It’s not much of a winter.

I heat my entire house with wood, can’t help it. It’s not for everyone, but heating with wood is for me, and I’m of the opinion that once one heats with wood, there is no going back to oil or gas. The heat has a source. The cat and dog lie in front of the stove, life-giving flames visible through the glass.

Im lucky to have this cool salt box with room for six or seven carefully stacked cords under the roof. I bring the wood home in July when it’s still green and recently split. As it seasons, we can smell the white oak terpenes drifting through and around the house. There is something really organic about it. It’s hard work, too, stacking wood. Actually, EVERYTHING about heating with wood is hard, except for the fact that my gas bill is about $45/month all year long.

My son and I brought these cages home yesterday knowing that what was left was insufficient to last through the rest of the winter. We got something accomplished yesterday at least. The dog Peetee wasn’t much help as much as she wanted to be involved, dodging tossed pieces with each and every throw.

The birch trees out front look awesome at night with their ten watt LED light bulbs shining up through the canopy. Not many trees can boast better looking night time than daytime appearances. Himalayan birch trees- our signature tree.