Cold enough

It's cold enough in Morrow County, Ohio to split elm today. I know
this from experience...

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January 23, 2010

We've spent our weekend so far stacking wood in the shed. This wood was bought from some local guys and from my brother-in-law. I've got some big pieces of elm that need split. My dad says there are two days a year cold enough in Vermont to split elm. I may have gotten in over my head. Good thing my father-in-law has a hydraulic splitter.

Yesterday I went up to repair a fence break and walked into the woods. With all the undergrowth dead and most of the snow off I saw quite a bit of wood down. My problem is I don't know the exact location of our southern property line and don't want to take wood from the neighbor without permission. So last night I got out the copy of our property survey and studied it. I know where the surveyors pin is on the southeast corner and, based on the map, if I walk 138 paces (more or less) on a heading of 266 degrees (more or less) I'll find the southwest corner. I'm confident I can place it within 15 or 20 feet which should be fine for determining where to cut wood. I also might ask our neighbor to the south if I can clean out his part of the woods. If he agrees, there's probably enough wood on the ground for a couple years of heating.

Speaking of our fence, it is in pretty bad shape. We've decided to get a quote on a professionally installed 6-wire high-tensile fence. The low-tensile aluminum fence I installed when we moved here in 2005 was never intended to be permanent. We've got two creek crossings and I want some strategically placed gates so I'll be sure to be seated when I hear the quote.

We made Colby yesterday. The Swiss we made a few weeks ago is plumping up which means the bacteria is working inside to make the eyes. The Monterey Jack from last weekend should have been waxed already but I won't get to it until tomorrow.

January 16, 2010

Chores are done and I'm sipping an aperitif while Jennifer finishes up supper. It's been warm here for a few days and our back country roads are free of snow along with the the places we've cleared here on the farm. Tomorrow is supposed to be near 40.

Yesterday I went to a Ford truck graveyard and ordered some parts to fix the emergency brake on my truck*. I'm also getting a wheel and tire to carry for a spare and plan to get new tires put on the rear next week. Then I'll be all set to go off-road and cut some firewood. This wood will be for burning next year after it seasons in the woodshed. We'll have to buy some seasoned wood to get through this winter.

Today I went down to the neighbor's and brought home 52 bales of hay. This hay is the first cutting of clover that was frost-seeded into wheat. The wheat was harvested and the straw baled and a month later there was a lush stand of clover. It has some straw stubble in it so I hope Sugar likes it. We'll have to feed her a bit more grain (or possibly black oil sunflower seeds) to make up for the lesser amount of protein in this hay compared to the alfalfa we've been feeding.

*I just realized that I haven't mentioned the truck here on the blog. It's a 1989 F-250. Nothing special but the 4WD works and it runs good. It will make a great wood, hay, and straw hauler and the price was right.

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Will try to post this week(end).

Be well.