The hay field having been recently mown, we spent today on the edge of the woods, where a trio of elms have been displaying their naked splendor.

Now only two stand tall, if dead.

Michael wields the chain saw and I carry the rounds to the trailer. That tractor isn't just for show! We purchased a wood-burning stove last September, as the portion of the house we live in had no heat. It also has single-pane windows. We learned the cabin had no sheathing when we installed the stove, which detoured our fast window replacement plan. We put double layers of plastic over the windows to keep Jack Frost from moving in with us.

The stove heats our space, as well as the rest of the house. We cut Irene's propane consumption by about 2/3rds...and she keeps her thermostat turned down!

We built a wood shed this past April. It fit the wood we cut, but did not burn last fall. We need another wood shed or two. Better to burn seasoned wood--which I figure means it's sat for a couple of seasons before you burn it.

I tend to be the wood stacker and Michael the wood cutter.

If we harvest dead, but standing, trees from our "larger garden" (the woods surrounding our fields), use it efficiently, and promote new tree growth, I figure we are at least breaking even on the carbon front.