With the Esse, which we pretty much run 24/7, we need a plentiful wood supply.

I am fairly proud of and confident in my husband, who goes out to  add to the wood supply whenever he has a spare hour or so. Today he has been twice to get some wood. He goes down the hill to get kindling from the leftovers pile from when Ady and Monte were using the Lucas Mill to mill the wood that we used for the house (it seems not that long ago that the boys where milling the timber).  He cuts other wood from fallen trees or leftover purchased wood.

Matthew loves it when daddy comes back with a ute-load of firewood. He gets Monte to lift him up to the tray, where he throws wood down for Monte to stack onto the pile by our shed. All the while, he says things like, “I’m helping daddy” and “I’m like daddy” and “Daddy and me are doing a good job!”

The wood supply will always be hard work to maintain. Going by some of the locals’ supplies, we have nothing in comparison. Monte is hoping to get a year or two ahead of himself next year. I’m just grateful for the wood he chops so we can use the stove, which is heating the home, heating the water and cooking our meals.