I grew up with an open fire in our family home. On weekends we would bundle into the family car with the trailer attached and go out with our mum and dad to collect firewood. Often we would stop on the side of a dirt road and dad would chop up fallen trees and we would stack them into the trailer. I don't think I liked doing it at the time, but I do have fond memories of the experience so perhaps I did?
Fast forward 30 years and things have changed a bit. We have a wood fire heater in our home but I think you need a permit now to cut up trees that have fallen by the side of the road. Our firewood comes from fallen trees on friends farm properties. Dean goes out and collects it and we help to unload the trailer and stack it.
There is something special about collecting and stacking firewood. It can mean extra mess to tidy inside the house, extra labour to collect the wood, light and maintain the fire. But I prefer this to clicking a button that provides instant heat. Sometimes when the fire takes a little longer to get going or it just isn't throwing out enough heat it is easier to turn our split system on. Some days it just takes a little bit more effort and a little bit more time before the fire get's going and an extra layer of clothing can be added until the house is warmed. The extra effort is worth it.
I like that the clothes dry quicker in front of the fire, that little bodies fresh out of the bath have a warm place to dry off and the sounds of the crackling behind me as we gather as a family to eat our evening meals.
I just like firewood and I like an open fire. To me it is more than just wood.
Thanks for visiting,
Amanda x
