Preparing for Winter - The Woodpile

I'm trying to prepare myself for the dreaded. incredibly-long and dark winter ahead. It definitely is a cozy time of year because we have wood to burn (because we don't have money to burn). It's the time of year when, if any time, I will get some knitting done, more reading done, some sewing done (hopefully), and a good time to plan a late March vacation. Planning is half the fun, but I don't dare voice that to Mr. C. or he'll tell me something like, 'Well, then, just plan a vacation twice and look how much money we'll save.'  No, he hasn't actually said that - yet, but I can hear those words in my head for I know him so well by now. After this many years, we hardly have to converse, for we tend to know what the other is thinking. Even that gets us laughing sometimes. Scary, isn't it. But comfortable.

Anyway, here's an explanation for the collage above:

Top Row:

• Painting an X on dead trees while we could still tell which trees were dead and which were not.
• Cutting down a few huge oaks. They were each over 60' tall.
• What we don't want to happen: Cut trees get hung up on other trees and later have to be dragged down with a tractor and chain. Frustrating.

Middle Row:

• Middle son helping Mr. C. cut wood
• Taking a break from cutting
• Tools: The two favorite chainsaws

Bottom Row:

• Last year's wood pile - and what we're going for this year with probably even more wood if the predictions for a harsh winter are accurate
• Last December - burning wood in the Quadrafire living room stove
• Burning wood in the 1913 Home Comfort kitchen cookstove

 Auxiliary heat - for when it's minus 30 degrees F. or below

Yes, we remove the items from the top before building a fire in it. :-)

We don't have too many of those -30, -40 degree days, but it's nice to be able to feel cozy in the house on such bitterly cold days. They're usually sometime between mid December and mid February.

A minus 19 degree F. December morning 

It's Coming...

Are you ready for winter?

Do you hibernate, escape, or embrace?

P.S. Carla doesn't need to answer that. She's probably already praying for snow. ;-)

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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