Forget the Shadow, Measure the Woodpile

Up north Groundhog’s Day means something. February 2nd is the day when you should have used half the firewood you set aside for winter back in May. You can find that wisdom in Thoreau’s Journal written back in the days when any groundhog showing himself today would have been shot and eaten. Thanks to a relatively warm January, we seem to be on schedule, not like last year. We uncovered the remaining half of our supply today and moved it onto our spare porch. Ottoleo, our 22 year old son now off in grad school, cuts much of our wood and he is a flailer, not a slow and steady maul and axe man like me. His high flying axe blade can leave plenty of kindling, and I did get three boxes of kindling. But the rest looked good and as I cradled it in my arms I’d do the math. Less to four weeks to go to the end of February. I remember being in shirt sleeves by the end of March. But we are due for an Easter snow storm and once we had a flurry on Mother’s Day. Then there is next year. February 2nd is not just a day to count your firewood. It’s time to start collecting the wood for next year to take advantage of the snow and ice on ponds which makes it easier to haul logs out on a sled. Splitting wood for next year in the still cold days of winter warms you twice, as Thoreau’s said. Now, these traditions do make a glow of warmth in the telling. But not as much as the anticipation of sagging in the shade of some fat green leaves playing peek-a-boo with the hot sun.