Just returned to turning after 3-4 year break.  After a big move from CA to TX, finally broke out the lathe a couple of months ago and started messing with some firewood.  Challenge was finding a cheap source of wood for turning.  Well, once you start paying attention to trees coming down and others sources, there is an abundance of cheap, if not free wood.

After turning a lot of green cedar and oak, was looking for something a little more seasoned.  There was a firewood business a few blocks from the house that I had seen several large rounds of various woods (12" thick x 36" dia) that looked to be fairly old and seasoned.  Met the owner which turned out to be a really nice guy.  Asked him how much for one of the rounds and he replied "Hard to handle these big pieces, so happy to get rid of them...$2-$3 each would be fair".  I was shocked.  Then he follows up with "If you want, just come up with a chainsaw and cut the pieces out that you want if that would be easier and leave me a few bucks in my mailbox!"  I'm feeling like it must be an earlier Xmas in July, but it get's better.  We walk around and he shows me different types of oak, cedar (not so large), ash, cherry, and gum(?).  I'm telling him that anything having interesting rings or lines is always a plus and he says "Well then take a look at this!".  There stands a 4 ft tall, 4 ft dia burl/oak tree section that looks to have been sitting there for a few years.  I asked if I could cut on that also and he says "I wish you would...been trying to get rid of this thing for years and too big for me to handle.  There's another one over there.  Have at it".  Not only do I have a cheap variety of blanks, I have not one but two large burls for blanks at next to nothing.  Told him I would make him something special which I plan to do.

By the way, my name is Rick Lewis and I live in Central Texas with my wife and two daughters.

Welcome, Rick.  make yourself at home.

Welcome form south central Texas!  Whereabouts are you?
Once you find Mesquite---hard to go back to the other woods.

Ahh, nice.  Grew up in that area, lived out by Stillhouse.
Do go through Belton on occasion when going to CME events in DFW..
Is about 3 hr drive from here.