Here we go again. Another spring, another big load of wood that must be stacked.

This is two full cords worth, or 6 face cords. This is going to take a while. Good thing I have nothing but time on my hands. And also the black flies aren’t out yet. Hmm…which means I should also go out hunting for kindling because I ran out last year. Yes, I was lazy last year. No excuse now.

There is a bit of a hitch in the normal ways we get stuff like this done. People up here who sell you wood, or fix the leak in your plumbing, or plow your driveway, or install a door…they all want payment in cash. Which is fine a) if there were a bank in your town — I’M LOOKING AT YOU TD!!! — and b) if you actually had a job that was bringing money in. I have neither. So I have to go to the ATM in the Home Hardware that gives you a maximum of $400 plus the service fee. I suppose I could drive up to Parry Sound and use the real bank machine, but then there’s the whole thing about having to have money in your account so…

Sounds desperate, eh? Don’t worry. The terrific people up here who sell you wood, or fix the leak in your plumbing, or plow your driveway, or install a door…they are also good neighbours who just might be in the same boat or have been at one time. So the MacTier installment plan works just fine. Thanks, dudes and dudettes!

I don’t have the energy to really obsess over money. The whole country is riding the same economic nightmare one way or another. I also don’t obsess over wood like I did my first full winter up here in the early 2000s. So growth. Or something.

Anyway, I better get to it. The flycatchers and Phoebes are back, so there must be some kind of fly out there. Not the stinging kind. Yet!