Happy Monday!
I’m experiencing a different-than-usual start to the work week, but it certainly isn’t an unpleasant one. Once again, I am sitting on the couch in the sunroom, feet propped up in front of the roaring fire, coffee by my side, and the Aladdin oil lamp glowing over my left shoulder.
Tom had an early start today. The job he’s working on is 2 ½ hours away, drive-time. He’s much closer as-the-crow-flies . . . but there are no from-here-to-there roads accessible in the wintertime. He’s meeting the electrician at 10:00 this morning to get the wiring done. So far, there’s been electricity up there but only one temporary outlet and no wiring in the walls. And, until the wiring in the walls is done, Tom can’t get the insulation put up. And, no insulation means a cold work environment. On Friday, he finally got the stove and chimney completely installed so now he does have heat. (Temporary wood stove – one of our “extras” – but permanent stovepipe & chimney.) And, since the temperature here is somewhere around -15 degrees F this morning, that means it will be closer to -30 F up there . . . a GOOD day to have the stove in, to be sure!
We’ve had Tanner with us for about a week or so now - the dog of one of our dear friends who travels a LOT for work. Right now, his (the friend’s) schedule is, basically, 2 weeks gone and then 10 days home. So, Tanner is spending the bulk of his time with friends and family. Fortunately, he’s a very easy “extra” dog to have around (particularly given the fact that he is the size of a small horse), save his caustic toots. Seriously, he could peel wallpaper off with one expulsion of “out-gassing”. On the up side, he hasn’t been too bad this time!
We both decided to take the bulk of Saturday off, but Mother Nature and Murphy’s Law never seem terribly supportive of attempts like that. I’ve talked a bit about the night visits from the fox who is living down our driveway. He’s taken 3 hens to date (of the hens-who-sleep-outside-in-the-trees) . . . at least, that’s how many I know he’s taken. The actual number may be more. Anyway, when I went out to do chores on Saturday, I opened up the chicken house to let everyone out and then grabbed their outside water tub. As I turned towards the tree I use to bang it against to knock the remaining frozen . . . [battery power lost here].
Tanner's a cutie-pie. He doesn't think he's a lap dog, does he?
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