This Christmas really was not about gifts for any of us here on the Farm. Instead, we all seemed to be about being together. As our oldest put it to me in a conversation we had to the side at one point, “it is about being with the people I care about.” We did gifts, but I don’t know that anyone put so much into that as they did getting here and being in the moment together. It’s meant the world to me. Seems the same for all. Now, that’s not to say Mrs. Clause did not put an effort into making the gift opening a big part of the activities. We shopped cheap. There were themed hampers for the likes of cleaning, and movie night, and a date night. As has been his custom, our second son got me a 12-year-old scotch. I told him we would open it when his brother turns up a dad. He laughed. His brother didn’t.
Oldest brother said he would like to look at making a dining room table in the coming summer. I did say that I am not having much luck on finding any fine wood, and the poplar that I can find readily does not finish very well. Also, the wood needs time to dry, depending on how he wants it built. Solid wood requires a year per inch of thickness. His reply, “so it won’t be a quick project, then?” No, it won’t as such. To be fair, we could try to make a sort of kiln, and poplar does dry on the fast end. He was not yet sure of measurements required. Maybe we can get this going anyway. I would like to do some practice on a few smaller projects first.
It is a middle of the night post, and I am typing this at almost 2:30 in the morning. I put some wood into the stove and am keeping the house warm. It is 22F out right now, and the house is staying warm easily. I have the new wax melt running at 500 watts and 160F. It seems pretty accurate at the moment. I just added 10 more pounds in four blocks. It has brought the level up to just more than an inch from the top. I have not measured, but it looks like I could dip 18-inch candles in the vat. I would do well to get up in the morning and make a frame to hang wicks from to dip. I’d like to try it, though I am not positive I will sell them. But they could be a special product.
I have like four or five rows of firewood on the bunk at the moment. I am thinking one row will last about four weeks. I am not too mathematical at the moment, but if that can get us through to April or so, then I think we can easily make it till it is warm. If not, I think it will be warm enough to split off some dry logs from the sawmill pile.
I cleaned the chimney the other day, and found it to be a lot cleaner than I expected it to be. There was flakey soot on the walls, and when it fell down to the bend, it nearly blocked it completely. But it did not. That is about two to three large PeanutButter jars worth of material. It was an easy clean, and surprising. Also, it was a shock just because of how wet some of the wood I have been burning has been.
I am off to watch a video about English Barns now. Then maybe back to sleep.