For a girl who grew up in the suburbs and had no "outdoorsy men" in her life until much later; I had a very limited relationship with wood...campfires, and it wasn't my job to start them!
2009 was my first year using the open fireplace for heat.
That first year and many after, it was meter long logs.
Prior to that time, logs were photo opportunities.
Hiking with two guy friends from Tour de Faure to the Chemin de Halage and then back to St. Cirq Lapopie in '98, I remarked on a beautiful arrangement of stacked wood along our route.
Of course, I had to take a photo (it now hangs with many others in our library at the Cadrieu Mairie).
My French friend turned to me and said: "I have lived here all my life, but today I see it through your eyes!" I don't think the wood would have excited him quite so much as it did me. Who'd have thought that ten years later I'd have amazing wood piles all my own. They still wow me.
Last year I paid the neighbor teens to hump the wood up to load it on the covered terrace and stack the rest below. My worker bees aren't around this year. Initially, it was overwhelming. Then, I reminded myself how much I love the wood and its natural beauty. I also loved the idea that my hands touched every piece of that wood. I let go. The wood sometimes speaks to me like the stone does.
As I mentioned before, it is particularly pretty this year.
Each log is often a work of art all its own. I have a trolly and a wheelbarrow. So far, I'm trollying up as many loads as I'm in the mood for each day. Whatever gets done is a success, and feels good. It's under plastic in the drive. It will be fine.
One of best parts of hauling the wood is that I have a little robin who joins me regularly. He teases me mercilessly and never quite allows me to get a good photo of him.
The other thing I love is finding interesting shapes. The other day, I found a piece that was heart-shaped on the bottom!
Just another present for me!
The sun is out. I was waiting for Pascal to give her some book marks (she's a collector and it's called a marque a page in French) and some important cards.
She was thrilled.
As I walked back into the house down the drive, my plastic was up. As I put it back down, my robin guy flew out from underneath! What a tease! With the sun out, I'm going to go trolly some more. Who knows, maybe today is the capturing my robin day!
Happy Thursday!
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