Last year in advance of the casita building project, we had a large "Tingley Elm" removed chopped down. Most of the lumber was cut into sections small enough to split. One large piece was the base, which was about three feet thick and four feet long. The crew that cut the tree down said that the piece had too many nails in it and it had already ruined a couple of chainsaw blades. The hunk of wood was moved with a Bobcat to edge of the vegetable garden.

I have from time to time hacked away at it, cutting it with the chainsaw and chipping away at it with a sledgehammer and a pair of mauls. Today, I cut up the rest of it, making new cuts to avoid the place from which sparks flew last time round. I then rolled the pieces to the back wood pile, where dozens of blocks of wood await splitting.

Meanwhile Roomie is stacking the piñon I split. The unsplit piñon is be a relatively easy chore to complete, but even easier when I next rent a splitter. Place is slowly getting ready for spring and irrigation.