TRIAL & ERROR

 TRIAL AND MOSTLY ERROR

Gracie is enjoying the warmth of the cook stove I FINALLY managed to get installed.

I spent a lot of money and time trying to get the chimney set up so that it would function properly. There is not enough room on this post, nor would you enjoy reading about all the purchases, trials and returns I had to make before eventually getting it correct.

The problem, of course, was a result of my stupidity.

I have installed wood-burning stoves before in both old and new construction buildings. So, I should have had no problem. But, then, that disease called A-G-E set to working against me and there was one problem after another that had to be solved.

Had I simply begun properly, there never would have been those problems.

How do you begin properly? 

Easy.

With a tape measure.

But, noooo. Mr Brilliant here just began by putting the hole in the wall where he wanted it. As a result, I needed two inches more than the standard length of six-inch stove pipe. 

Some of the problems grew worse when the stove was delivered. The outlet in the back for the stove pipe was out of round, so no pipe would fit. 

I did NOT want to return that 450# piece of cast iron and steel. The seller thought he had an idea that might work. Since he is Amish, there was no way he could get to me without my going to get him—an hour's drive one way.

He fixed it, but I wasn't sure it would work. I was not able to tell until I got the stove and chimney copletely installed. It worked.

With more than $3500 in the stove and fittings and the numerous trips to Springfield, we now have a functioning cook stove.

Gracie's grin with the first fire lit up the neighborhood!

Yesterday, she baked her first loaf of bread in a wood-fired oven. 

There is hardly any left, because her brother and I enjoy this bread more than we should.

Gracie and I managed to stay in the cabin this past weekend without freezing like we did a couple of months ago. The puppy, Boots, was kept inside until about 3am, then she was allowed outside with the other dog, Ana, her litter mate. They stayed on the porch until we got up.

Her brother, Bob, had fresh blueberry muffins from the oven waiting this morning when I got there for the day's work. He seems to be loving the stove almost as much as Gracie. He has not let the fire go out since we first got it going.

Thus ends the saga of the stove and the senior half-wit.

There is good news about the garden on the way in a couple of days.

Thanks for keeping up with our journey

PEACHES AND CREAM

 

Peaches & Cream is an expression we use to describe a situation in which everything is pleasant and easy. Homesteading does not necessarily fit into that category.

    Many are trying their hand at homesteading in many different ways for different reasons. Some want to be completely off-grid out of fear of what is coming down the pike in our society.

    Others have romanticized the idea of getting "back to the land" and want to experience what they may have longed for in their earlier years. To be sure, many of these are 'baby boomers' who once thought about this but then got caught up in the hustle and bustle of life and raising a family in the 'ordinary' way.

    Still others think that this way of life means "free" since they are not tied to a utility company of any kind. Once in, however, they discover the wisdom of the ages—"there ain't no free lunch."

    Whatever the reason for the attempt, it is a grand experiment and experience for each and every person who tries it. Much is learned about oneself, one's stamina, one's desire and motivation, and one's capabilities. Whether completely successful or not, the journey is its own reward.

    The notion of "peaches and cream" disappeared for me last week. I spent three full days trying to get the chimney installed for our cook stove. I've done this before with no problem, but this one has tried to beat me in more ways than one. I'll have more to say about that in my next posting.

    At the end of the week, I got word that my brother had taken a turn for the worse in his battle with cancer. Everything came to a halt as I took time to go visit him for a couple of days—a total of more than 1500 miles.

    Gracie and I have fairly well realized that more than two hours in the car is hard on our bodies, but in this situation, I was able to do better.

    However, the fatigue from driving and restless nights, and the stress of seeing my brother took its toll on me when I returned.

    I was in bed for more than 20 hours straight completely drained of energy and filled with congestion. I am coming out of it as I write this Monday afternoon, but I am not nearly 100%. 

    What we can see from this is what I wrote about before in STUFF HAPPENS. Things get in the way of our plans. Of course, that is true regardless of lifestyle. But for the homesteader who is dependent on seasons to get things done, changes can be more than problematic.

    Currently my brother is doing well with some rehab therapy. I have not been out to the 40 in more than a week, and it does not look like I will get out there this week.

    It does me no good to become frustrated, because frustration does not change things and it makes it more difficult to do things correctly.

    So, when my life returns to "peaches and cream" I will bring you up to date.

    Until then, enjoy whatever it is that lands on your plate, because being miserable is just plain useless.