the oil heater is very cosy, but lacks in everything else.

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  5. Oh Sue, I dream of having an open fire in our house. I reckon all that effort is worth it!

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    1. I agree. Anyway I enjoy physical work and to have something to show for it at the end is even better.

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  6. Sue, I *love* a fireplace! In fact, mine looks a lot like yours. I'll have to grab a photo for you so we can compare. :)

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  7. Rachel, I'm with you. Don't they give a lot of ambience! Just love them.

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