Loggin' Days
Autumn here is fabulous. Its my favorite time of year and there are days I'm almost giddy. Each morning on our way home from our walk I look out over the valley, with the light softer than it was a few weeks before, and I know I live in the most beautiful spot in the world.
Beyond being a lovely time of year, its also the mad scramble to get as much done outside as possible before the rains fly. My aunt Janet calls it "gathering nuts and berries" - preparing for winter. I have been picking up acorns on my walks (they fill a platter on my dining room table) and picking wild blackberries; but the real nuts and berries are mowing for the last time or two, getting firewood and propane (god that could break the bank this year), cleaning up the gardens, painting the outside of the house and freezing or canning local produce.
Firewood has been my thing lately. The guy who usually delivers for me is out and I'm having a hard time finding anyone with hardwood. My friend Charlie took down several cedar trees at his place, so last week we spent an afternoon cutting and splitting. It was my kind of afternoon - playing with chainsaws and the hydraulic splitter. I like getting in touch with my inner lumberjack every once in a while. Charlie was impressed with my chainsaw abilities and I was impressed with the splitter, which I have added to my list of favorite power equipment. Tomorrow we'll cut up the oak that fell last winter.
As much as I enjoy playing logger, these two excursions wont net me all the wood I need for winter. So I've been in touch with a guy who I think can deliver two more cords this weekend. He doesn't seem extremely dependable, but its not like I need him to show up for a date, just one delivery. Ok one delivery date - lets hope he can make it.
On a food storage note, I decided to oven dry some tomatoes to toss with pasta and put on pizza this winter. It seemed like a great idea. I quartered 10 pounds of Roma's, drizzled them with olive oil and a sprinkle of salt. I set them on a rack and put them in the oven on low and waited. And waited. 15 hours later I was left with one measly jar of dried tomatoes packed in olive oil. Can you believe it - ten pounds of tomatoes is reduced to one (really cute) 8 oz jar, not to mention the many hours of drying. I'm glad I did it once to get it out of my system, but the conclusion... one colossal waist of energy!
"Why not" is a slogan for an interesting life. - Mason Cooley
Beyond being a lovely time of year, its also the mad scramble to get as much done outside as possible before the rains fly. My aunt Janet calls it "gathering nuts and berries" - preparing for winter. I have been picking up acorns on my walks (they fill a platter on my dining room table) and picking wild blackberries; but the real nuts and berries are mowing for the last time or two, getting firewood and propane (god that could break the bank this year), cleaning up the gardens, painting the outside of the house and freezing or canning local produce.
Firewood has been my thing lately. The guy who usually delivers for me is out and I'm having a hard time finding anyone with hardwood. My friend Charlie took down several cedar trees at his place, so last week we spent an afternoon cutting and splitting. It was my kind of afternoon - playing with chainsaws and the hydraulic splitter. I like getting in touch with my inner lumberjack every once in a while. Charlie was impressed with my chainsaw abilities and I was impressed with the splitter, which I have added to my list of favorite power equipment. Tomorrow we'll cut up the oak that fell last winter.
As much as I enjoy playing logger, these two excursions wont net me all the wood I need for winter. So I've been in touch with a guy who I think can deliver two more cords this weekend. He doesn't seem extremely dependable, but its not like I need him to show up for a date, just one delivery. Ok one delivery date - lets hope he can make it.
On a food storage note, I decided to oven dry some tomatoes to toss with pasta and put on pizza this winter. It seemed like a great idea. I quartered 10 pounds of Roma's, drizzled them with olive oil and a sprinkle of salt. I set them on a rack and put them in the oven on low and waited. And waited. 15 hours later I was left with one measly jar of dried tomatoes packed in olive oil. Can you believe it - ten pounds of tomatoes is reduced to one (really cute) 8 oz jar, not to mention the many hours of drying. I'm glad I did it once to get it out of my system, but the conclusion... one colossal waist of energy!
"Why not" is a slogan for an interesting life. - Mason Cooley
posted by trina at 3:28 PM
2 comments
