The Upside Of Felled Trees

After I got over the shock of having our precious trees cut down that had died over the last year, I turned my head to more positive horizons.  All the glorious things that I can make with the felled trees.  Not everyone is as lucky as I am to have a Farmer Bob living next door to me.  Very very lucky us.  The first few years we had this property when I was here by myself most often, I could not make a move without “yoohooing”  for Farmer Bob.  He was the man with all the equipment.  We had not built anything on the property yet so we did not own anything.  Anyway, Bob is a treasure.  (So is his VERY supportive wife.  God love her.)

Bob has a Wood Mizer.  Every woman’s dream.   Bob came over on his John Deere tractor  (every woman’s dream too.  Bob has all the fun toys) and took one of my felled trees. We went back to his house and made lumber.   Imagine that.  It’s kinda like shrimp.   Some people think shrimp comes out of the sea pink.  Some people think wood comes out of the forest 2 x 4″s .   It is a joy to  stand at the wood mizer  head spinning with project ideas.  Meanwhile,  Bob stands and waits while I decide what dimensions I want him to cut.   Oh, a table for my son.  Oh,  and I want to make a cross for our chapel. Oh, and could you wait while I figure the dimensions for this.  For that.   Cause, really, once it is cut there is no going back.  My head began wildly imagining all the things I could make with all the fallen wood on our property.   The list is endless.   I have construction in my blood. (well, at least the desire for ) It goes back generations.    I LOVE WOOD.  My heart was beating fast at Bob’s and my adrenaline was at a high.  I am not good at constructing necessarily,  but I have a wood shop that gets used and maybe I will step out and try to make something…. quite something.  We have wood , wood everywhere.

Farmer Bob loading the mill

Farmer Bob’s relative lookin’ cool at the mill

Running the mill

Wood stacked in barn

This is, I believe, white oak.  It’s moisture content is about  65 percent at the point it is cut and will need to get below 10 percent before I can work with it.  Otherwise, it will warp and do other unsightly things.  Make my creations look bad.   I wont have anything to do with my creations looking bad, of course.

I think Bob is going to regret ever having introduced me to his handsome Wood Mizer.

Thank God for neighbors.  Well…..most anyway.  Right, Bob?

God bless,

Karen