Time to split

some wood that is...

My super secret surprise for the hubbs FINALLY arrived yesterday!  Fed Ex was kind enough to deposit in my carport instead of on my porch and I was very grateful because this mother is heavy!! It took some finagling and a dolly but I was able to wheel into the hubb's man-land  so it would be the first thing he would see when opening the door.

The hubbs isn't getting any younger and after several  (minor) back injuries I hated to see him splitting wood with a maul, wedge and an axe. I mean don't get me wrong there is something ever so he-manly about watching my hubby chop and split wood that makes me feel like I have a school girl crush. What is not he-manly is when he throws his back out, lies around whining about it and I have to listen to it! 

I would have LOVED to get the big testosterone inducing log splitters--you know the beat your chest and grunt, 32 ton, gonna  split a forest of trees log splitter's- yeah soooo can't afford one of those beasts (>$1000). So for now we will make do with this. The hubbs likes it, I like it was cheap (<$100) and  it is something even I can manage to use. Although it takes some effort on my part.

It took overnight before it dawned on the hubbs that this is beyond a "toy" and obviously it meant work for him. So he asked me this morning, "I guess you had some work in mind for regarding the log splitter?" Why dear, I am SO glad you asked. Why yes, yes I do. It just so happens we have quite a bit of trees to clear out from the creek line. And by we--I mean him.

So come Spring there will be a steady buzzing from the chainsaw as he cuts away the dead, diseased and scrub trees. This will be beneficial two-fold. 1) it will preserve the health of the existing trees 2) It will put $$$ back in my wallet. By cutting, splitting and seasoning our firewood--we aren't paying anyone else to do it.

Unlike many of my bloggy friends, we don't actually have a farm, aren't anywhere near off grid but we do hold those high on our dream list. This is another small step for us to be a little more self sufficient. Baby steps...

We have quickly learned, while convenient, storage of firewood in the carport is a bit awkward when you have to wedge 2 cars in there as well.

We will also need to cobble together a firewood shed this Spring. I kinda like the ideal of building one from pallets. Simple, effective and it uses recycled materials--even better!

Source

Cutting Corners

or anything else I, we, the hubbs is gonna cut. Why? Because I just bought him a 12 in compound miter saw as his belated birthday present.  Look at it in all its boxed glory!

3 blades (blades are interchangeable-not manufacture specific)

32T (coarse)

40T (general purpose)

80T (fine)

It has a laser line (so even when he isn't where  wearing* his glasses he can see it)! And a dust collection bag. Man I can almost smell the sawdust.

I got it for a good price too! Normally priced $199, marked down to $149 and I had a $25 coupon.Wahoo!

I think I am more excited about this than the hubbs. So when he buys me a fishing pole for MY birthday--remind me about this-ok?

No excuses for not having installed crown molding or baseboards now!

*Sheesh I can spell--I swear--corrected 5/3/12

Happy Birthday (early) to me

My birthday isn't until Wednesday but I decided to get an early  present for myself! I love me some technology. Even if I am slightly technologically  impaired. I can print photos!  (Oh man--I need a new camera and I haven't figured out the one that I have!) I can scan photos! (Ummm, WHERE are the boxes of old pictures?) I can print my resume and look for a job (meh, who are we kidding, haha)!  I will probably never do any of that...just keeping it real folks. (I can be a procrastinator to the nth degree--because there is blogging! And Facebook!  And OMG-- Pinterest!)

And the hubbs gave me this as early present...

Woohoo! Now I can stop borrowing his beast of drill. (He has a DeWalt and it so big and heavy. I feel like I should be launching missiles with that sucka!). This is perfect  because of it's smaller size. (OMG it has a light when you press the trigger!!) I can see what I'm doing.  (Well, see how many holes I have to patch--oops!)

The hubbs purchased this at Lowes (on sale--bonus points for the hubbs). I think the real reason is he is tired of me borrowing his stuff. I mean it isn't like I forget to charge stuff that he needs for work. Or  that I misplace things (Which is why when I was cleaning and organizing I found 3 hammers and 5 (yes 5!) tape measures.) Or ask him to do stuff when comes home from work because he had the tools in his truck (and it is easier just to ask him to do it--not that he does..ahem).  Yeah....none of those things....

I am excited! I can do stuff! Maybe... Now to add this to my own toolbox which may or may not  contain some of his missing tools that he has been asking about.