I got wood today. An ad on the internet turned me on to it. The first one I tried didn’t work out but the second one did. I got so excited about it that I couldn’t think of anything else until I dealt with it. Incidentally, I saw the wood yesterday and didn’t do anything about it. Apparently, it’s hardwood.
When I first started woodworking, I had heard that I’d end up getting free wood. Until today, that hasn’t been the case. I forgot to grab some pieces when I was at my friend’s cottage last summer.
Hannah will tell you about how excited I get when I see logs and things laying about. A couple of weeks ago, I was searching for the best acorns and picking them up. On our trips over the summer, I kept my eye out for things I could pick up and work with – we scooped up some red dirt in PEI. I’ve been on the hunt for pinecones for a while now but never seem to have anything to carry them with when I find them. I took the bouquets that were centre pieces at a wedding we went to. Wood is harder to carry so I’m only able to ogle at branches, logs, and stumps that I see.
Unfortunately, I haven’t done much with my treasures. I’ve got big ideas but my follow through has been less than enviable. I could come up with any number of excuses but it really comes down to my ability to keep myself organized and on task.
I’m not sure what species of wood I got today. My best guess would be that it’s Maple. It’s still green wood, meaning it’s freshly cut and still too wet, which I’ve never worked with before. Whatever I make with the wood won’t be ready for a good while. Either, the logs will have to be left to dry for a few years, or I can rough out some things and let those pieces dry for several months before finishing them. I think there’s a way I can use a microwave or toaster oven to speed things up.
What I’m most excited about is the potential to make something with what I picked up today. As I was unloading the logs into the workshop, I felt a certain calm happiness when I started envisioning the bowls that I’ll make. It’s amazing what a little wood can do to me.
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