The Cottage Smallholder

Ken, what a lovely poem - thanks for posting it.  I've just copied it and will have a go at tarting it up a bit before printing off to go by our open fire.  It doesn't mention the 'spitty' woods.  We are sometimes given logs etc from friend who have been tree pruning, and occasionally get a real spitter.  Once there was a very loud bang and the smell of singed fur.  We had to scrape the cat off the ceiling.  (Ooops,  sorry - ).  We have an open fire and can legitimately burn both wood and coal.  I love the smell of a coal fire when you come in out of the cold on a really dark and dismal evening.  We re-built the fireplace a few years ago and were lucky to find a really good piece of marble that was the perfect size for a mantlepiece.  It is currently being used as a winter nature table - a mixture of wooden animals, pine cones and twigs, and lots of little paper snowflakes I made one afternoon pre- C-word.   These were my festive decorations this year, as a change from baubles and cavorting golden cherubs.  Still seasonal, so they are staying put for the time being.

Chippychap said:

Hi,

I realise that this is probably already on the board but it is such a lovely evocative piece.

 

The Firewood Poem

Beechwood fires are bright and clear

If the logs are kept a year,

Chestnut's only good they say,

If for logs 'tis laid away.

Make a fire of Elder tree,

Death within your house will be;

But ash new or ash old,

Is fit for a queen with crown of gold

Birch and fir logs burn too fast

Blaze up bright and do not last,

it is by the Irish said

Hawthorn bakes the sweetest bread.

Elm wood burns like churchyard mould,

E'en the very flames are cold

But ash green or ash brown

Is fit for a queen with golden crown

Poplar gives a bitter smoke,

Fills your eyes and makes you choke,

Apple wood will scent your room

Pear wood smells like flowers in bloom

Oaken logs, if dry and old

keep away the winter's cold

But ash wet or ash dry

a king shall warm his slippers by.

 

I'm just an old softy.