One More for the Fire

Even with the warmer weather, some firewood is still needed.
The Fuzz makes periodic surveys of the area looking for dead or dying trees.  Tree hugger that he is, he does not like to cut a healthy tree unless it is necessary for some other reason.

Here is one he has had his sights on this winter.  Not quite dead, but it's only a matter of time.

He was quite surprised when His Sweetie informed him of this one!

Apparently the wind had pushed it over recently.  But it was quite dead, and had been for some time.  The Fuzz still doesn't know how he could have missed it.

But of course now it was time to break out his trusty (sorta) Chainsaw.

The tricky part of these situations is getting the thing safely un-hung from it's neighbors.  The only thing to do is to carefully notch and cut sections of the trunk and hope it does not fall back on the fool cutting it.  (These things have been referred to as "widow makers")

But we are happy to report that this was accomplished with no damage to Our Fuzz, or the equipment*.

It is interesting how the outer layers of a pine tree will rot away leaving the heart more or less intact.  One can often find bits of this "Rich Pine" laying about.  It is excellent for lighting fires.  One only needs to touch a match to it.

Well, with the assistance of His Sweetie, wood was split, and safely stashed under the tin.

*One time this did not go so well.  The tree dropped down on the chainsaw pinning it to the ground and destroying the bar!