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Gilbert Lodge   Since 2004

                 Gilbert Lodge Blog
         The life and times of Mark and Paula Persons

Saturday, March 20, 2010:  Paula discovered the first sign of spring.  A green plant was just peaking above the leaves near the wood pile.  We don't know what kind of a plant it is...hope it isn't poison ivy!  This brave green thing is managing to survive in temperatures dropping below freezing at night and in the high-30's during the day.  

In an effort to loose weight, Mark and Paula were splitting firewood.  Logs up to 90 pounds each and up to 24 inches in diameter were split into useable sizes.  It is something like a prison where inmates make little rocks out of big rocks. 

Most of the wood was still frozen inside and made loud cracking or popping sounds as it was split in a motorized splitter.  Some were frozen to the ground and needed to be hit with a heavy sledge hammer to be freed.  Pine logs smelled like Christmas trees when they came apart.  In total, Mark and Paula put 16 man-hours into this weekend project.     

There is nothing like a roaring fire in the Grand Fireplace at Gilbert Lodge.   

Quote of the day:  You can never have too much firewood.  Mark