when you've been sliced thin

and spending next years warmth today

What do you do when you start running out of fuel? I have friends who heat with oil. They budget for a tank and a half per winter. During a cold year, their house is a bit on the chilly side.

We burn wood to heat our house. During a cold year we burn through our wood more quickly. Typically though, I have enough wood for a year and a half stored. The ‘extra’ wood isn’t as old. It hasn’t cured as long.

It’s less dry and doesn’t burn as efficiently.

It’s been a cold winter. I’m starting into the ‘next year’ woodpile.

Before I bring it into the house though, I’m splitting it a second time.

By slicing the wood extra thin, it dries out really nicely. When it dries out well, it burns more quickly and more fully.

Sometimes I wonder if the world we live in isn’t just a cold winter incarnate. These days it seems everyone seems sliced thin in order to do work not only for now, but for next year. We’re sliced thin so we can do our work then do half as much again.

No wonder people burn out so quickly.

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