First Post
We thought we'd try a fun photo blog for 2017.
See and read about what is new and interesting
at HighCross Farm—
heavy on photos, light on chatter.
With love,
- Farmers Steve and Kath
Providing good food for the belly—
and good food for the mind and heart.
_______________________
We've heated our home 100% with wood for over 15 years.
Last Monday, it was time for Farmer Steve
to go out to the Back Forty
and cut down another dead tree
to keep our home warm for a few more days.
Light snow, low 20s, stiff breeze—
what a great occasion to spend a little time
in the shelter of our beloved woods.
I cut down a dead Ironwood tree—hard as a rock,
very heavy.
It grows extremely slowly
and is highly esteemed for firewood
because it burns long and hot.
Here it is, cut-up and loaded into the tractor bucket.
This venerable tree was over 100 years old—
with tiny growth rings of less than 1/16" per year!
Day after day, year after year, decade after decade,
this tree soaked up glorious sunlight on warm summer days.
Through the awesome process of photosynthesis,
that light and warmth was converted into hard wood,
as this tree quietly and slowly grew in stature.
Here is a log from that tree,
burning long and hot in our wood furnace,
slowly releasing all of that accumulated sunshine,
as it warms Kath and me to our very core.
………………...…
With gratitude I ponder the blazing summer sun
that faithfully poured its light down onto
and into that awesome beautiful old tree,
day after day after day.
There are some people likened to that Ironwood tree,
who one day begin to radiate out
light and warmth and grace
toward the hearts of everyone they meet.
They too warm Kath and me to our very core.
Revision Mar 23, 2017