Firewood gathering

We went for a walk round last weekend to check on storm damage in the neighbourhood and there are lots of really big trees having a lie down - quite sad to see really, but I guess that's nature.  When we got back, Bob commented that everyone else would have plenty of firewood and we've just been able to gather a few small branches!  We are quite relieved that none of our immediate big trees fell down of course (although listening to it outside right now, there's a fair old breeze blowing!).  

The next day the Quarry Manager came round (inspecting damage on the quarry land I suppose) and found Bob in the workshop to tell him we could help ourselves to as much of the big oak tree cross the lane as we wanted.  So, next day, that's just what we did.  After a morning's work you could hardly see that we had touched it so we had an afternoon at it on Thursday too.  Starting at what was the top we cut all the smaller branches away to clear some space - you have to be really careful because a lot are caught on other little trees which can whip back upright when released.  One end of this tree (which actually looks a lot, lot bigger when you're standing right next to it) is folded right in two where it hit and slid down another big pointy tree.  Interestingly though, the roots at the other end are really quite weedy for such a big tree - no wonder it fell down.  I suppose it was actually growing on rocks so there's not much depth of soil at all. We then cut the bigger branches into four or five feet lengths and hauled these through the wood to the boundary, tipped them over the wall and then loaded them into the back of the car to bring home.  It's only a few hundred yards, but fresh oak is really quite heavy!  We now need to build another log store, cut them up and split them and then store them for a year or two.  It's all a bit of a hassle and your muscles certainly know you've done it the next day, but it's a good way to spend a few hours and nice to be outside and tired from fresh air and exercise.  And firewood is bloomin' expensive to buy - it doesn't just grow on trees you know!  So, we could have another couple of gathering sessions before the trunk gets too big for our chainsaw and that'll be a good job done and should get us ahead a bit for our firewood stockpile.

Next weekend is an exciting one!  Bob has a stall at the craft market in Ludlow - it's a bit of a trek, but is quite a 'well-to-do' area so it'll be interesting to see what the interest is like.  The next weekend he has a stall at the one in Shrewsbury - ditto the affluence of the area.  These are monthly markets and our past experience shows that you need to be somewhere regularly for a few months before you can really tell if it's worth doing.  I guess people don't nip into town on a Saturday with the cash in their pockets to buy a chair, but if they know you're going to be there they may order one at some point.  To start with we just need to get the name known, give out loads of leaflets and then cross our fingers, toes, legs, eyes and anything else.  I'm not working next weekend so can give a hand, but for the Shrewsbury one Bob'll be on his own.  Wouldn't it be funny if we sold everything at Ludlow and had nothing at all for the stall in Shrewsbury except a few leaflets!  I don't think for a minute that would happen really.

We had our first two-egg day for a very long time today!!  How exciting is that - Horse and Lottie both laying at the same time.

We have primroses out in our little wood . . . . . Spring must be just around the corner and we can't wait!