Need ideas for Mesquite stump and firewood

I was near San Antonio last weekend (I was playing in a volleyball tournament for really old guys) and I stopped at a firewood vendor and picked up some mesquite firewood and a stump. I have 20 pieces of firewood about 12×3 x 3 and a stump that is 18 inches tall and 14 inches at the bottom and 9 inches at the top. BTW – I paid $5 for 20 sticks of firewood and $5 for the stump. Based on the mesquite lumber prices, sounds like a good deal.

I need some help with a few things.

Can I just slice up the firewood and let it dry? Since I’ll use it for small scale projects. Don’t need standard 4/4 thickness. Any problem air drying it at 3/4 or 2/4? Anything I should know about air drying mesquite? I’ll probably keep a few sticks at 2×2 or 3×3 for turning. Do these just dry longer. Do I need to seal the ends? Can I do this without a moisture meter?

Need some ideas on how to use the stump. I could just take some slices off it. Should I slice it horizontal or vertical? Seems that horizontal could be uninteresting and all end grain. Could also get several bowl blanks (I have a small lathe so the largest bowl I can turn is about 7”). If bowl blanks, how should I slice it? Could also go for a vase. Should I slice it then dry it?

Bottom line :
If you had this wood what would you do with it? I’ve already decided I’m not using it for firewood.

-- Leon -- Houston, TX - " I create all my own designs and it looks like it "