In today's world, it is not uncommon to be so used to our modern conveniences that doing things any other way seems odd. During the cold months, the majority of the population reaches to a switch or control of some sort and turns up the heat. There are those who have fire places but more for asthetics than true heating usage. Well, in out family things are done a little bit differently.
At my father-in-law's house, a wood stove is the center of attention during the cold months. He will get up during the night to check on it if it starts to die down and will handle the upkeep throughout the day. This of course causes us to use alot of wood. So to insure that we can make it through the winter alright, we start preparing during the summer.
Each of the two sons and the father grab a truck, and one of the sons will put a trailer on the back of his truck. When it's time to leave, I climb into my boyfriend's truck (usually with my kids in tow) and his brother's wife climbs into their truck with their two babies. Then their mother climbs into the truck with their dad and off we go. We may also have a cousin or nephew or family friend along for the ride depending on what everyone is doing and when we go.
As the three vehicles (four if a family friend joins in with their truck) barrels down back roads with music, laughter, and talk flowing from the happy people within, we're all in good moods. The laughter and joking usually spills over to the job itself. As the guys begin to transfer about 18 rick of wood to the trucks and trailer, the women and children will chat, chase children, help, and basically just enjoy themselves. The men are moving fast and working hard while we are doing the smaller pieces that are deemed "not too heavy for us" and trying to keep the kids from getting hurt.
After each truck is stacked full, and each male has had the chance to brag about how his truck will pull up that big hill better than the others' trucks even though its fully loaded down, we all pile back into the vehicles. With smiles and laughter our convoy starts back towards home. Once there, it will be time to unload and stack. Its alot of work but to a country girl born city its somethign I look forward to now.
Its the gathering of family for something so simple and yet so important. Its the not asking for help but just getting it. No one asks if we'll help with wood each year. When the wood is purchased (or finished being cut) its mentioned and who ever is available gathers to go and get it. If only one truck is free than we take a few trips but when we have the convoy going its the best!
It's so Norman Rockwell! I had to do this when I was a kid, too, but it was in the city. Our heat was often off, so we relied on our fireplace from time to time. My dad would go out to my grandpa's place and cut the wood, then when he brought it back, we had to unload and stack it. Unfortunately, our parents didn't take part and we fought through every minute of it. Ah, memories!
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ediblewoman
I was able to get my two boys for the trip and they are big fans of it! The people we get wood from have cows, chickens, pigs, and dogs so all the kids were in heaven. When we got back to his parents, they climbed on the top of the piles in the trucks and pushed it all out. We had sandwishes out on the porch and laughs. The boys finished the day up by cooling off with a water gun fight. I loved it!
Dream + Effort = Reality
Don't give up - determination is just a fancy way to be stubborn!