It’s been a while since I’ve put axe to billet, and even at this early stage I’m deeply aware of just how good and necessary it is to be back in the shop in front of the fan on a sunny afternoon, making wood chips and listening to whatever happens to shuffle through on my iPod.

My neighbor’s dropped by a once or twice to borrow some tools for the landscaping project he’s working on in his front yard. We chatted a bit and then went back to our own respective days.

For the last few weeks, it’s been particularly busy ’round these parts. There’s been gardening, a healthy portion of yardwork – both here and at my mother in-law’s house, and a lot of diving deep into my recovery.

It’s been good work, and although it hasn’t yielded much in the way of restful sleep, there’s a definite feeling of having accomplished something…