I was busy the other day chopping up a chair outside. Like you do!
It was one that my late dear mother bought us when we moved into our newly built abode about 20 years ago? She's still keeping us warm.
I wrote a similar post a few years ago about us still having my grandmother's hand sewn patchwork quilts on our beds. Which she had made over fifty years ago. I said then my grandmother was literally still keeping us warm and she is.
All those long Autumn, Winter and dark Spring nights straining her eyes and hand sewing old materials onto a woollen blanket.
There was no television in those days or on my phone or tablet reading and writing blogs, surfing the Internet, watching some prog on You Tube and seeing if United had signed a new Ronaldo or Ole yet.
Back in the day they would listen to the wireless for the news and read an talk and have another cup of tay. Talk about the weather and go to sleep
Any way or any road:
The dogs have only decided to chew one of the legs and tear the cloth on the seat covering the upholstery in the Conservatory.
So I took the poor chair outside and gave it a good talking to and promptly dismantled it with my axe:
Anyone else repurposing their house hold contents for firewood?
Another post tomorrow dear readers.
It's already written/wrote. Such are these long winter nights!
We had a large oak dresser in our old house, not an antique just a 30 year old reproduction. When we decided to downsize I donated most of our furniture to the Hospice shop but they didn't want the dresser. Nobody else was interested either so it got chopped up and provided us with firewood for several days.
ReplyDeleteOak would burn for quite a long while JayCee and I bet it was warm? The chair I chopped up was made of oak. It's good to repurpose or burn what you can.
DeleteWe are not allowed to burn the planks out in the garden. They're treasures he says. One day though..... I'll make a huge bonfire.
ReplyDeleteI love using things my mother and grandmother made or used. We even brought back the family cutlery set. The one we used every day, and still do. But where do those knives and forks disappear to? Like socks in a washing machine
The planks would probably make a good raised bed Linda. We have old knives to cut string and plastic when feeding the livestock and I use them in the polytunnel and in the veg plot.
DeleteSad end for the chair. Do post a picture of the patchwork quilt. wool patchwork is a real treasure.
ReplyDeleteWe have about five patchwork quilts that my Grandma made TM. I will ask J to find me the best one to take a photo of for on here.
ReplyDeleteI have a few of my mums garden tools, she gave them to me years before she died, she no longer had a garden, I cherish them.
ReplyDeleteI bet you do Marlene. I guess that is where you get your green fingers from. Perhaps you will write a post about your mum's garden tools with a few pictures some time?
ReplyDeleteOh dear, things are getting desperate in Shamrockland if you are burning furniture. Do you have floorboards you could "repurpose" next?
ReplyDeleteI have my mum's chopper for chopping kindling which I used for same from when I was 10 upwards and mum used it all her life. I have also burned several items of old furniture on the fire over the years. I collect wood wherever I see it when out and sometimes lay it on the side of the road to collect later on my way home when I pass it.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was only those people in northern England who drop their aitches and keep coal in the bath? Apparently not. No the floor is concrete YP.
ReplyDeleteI am sure you treasure that chopper Rachel? It kept your mother's family warm all their lives and then your own family. I am often tempted to ask to someone stop when travelling in a car for that windfallen branch. Thanks Rachel.
ReplyDeleteNot yet, but Tim's got quite a supply of it set aside in case we do. I swear the man is part squirrel.
ReplyDeleteI've been called a Womble Debby. Tim sounds very resourceful.
ReplyDelete50/60/70 years ago, they also did things like card playing , wth 2 or more players. It was very sociable and led to good conversations.
ReplyDeleteI hare ro think how much it would cost you to buy the amount of wood we get through.
Kathy
Yes thanks Kathy. My parents and my uncle use to tell me that here in Ireland. Neighbours would walk though the fields to their neighboursand have a game of cards, sing, dance, talk and put the world to right, maybe even haggle over a cow or a sheep? There was also the Meitheal every summer. When neighbours would help each hay make or dig the spuds. I have also read about illegal Shebeens in Ireland and South Africa. Unlicensed premises selling drink at a profit. I suppose people bought televisions and stayed in on a rainy night? A plant nursery man told me if you plant black ash it's ready to harvest for firewood in 8 years.
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