Monday, January 19, 2015

The Wisconsin Winter Wood Pile


Wood Splitter

Wood Splitter in Action


Pictured above is one of the many large wood piles in our area. This one will not be heating a single home, but you probably guessed that. This is firewood for sale  in the Rice Lake area. Good thing he's not trying to split it by hand.


This wood pile is part of what's been prepared for a single home.


I was a bit distracted while taking this photo because a huge German Shepherd, looking a lot like my Bridger (does one say, 'my late dog' when referring to a dog that has died??) Anyway, he came running to the edge of the yard, barking like crazy. Reminded me of the good old days when my German Shepherd would do the same. He scared almost everyone who came into the yard. Because he was mean? No, but only because he growled and barked and was a German Shepherd. Remember all those Nazi movies with the German Shepherd lunging at the end of his lead? I think that's what does it. Only the UPS man wasn't afraid of him because he knew, raised, and loved German Shepherds. That fact didn't keep Bridger from barking at him. It was part of his GSD job.

I won't post yet another photo of my dog, but if you want to see him, you can scroll down to the bottom of my blog. 



Mr. C., braving the cold and wind, to keep the fire going.
What a good man!

We are keeping the fire going, although that photo was taken a while back and we're getting a reprieve from the cold January temperatures. It's been in the20s and 30s. Feels like a heat wave.

I'm writing this Sunday evening. I just realized that it's 4:30 PM and still light outdoors. That thought brought me instant cheer. Springtime is on its way!

 Only a few months away...
probably in mid May




From Whence Comes Our Wood
October 2014

***


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Although I usually forget to do it, there is a chance that this post will be linked to one or more of these great linky parties:  Amaze Me Monday and Inspiration Monday and Mosaic Monday and The Barn Collective and    Treasure Box Tuesday and Vintage Bliss Tuesday and KatheWithAnE and Rubbish Tuesday and Our World Tuesday and Tuesdays at our Home and Tuesday with a Twist and  Knick of Time Tuesday (vintage)  and   Tweak it Tuesday and Vintage Inspiration Wednesday and Ivy and Elephants Wednesday and Adorned From Above  and Artsy Corner Thursday and  All Things With Purpose and Home & Garden Thursday and Good Fences on Thursdays and  Time Travel Thursday and Freedom Fridays and Vintage Inspiration Friday and Saturday's Critters

52 comments:

  1. May?:) Oh German Shepherds are a good dog. Our woodpile here in Ontario Canada is dwindling.Hug B

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  2. I wish we had a wood stove. BTW, our German Shep, he will let you in, but won't let you out, LOLOL. Oh, he barks etc, but he won't let you out, gosh forbid someone comes through the back door/fence -wink. Blessings

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  3. Heating with wood is WORK! Used to have a wood stove in NJ. Amazing how much wood it eats up. Friend Rose was splitting wood in November and split the tip of her right index finger right down the bone lengthwise. She drove herself to the hospital. Think she was in shock. It's healing nicely, thank the Lord.
    Having an MRI of my brain this morning and another of my spine tomorrow. Oh. Goody! But the Lord had helped me prepare myself, and I'm ok. (Claustrophobic)
    :) m & jb

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  4. PS Josephine says to tell you all pictures of your late doggie are ok with her anytime you want to post them and as many as you want to post. (She often uses run-on sentences. LOL!)

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  5. How long would that much wood last? The pile looks as big as the house!

    Love the doggie pic. They become a part of the family. My condolences to you.

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  6. We always heated with wood when I was growing up on the farm. It sure keeps a house nice and warm.

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  7. I love the smell of a wood~fire ~ there is nothing so cosy and comforting!
    Gosh, It looks chilly in your pics!

    Of COURSE GSD has to bark...just in case you don't notice him. They need noticing. All the time. ;) :)

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  8. We had some trees cut down last year and our stack of wood is pretty high... not as high as that big one:) We love having a good warm fire in our fireplace! Enjoy your day dear friend, HUGS!

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  9. Good morning! I know I've said it before but what a different way of life! I can't imagine having that kind of a woodpile. We have lit our fireplace twice this winter (and had to open the window one of the times, lol) and we have been hitting the mid 70's for a few days and I have heard it is going up MORE by Wed. Enjoy your week!

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  10. Love the photo of the wood piled by the wood-stove. We are having a bit warmer weather today but cold on it's way again. No sunshine today.
    Yes, you have a good man there. :)

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  11. I miss my fireplace and that sweet smell of the wood smoke, and the popping and cracking of the burning wood and watching the flames and embers as it burned. NOTHING like a wood fire! The thermostat clicking on and off just fails to thrill me!

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  12. Our furry friends leave their paw prints all over our hearts.
    I am bundling and loving everyday of the winter.
    I am seed and garden dreaming but it seems time flies so fast.
    I would truly just like it to slow down and enjoy each season longer.
    With a thankful heart and a blazing fire.
    Warm Woolie Hugs

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  13. But you know you'll see some daffodils in March! :)

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  14. That's a huge pile of wood. Love the last image of the trees.

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  15. I just showed my husband your first pic as he was on his way out the door to split wood on his day off from work. (I should probably say "his day off from his regular job" because splitting wood is indeed work!) He was impressed with that wood operation. I'll show him the rest this evening.

    Enjoy your "heat wave"! ;)

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  16. This was an interesting read and oh my, that last shot! Beautiful!

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  17. For the longest time, after the winter solstice, I would get instant joy just thinking the day were getting longer. Even if by only a minute or two, it made me happy. and still does.

    That is a mighty big wood pile!

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  18. For the longest time, after the winter solstice, I would get instant joy just thinking the day were getting longer. Even if by only a minute or two, it made me happy. and still does.

    That is a mighty big wood pile!

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  19. We have lots of wood piles here, too. But I have never seen one of these huge wood spliters. What is the huge chute-like thing for? I love your shot of the end of the logs. You couldn't pay me enough to get out of a car if a German Shepherd is snarling and barking at me!

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  20. Judy, I remember those days of piling up wood very well, being from Illinois. We had a fireplace insert that was great for heating the house, but not losing heat up the chimney. So in September it was time to start looking for a good price on a cord of wood, or find someone who would provide the resource for a do-it-yourself harvest of trees.

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  21. Woodsplitter sounds like some kind of monster. It probably is.

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  22. used to make wood every summer with my dad to keep the furnace going all winter. can almost smell the fresh-cut logs from these. :)

    i still burn wood here on colder days but only use a chain saw to saw up the larger limbs - no wood splitter, no table saw like my dad used. :)

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  23. We've never had a home heated with wood so I admire the work your husband is doing to keep it toasty inside.
    Our corner fireplace is gas and a flick of the switch is all it takes! ;-)
    Yes, I think German shepherds have had a bad rap because of movies.
    Thank you for linking to Mosaic Monday Judy.

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  24. Wow, I have woodpile envy! We have two wood burners one at each end of the house although we also have oil central heating we love to have a fire during the cold months.We also have a GSD, her name is Fleur and she is our 4th. Bosun, Bella & Bess were their names.
    Have a great week and stay warm.

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  25. Now that's a wood pile!! We don't have a wood stove, but many of the houses around here do...I love the heat, warm, dryish, and hot!

    Jen

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  26. I just noticed the angle of the sun had changed too! Very cheery thought! But will be awhile before we see any spring flowers.... We are going to try to force a few this year, we will see how that works out....

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  27. Holy Moly, that's a great wood pile I would say. Hard work but love the warmth of a wood fire. Blessings Francine.

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  28. That is a lot of wood. It is a good smell to have while heating the house. Someone in our town has a burner somewhere because I can smell it in the air in the morning while letting the dogs outside.

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  29. These wood piles remind me of similar wood piles in Germany. You could find them in almost every forest. Since we don't have many homes with fireplaces, they weren't going to private residences, but used commercially. When my brother and I were small we loved to climb and play on them.

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  30. that is the biggest pile of wood i have ever seen, the one for sale and YOURS.. i did pop down to see Bridger again, he was so beautiful and so was Lionel.. i love a fire but would not love to chop the wood, but then you have mr C so you are good for the winter...

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  31. First, grandson and I read today that a bunch of starlings is called a murmuration.

    Interesting to see so much wood. We ordered some this year and G. was given a shelter for it by his son for Christmas and birthday. Then I stopped the fires for a time as my bronchitis was so bad. After all we are not heating our house, just enjoying a fire!

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  32. I've never seen a wood splitter like that one. Big business requires big splitter. I have seen ones run with a tractor that splits one chunk at a time though. It's been a very mild day here with rain that took away some snow. I'd love to have a wood stove/fireplace/furnace. So much warmer than electric baseboards!

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  33. Those are quite the wood piles! Glad they didn't have to split it all by hand...if they did someone would have quite the muscles!

    Our dog is part German Shepherd, and a wonderful dog! You are right about how German Shepherds are so often portrayed...I liked them in Hogan's Heroes!

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  34. I don't think I've ever seen so much wood....we had a fireplace when I was growing up and we had what I thought was a big wood pile but I guess it was just a little itty bitty pile compared to these.

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  35. That's an impressive wood splitter. I haven't seen anything like it around here - sure beats doing it by hand.

    Many people here purchase permits to go to the mountains to cut wood in designated areas - usually beetle kill trees that are tagged.

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  36. My dad built a wood splitter, but it only did one log at a time. Still, it was easier than using a hatchet or saw. Those are some BIG piles of wood...even the one "just for a home". I know it keeps you warm and toasty! Yes, you may refer to your sweet dog as your "late pet". I refer to my cats, who crossed the bridge, that way. Why not?! I always enjoy your posts!!

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  37. Judy, Heating one's home with wood is a job-job-job. It dusty and dirty..so you are always cleaning up. We burn wood also...bt have the furnace back up...so when it's nice or not so cold we let it die out and clean the fireplace. I know you must miss your beautiful dog. Hugs to you. xoxo,Susie

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  38. I am afraid of shepherds as I was bit once, when I was younger. as a result, I have a fear of most larger dogs.

    when we were poor, we only used wood to heat our home, I had a bit of a love/hate relationship with that!!!

    I enjoyed seeing that yellow bloom today. I like all the seasons but I do really enjoy being surrounded by flowers in my garden!!!!

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  39. Wood heat is so even and cozy, but it takes a pile of wood! Glad the temps have warmed up a little bit for you.
    We noticed the same thing around 4:30 yesterday - light!

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  40. Wood heat is so even and cozy, but it takes a pile of wood! Glad the temps have warmed up a little bit for you.
    We noticed the same thing around 4:30 yesterday - light!

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  41. Hi Judy,
    Fun! What a fun post. :-)
    And it is so true, it feels like a tropical heat wave has hit our area. We went out skiing and Atticus said he need to strip down to his T-shirt!

    xx oo
    Carla

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  42. We use a wood stove and will continue to until about March, here in KY. Nothing like wood heat.

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  43. wow, that is a whole bunch of wood. i can not imagine - what a ton - i wonder how long that would last? ( :

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  44. Now that's a serious pile of wood!
    And since I'm scared of big dogs, I would have run for the hills!
    Have a great week!
    Tammy x

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  45. Wow - that's quite a wood pile you have!

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  46. We have a pellet stove and have to buy the wood pellets. It's still an ashy mess that has to be cleaned out every day or so, but oh how I love to see a cozy fire in the house! I always wanted a fireplace..and maybe one day we will have one, but I don't envy anyone having to cut and haul wood. We had a GSD once- she was a sweetheart. Have a warmer day!

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  47. In our previous home we had a wonderful moss rock fire place that require cut wood. Here we have gas logs and glad to have them, though we do miss the open fire, the real wood fire. Great photos that show the hard work that is required to keep warm.

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  48. I showed the photos of the wood splitter to my hubby. We cut firewood for my Dad's old cabin back when we first met. It was a JOB! This is amazing! Hope you have a good week and the weather is milder. Sweet hugs, Diane

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  49. Thanks for the trip to the woodpile Judy.. It's been a long time :)
    Yes, Spring is on it's way but we still have a lot of winter to go..

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  50. Wow..that's a good stand of wood; one to be proud of. We have lusted over a wood splitter a time or two but nothing we've ever looked at compares to that awesome machine. I can only imagine how much wood you would go through in comparison to us.

    Thanks for sharing your pics. Have a blessed week.

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  51. It's in the 30s this week, but for Brittany, it's very, very cold! I still wants a wood stove in the future...

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  52. That's an amazing amount of wood, almost like a military operation.

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