A Cup of Tea

[T-hawk]

Yeah, I just bought a house myself for the first time. My job went remote permanently since the pandemic, so I didn't have to live in the city anymore, and if I'm going to be working remote full time then I gotta have more space.

I had to do the same thing, skip inspections just to get an offer in before the deadline since that's what everyone else was doing. I got a house that's fairly new construction (20 years old) so I wasn't worried about any big problems.

On the upside, Zillow estimates that it's already up 10k over what I paid in just two months. I'm not sure how much of this is really housing bubble, and how much is just going up with inflation the same as everything else. Prices are up because there was a gap in supply - shutdowns for several months during the pandemic, and that time isn't going to be made up, more builders can't materialize that fast. I think the price surge is roughly equal parts that supply was down, demand is up (remote working), and inflation of everything. Some of that will abate, some won't.

[superdeath]

Yeah, housing market is nuts.

Are you moving somewhere good SD?

Eh.. Im moving into an efficiency apartment. Im getting a pretty good deal on it compared to the rest of the apartments around town, but i dont really need too much space.

[Krill]

I hope the move goes well for you SD

[superdeath]

thx!

[Mjmd]

Tree Dominoes!!!! Had 1 tree snap last year that was leaning against two others. Those two this spring with loose soil started tipping. Khocked into two more one of which is blocking driveway and other is on power line. Will I lose power? Good question.

[Krill]

Photos? Got a chainsaw? That's winter 2023 heating sorted, maybe?

[Mjmd]

I do have a chainsaw. I only have 1.25 acres, but as you'll see very heavily wooded. I have a very old fashioned inefficient fireplace. I've thought about getting an insert, but with young kids I like having bigger fires (also I like). However, I do need large quantities of wood for my maple syrup. I probably go through roughly 2.5 cords of wood a year.

More like 2025 wood. Only 1/5 trees was already dead, so need some time to age ect. I have another 4 downed trees out back for wood before then.

So this is one end of my property where original dead tree snapped.



Dominoes!!



And here is pretty much the other end of my property. The electric company very nicely cleared my driveway for me. I had gone out and asked them to get the tree down if possible (it was partially 9 ft in the air), but they went well above that, so I'm very happy this morning!



As you can see though I still have some hauling of branches to do today, but I that does save a morning walk with a friend and her daughter I had planned.

[Krill]

It's nice to see utility companies do more than the bear minimum.

I have a multi fuel stove, and when it's lit it heats the entire house better than the central heating, and gives me all the hot water needed via kettles. Not sure if it is cost effective though, but rhe more gas prices (not petrol) increase the less I bought the decision. I've just spent the last 13 hours cutting wood for it and I am knackered, but a friend had a large tree down as it split in a storm and free wood is free wood. I have the same issue though, to store it until it can be used. Do you teams to leave the trees whole for a few years, or do you cut to size and leave in a log store to season?

And as this thread us always more interesting with pictures:

[Mjmd]

I should** cut them to size and leave to dry that way, but I just run short of time (3 young kids) and don't have nearly as many drying as I should. I have maybe a cords worth cut up in chunks atm. I need to cut up at least two trees that have been sitting in the back this spring so they are at least somewhat ready by fall.

For those unaware, most types of wood are hard to chop when green. This was a lesson I learned fairly fast. Even sitting in whole tree form they don't really dry out that fast. You want cracks to start forming to help with chopping.

[Mjmd]

I will say leaving the trees sit for a while makes it easier to chainsaw up. I had forgotten how much work it was to chainsaw up fresh hardwood until this morning....