Tag: New Hampshire

Finding Firewood For the Wood Stove

Axe and wood.
Image via Wikipedia

One of the most difficult things for me to do since moving to the northeast is finding firewood for my wood stove.  Actually finding it is not hard, but finding good wood – split nicely and seasoned – is what I’ve been having trouble with.

A couple years ago I called up a guy from a newspaper ad and he was happy to deliver a truckload for a reasonable price.  Once I began stacking it, I realized that the pieces were about as big around as tree trunks.  Fortunately I had a big wood stove, but still, some of the pieces were just too big.  I don’t use an axe so there was no way I’d be able to split them and lugging them was back-breaking.  I wasn’t too happy.

Now I’ve sold my old, mid-Moe stove and replaced it with a new Jotul that is quite small, but perfect for my little living room fireplace.  I definitely need decent size pieces of wood and not tree trunks.  But where to find good wood?  I asked the guy who came to fix my chimney and roof, but he didn’t know because he cuts his own.  That is usually the answer I would get from any guy I asked.  “I cut my own”.  Now, I can’t even imagine having a husband who would go out and cut all the firewood needed for a season himself, so any of you ladies out there who have a guy like that – be grateful!  But that didn’t help me.

Then I took a walk the other day and ended up passing by my neighbor’s house and they were – you guessed it – lugging wood that had been dumped at the edge of their yard.  So I asked where they got it and now I have ordered my own cord from Northern Lights Landscaping in Milford, NH.  I won’t be getting it for a few days, and then I’ll see how I like it, but the woman who took my order over the phone said it’s cut 14-16 inches which is perfect.

I guess the only advice I could give about finding firewood is to ask around (if you find people to ask!) or go with a company (such as landscaping) who has a reputation to uphold.  They will want you to be happy, even though the wood may cost more.

Now I am deciding where to stack it for easily bringing inside during the winter.  It’s a new place and this will be a first time winter, so it will be trial and error.  At least I’ll have some wood to burn.

The Last Big Move

Cutest house on the island
Image by kendura99 via Flickr

Although my motto is “never say never”, I am hoping that this was my last big move. I found a house I could afford on my meager resources and lo and behold, I was approved for it! The process was a long one – 3 months altogether (I think a house can be built in that time frame)- but it was worth the trouble because now I am once again a homeowner!  It feels so good. (NOTE: The house pictured IS NOT MINE.)

After being without the internet for about 2 weeks, it will feel good to be able to get back to my everyday blogging and Zazzle work, but first I must change my address with the many places who need the update, and I need to organize my office workspace.  Right now I am working off of a card table that jiggles with each word I type.  I am surrounded by unpacked boxes and a rolled up rug waiting to find a spot on the floor.  My bills are scattered over a desktop that I can barely see and fans are running to keep me cool.  Who has energy to do anything in this heat?

The heatwave began here in the northeast on the day I had the movers coming and I’ve been sweating ever since.  I am thankful for the shady trees in my yard, but even they couldn’t help cool us off yesterday when the temps were outrageous.  I do have one more move to make – emptying out the storage unit – but there is not a lot in there.  I’m hoping for cool days the end of next week.

So far:

  • the fridge was out of commission for 10 days
  • there was a mix up with the Comcast cable/phone/internet company which made me wait an extra 5 days for service
  • My Zazzle paycheck was 4 days late (due to address change)
  • The woodstove came with me and is stored in the garage- long story (Anyone need one?)
  •  My nice washer and dryer wouldn’t fit through the shed door by the basement so I can’t use them.
  • The locksmith cancelled at the last minute so I hope that I don’t lock myself out before he gets here next week.

Aside from all that, I need a new car and I have a list of fixes to make to the new house that must be done before winter.
But, it’s all good — I am a homeowner!!

Hike A Little NH Mountain With a Big View

Hiking Pitcher Mountain in Stoddard, New Hampshire

I don’t remember how I learned about Pitcher Mountain in New Hampshire, but it is one of my favorite places to hike. It’s not a long way to the top from the parking lot, so most everyone would be able to do this hike. It does get a bit steep, with rocks to navigate near the top. Follow the trail to the right, which is a dirt road until you reach the edge of the pasture, then you will be on a steeper trail.

The pasture area is part of the Pitcher Mountain Farm located in Stoddard, New Hampshire. You will pass it on Rt. 123 heading west toward the small parking area for hiking. Blueberry bushes cover the top and it can get quite busy during July and August when berry picking is best. There is a money box in the parking area for donations at that time of year.

Time Progression of a Hike to the Top

The photo below of my son as a little boy was taken when I lived near Pitcher Mountain. The photo on the right is my son 19 years later when I hiked with him and my daughter and I had him stand once again with the tower in the background.

fire tower on Pitcher Mountain with my 10 year old son on the rocks.
My son age 10
My grown son standing in front of the fire tower at the top of Pitcher Mountain in New Hampshire.
My son 19 years later

There is a fire tower on the rocky top and other trails to follow back down through the woods. They won’t have the nice views you’ll see by the pasture, but if you want to extend your hike, follow the trail markers out across the blueberry field toward a pole and then go down that path that leads through the woods.   It comes out at a road where you will turn left and walk back to the parking lot.  It’s a cool walk down after a hot day of picking (and eating) berries.

Living, and then traveling, to New Hampshire

The Morning of Space Shuttle Challenger

Space Shuttle Challenger ' s smoke plume after...
Image via Wikipedia

We always watched the shuttle launches.  First on the television, right up until after blast off, just in case there was a delay at the last second, which sometimes happened.  Once it lifted off we’d run outside and stand in the road or at the end of the driveway and look east above the treeline watching for the glow.  We’d follow it up and could usually just barely see the two solid rocket boosters dropping after a couple of minutes.  Once the shuttle was way up out of sight, around 5 minutes or so and the smoke trail was taking on a wavy shape from the wind, we’d hear the rumble coming.  That was so awesome.  We lived about 60 miles or so from Cape Canaveral and it took that long for the rumbling from the massive lift off to reach our area.  Sometimes it was louder than others and actually shook the windows.  The kids loved it.

On the morning of January 28, 1986 my oldest son was in school and my only other son at the time was three.  We were watching the count down that keep getting delayed mostly because of the cold, and finally gave up because I had to get to the grocery store.  After my shopping was done, at the old Winn Dixie on Providence Blvd. in Deltona, as we were heading out to the car, I noticed some people at a parked car listening to the radio and others trying to get a view of the sky.  Someone said, “The shuttle exploded”.

On the way home, I headed east driving down Doyle Road and I had a perfect view of the sky where ordinarily I would have seen a beautiful big plume of smoke left from the launch.  This time the sky was full of zig zag, swirly patterns of smoke that were definitely not a normal sight.  My heart sank.  So much hype had been given to this mission especially.  We’d been kept informed of all the training the first teacher in space had to go through.  Krista McAuliffe was the lucky one chosen and all I could think about was all the kids in the New Hampshire classrooms who knew her and were watching that day as the mission ended before it even began.

Years later my family went over to Cape Canaveral to watch a shuttle lift off from as close as civilians are allowed to get.  It was truly an awesome sight.  And now I live in New Hampshire where the teacher came from.  Today the local news will be interviewing people in this area who are related to the story in some way.  It’s hard to believe it was 25 years ago.

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