Ran into Trader Joe's yesterday

And then my car followed a few minutes later. Maybe it thought I was taking too long, but I swear it was only 10 minutes. Nobody was hurt, TJ's sign on the rock wall has only a bit of scuffed paint, and no other cars were damaged; all for which I am deeply grateful. The manager didn't even want my name and phone number, but I forced it on him just in case they need help painting over the scuff mark or something.


Buttercup (my car has a name) is a 1983 Toyota Corolla wagon that used to be in astounding condition for its age, and I am sad that after barely 6 months with me, this happens. And it's my fault for not setting the brake, leaving it in a gear appropriate to the slope of the pavement, and chocking at least one wheel.

One of those chunks of firewood from the other day would make a great chock.

Stuck and released

Sounds a bit like fishing, right? Definitely not knitting. While splitting firewood, my wedges got stuck in a knotty piece. Only one would be hammered out. Brilliant idea: use the chain saw. Look what happened:


Wedge and chain saw stuck! Brilliant idea #2: use the pruning saw to cut out a chunk.


It gets trapped, too, but I keep sawing. Success!


After a bit more judicious use of the chain saw, its three pieces will fit in my small wood stove. My rolling "wood box" resides in the attached garage between splitting and sawing sessions, saving trips into the rain for wood.