Getting ready for winter

So, how does a year-round BBQer get ready for winter? By scrounging up wood, of course. The stores here put away their charcoal and wood about the time they set up there Halloween displays. So I scored a lot of charcoal briquettes from Walmart a few weeks ago. It's normally $4.90-something per bag and they marked it down to $4, then $3, then $2.50. I bought some at each price and have like 10 bags in the shed! Winter of '06/'07 I ran out and didn't want to run out again.

It was a nice day today, so I decided to split a tub full from my apricot/cherry pile. It's still pretty wet inside, but the outside layer of logs splits up dry. I've used maybe 20% of this pile....haven't even gotten to the best stuff yet ;)

Oh yeah, I scored some new wood too.


Doesn't look like much, but hey, I'm from Kansas -- I ain't gonna complain about seasoned apple wood! My Mom & Dad were visiting my sister in Kentucky a couple weeks ago and I guess her landlord or neighbor or something had cut down an apple tree and hadn't picked up the logs. So they tossed a vew in their van and brought them home. I haven't split them yet....if they are dry enough I'll use them for the Thanksgiving turkey next month!

I should split some more oak too....maybe another day. It's like axing iron and I'm pooped....