(This blog is a long time coming.)
Well, it’s here. As much as I hope and wish that we’ll have some warm days ahead, winter is here. We had a little bit of an ice storn last night here in Michigan. Good thing for me, I had a couple movie rentals I could hunker down with, and I have a small suplus of wood for my fireplace. Those two things can make a chilly night quite comfortable. As much as I love Michigan in the spring, summer and fall, I hate winter. I do like to sled and ice skate, and as long as I’m bundled up, I can even deal with the cold. What I don’t like is the driving, dirty snow and weather below zero degrees.
Two things I was supposed to do today were delayed as a result of last nights semi-ice storm. I was supposed to help a friend move some stuff. Bummer. Moving is never high on my list, but if you ask me, I won’t say no to helping.
The other thing that I can’t do today is go pick out my Christmas tree. I’m actually a little bummed about this – it’s always an experience. There’s an old russian couple who live out in the country. Zokvic’s Christmas trees. I’ve been going out there the last six or so years. They let you wander around their 10 acres around their house and when you’re ready, they cut the tree down for you. Now the fun part is, the old guy is always drunk. ”Ya, you want a little one – I got one for you’. As I’m looking at a ten foot tree. “okay, we try another”. So he wanders around with his chainsaw til we find one just right. A few years ago, the guy tore up his leg with the chainsaw. I wasn’t there, but a friend of mine was there the day it happened, so I head about it the same day. But you can bet, as soon as his 30+ stitches healed, he was back out there with his chainsaw. Last year was a new experience. This couple doesn’t really know me my name, but they recognize me each year. Last year the guy started playing a little ‘slap tickle’with me. He was showing me around, and he started punching my shoulder, like you might punch a friend jokingly. I have no idea why he started, but he seemed to think he was funny. (I actually did think it was kind of funny.) Finally, I laughed and punched him back. Take that you Schnapp’s-smelling old man! He had the last laugh, though. I gave him a twenty for a fifteen dollar tree and he disappeared with my change. He probably went into the house for a refill and passed out…
So, I’ll probably head out there later this week, or maybe Saturday. This year I need to remember, no matter how pretty they look, if they look big out there, the tree will look even bigger in the house. (You with me Snowbird). I had to cut a good foot and a half off last year’s tree. By the time I got done, it just didn’t look the same.
Well, I’ve got a couple cords of firewood to split. We’ll see if I actually get any of that done either.
Remember that time I saw the “perfect tree” and made you go back with me to get it. It was sooo pretty – and when we got it home, we had to do some major surgery on the trunk to get it to fit into the livingroom. Christmas trees should come in sizes – or at least be marked as to how tall they are.
Hope the bad weather has passed and things will be clear and dry tomorrow for your drive into work. I know – I love the snow when it first falls, but once it gets dirty and the roads are slick and slushy, well, it pretty much sucks from then on!! Another reason we are more than happy to spend six months down here in the Sunshine State. Yahoo!!
Hmmm, somehow I didn’t hear the story about having to chop 1-1/2 feet off your tree last year! Here’s hoping you pick better this year.
Chainsaws & alcohol. Sounds like fun.
Snowbird, I thought of that incident when I wrote this blog. Remember Rickbo tried to get you to take it back! LOL
I never mix chainsaws and alcohol. My chainsaw is an electric one. Granted that doesn’t mean I won’t cut myself, but I can’t take it out into the woods either.
chopping wood – I’m impressed!
Finally, I impressed you! All I have to say is, get ready for the ‘gun show’! (Meaning my muscles).
I actually like chopping wood. A little hard work is worth the free wood. Granted I can’t use any of this until next year – come next season, I will be set! Rickbo taught me how to split, and I’m pretty good at it. It’s probably the only excercise I get in the winter.
A couple weeks ago, I saw some free wood on Craigslist in E. Lansing. Turns out the guy cut a couple trees down in his yard and I was doing him a favor getting it out of the way so thay he could cut another. I finally got tired of running back and forth. Four trips later, I’ve got about 3 cords. He sliced it, now I have to dice it. It’s cottonwood, which unfortunately is the least desireable – I guess it’s a low heat burning wood, but can you beat it if it’s free? The only bummer is, I broke my sledge hammer with my wedge still in the wood. It’s alright though – it gave me an excuse to buy a real mawl (maul?). You know half sledgehammer, half axe. NOw I’m tearing through that stuff.
PS – Rickbo, your thanksmas money bought my chainsaw and Mawl.
Great, my twin the lumberjack. Im about to break out into song and dance!! “Oh, Im a lumberjack and Im ok. I work all night and I sleep all day!!” (Gotta love those Monty Pythons!!)
Maybe for our bday next year Ill get you a red and black flannel jacket.
I’d rather have a vest. I like to layer my clothing. (I match colors too. I may be chopping wood, but I still want to look good.)
Great – a Lumberjill with a taste for fashion!
Lumberjill!! That great!! Ive never heard of that!!
What up Jill!?
Oh come on!!! Blog already!!!!
Well, if you wanted to buy me flannel, stay away from red & black. My colors are brown and pink.
A little update on the Zokvic’s. We had to go elswhere to get a tree. I went a little too late, and their lights were off. So we went around the corner about half a mile and another tree farm was just closing up, but they let me pick one out anyway. My friend Troy went out to Zokvic’s a few days later and even though they were closed up, Troy went to the house and knocked. So the old guy came out to cut one for him.. Troy said he was really drunk. I miss all the good stuff.
Let me clarify. Old man Zocvik was drunk – not Troy.