An ode to firewood 🪵🪓
Entry #58 on firewood, simple tasks and how done beats perfect - every time
Entry #58
Gathering and storing firewood is a sequence of fundamentally simple tasks. It is also an unrelenting commitment. If you too burn wood to warm your home, you will know what I mean.
We currently have a mammoth pile of split wood in our driveway. As I stacked some of it on Wednesday this week, the following thoughts came to mind:
Even badly stacked firewood will age and dry better than a pile of wood out in the elements. Done is better than perfect.
It’s a good idea to clear the driveway and move the wood. Otherwise, it’s not really a driveway, is it?
Stacking wood really is back-breaking work. It’s also very satisfying and addictive. Every piece moved, is a tiny achievement. The wood doesn’t judge your efforts, argue with you or cheer you on. It just lays there, either stacked or unstacked.
I’m glad I learnt to love stacking firewood because I experience a very real sense of contribution to the household. Shawn does a lot of work for firewood each year, but he really appreciates that I am happy to stack it.
I almost wish there had been wood to stack when I was in labour all those years ago. I can’t think of many better chores to distract the mind and body. With great care and slowness, stacking wood whilst in labour would be an excellent meta activity to represent moving towards the finish line.
Wearing good gloves improves my experience of all outdoor tasks.
[Photo of stacked firewood, under a low roof]
Tell me, what simple tasks do you find satisfying, addictive or hypnotic?
One request, please do not comment with ‘ironing my husband’s shirts’ or I will have to assume that my mother has tracked me down on SubStack. I can’t imagine that any of my (mostly female) readers would ever say that with a straight face. If I’m wrong, please just leave me in ignorance. I really don’t want to abandon Friday Flow and start all over again under a nom de plume.
I hope something in today's entry was helpful or hopeful. As always, I look forward to hearing what you heard, saw and felt when reading this.
With love,
Michelle xx
I also love stacking firewood (wearing good gloves indeed makes all the difference) and I love folding washing too.
I quite enjoy folding washing. Warm out of the dryer even better. The monotony of folding and stacking, watching the basket contents decrease feels oddly satisfying to me. The enjoyment stops at the putting away stage though so we have a couch with constant piles of clothing all over it! I'm unsure the last time it was clear haha!