Waning Woodpile by olivetreeann

Waning Woodpile

Back in September of 2011, I stood in my backyard surveying the handy-work of my husband, who had for two days sat at the log splitter and prepared 6 cords of wood for our winter heat. I had volunteered to stack it, but there sure was a lot! That massive wood pile also became the subject for two days of 365 posts (September 20 and 24 if you want to check them out.) When I posted those photos, Dixie Goode @pandorasecho wrote this comment and I told her I'd post it when I next took a picture of my wood: They say wood heats you three times- once when you're hauling it, twice when you're stacking it, and third when you're burning it. It's been a mild winter so far as temperature goes, but we're still steadily going through the wood as you can see.
So interesting, great composition!
January 8th, 2012  
nice shot
January 8th, 2012  
@httpgeffed Thank you Colleen- it was sort of an after thought shot. I'd been out taking close-ups for "macro" but didn't really think much of them when I uploaded them.
@bk12racing Thanks Mike! I had fun with the selective coloring on this.
January 8th, 2012  
very nice POV and processing! looks like you both had a lot of work to do. Didn't know about the three times heating story but sounds right
January 8th, 2012  
Well captured
January 8th, 2012  
Ann I remember those other photos. Even though you have had a mild winter there is just something special about a wood burnig fireplace or stove etc. Nice shot
January 8th, 2012  
When you work that hard for it, you really appreciate the warmth! Wonderful photo and great comment by Dixie!
January 8th, 2012  
I'll have to remember telling this to my son..they heat their whole log home with a woodstove which is outside and needs to be fed so often. so they have a hot water system that is heating from the wood stove..
having a saw mill helps at least he doesn't have to buy the wood but chop the many trees down that the property is full with. I find it gives a nice warm heat...
January 8th, 2012  
Yes I remember that conversation and we are seriously going through wood here too. My woodshed was filled to the roof abd now is barely knee high
January 9th, 2012  
It does look like you are going through some wood. It's just January and the winter has been so mild. I'm concerned with what still may happen.
January 9th, 2012  
@woot Thanks Davide- and fyi I did some cloning in this picture- I removed a wheelbarrow from the side of my neighbor's shed. It was just distracting to me, so I took it out!
@kerristephens Thanks Kerri!
@bkbinthecity Thanks Brian- it might be mild during the day, but the evenings are usually on the chilly side- and yes you are right- there is something about a fire that's very special.
@karenann Thanks Karenann. I was actually pleased to post this because I felt like I've become so focused on "learning" the new camera, I haven't really been blending the day to day type shots for 365, so this was a refreshing shot in many ways.
@bruni Thanks Bruni! We've been very blessed to have many friends and family who look out for wood for us, so in over 20 years of wood burning, we haven't bought it yet! I've seen those outside woodstoves- they are serious!! systems. Lots of work, but definitely worth every ounce of sweat!
@pandorasecho Thanks Dixie! You are definitely going through wood faster than we are. This is unusual that this is the only section we've used up so far. But then, you have had REAL winter weather and we haven't!
@mrssmith Thanks Carla- this is actually not a lot. Normally by this time the rack in back of it would be half empty now. Yesterday it was 65 degrees and I took down the Christmas lights in a sweater! I'm not complaining though. When it does get cold, I really feel it in my joints this year and it hurts!! I think you're right should the winter weather really decide to come, I think it's going to come in a double dose!
January 9th, 2012  
Well if Winter hits hard at a later date, you are going to need all you have. I bet you're looking forward to stacking the pile back up again.
January 9th, 2012  
@digitalrn Oh, I'm happy to wait Rick! Although we do have next year's wood on the property ready to be split.
January 9th, 2012  
impressive!
January 9th, 2012  
@dmariewms Thank you Marie!
January 9th, 2012  
I love it.. winter preparations are heartwarming to me.. and piles and lines are my favorite ..=)
January 9th, 2012  
Great shot just the hint of colour for dramatic effect
January 9th, 2012  
Interesting about heating three times. It is a lot of work, but nothing beats a warm fire!
January 9th, 2012  
@inertie Thank you Inertia! We certainly have a lot of piles of wood here- most of them outside the frame of this picture.
@steeler Thank you Howard- that's exactly what I was going for!
@jeancarl Thanks JeanCarl- true, when the fire's going in the woodstove (which has a glass window), we love it!
January 10th, 2012  
Nice shot to continue the woodpile saga :)
January 10th, 2012  
I love those stacks of wood! But what is that thing in the front? Is it an empty stack?
January 10th, 2012  
Wow! Wonderful textures! I used to chop wood so we could have reserve heat at my high school (boarding school) so we would have alternative heat when the electric went out. It is much work but also was fun for me as a teenager! :)
January 10th, 2012  
you stacked them? wow! my hats off to you. love the monochromatic tone; doesn't seem so cold. nice shot, ann.
January 11th, 2012  
@alia_801 Thanks Alia- haha the woodpile saga! That's great!
@geertje Thanks Geertje- yes the "thing" in front used to be filled like the other one. The tall posts on the end hold the wood in place as it gets stacked row upon row. The weights that you see on the end held down a plastic tarp like the one you see on the second rack. It keeps dry in rainy or snowy weather.
@potsbypam Thanks Pam- wow chopping wood- good for you! I just stack it!
@summerfield Thanks Vikki- yes I did. It's good exercise and I just do it little by little until it's done.
January 11th, 2012  
WOW! Amazing!
January 14th, 2012  
@changingtides Thanks Allie!
January 14th, 2012  
Now that is some woodpile! Apologies for not commenting for a while but I've been away. Love the B&W treatment here and you have my undying admiration for stacking all this and so neatly too!
January 15th, 2012  
@kloud Thank you Bonnie- I just got finished catching up on your photos, so please don't feel bad. I've been trying not to spend sooooo much time on 365 (husband's opinion!) and in the process have missed a few folks and their pics. I'm glad to hear you're feeling better and out of the hospital. Yes, this wonderful woodpile keeps us warm all winter. And if you think this is neat- you should see our neighbor's pile! Well, maybe you will someday!
January 15th, 2012  
love this! It's got a wonderful atmosphere and texture to it
January 16th, 2012  
@crickle1969 Thank you Crickle. Although it started out in color, when I put it in black and white and then spot colored the weights I knew it was the way to go with it. As you say, it really gave the picture atomsphere.
January 16th, 2012  
Yes, my woodpile is going down too - and I'm already foraging for extra kindling!
January 16th, 2012  
@jmj Thanks Jennifer- I think you're having a colder winter than we are. This is the first year I didn't really collect a lot of kindling. But it's been so windy that we haven't really had to worry about it much. Mother Nature sends lots of twigs and branches tumbling into the yard every few days!
January 17th, 2012  
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