LONG HIBERNATION

As I write this we are once again in a deep freeze. Outside temperature at 11 am Monday, 3/16 is 17 degrees. Today we are wearing heavy coats, but by Friday we will be wearing shorts. From mukluks to sandals in five days. That is March in Missouri!!

It has been a long, cold winter. However, we have not had the number of deep freezes we are accustomed to. This is the third one and we don't see anymore in the long-range forecast.

I managed to finish the repairs to the buckled floor. We now have a solid floor to walk on, although the pieces did not match up as nice as the first time.

I've not done much except cut and split wood for us to stay warm.

I noticed from my last posting the end of January that I did not share any pix of the completed watershed that I wrote about. How I pulled that off is beyond me, but I did. Anywho, here are two photos of the opening to the tanks. The propane heater is visible in the bottom right  and the plexiglas window is visible on the left of the closed doors below.

There have been three times when I had to take the tractor out to remove a tree or trees fallen across the road. This was the largest of the group. 

This one fell on a Thursday morning after I had left for the office at the church. Gracie usually comes in about 1:30 to set up with our music leader. There was no way she was going to get out with this in the road.

That picture is looking back into our drive as I came back.

We no longer have to drive back and forth to Stockton to take care of the other place. We sold it to a young couple back in January for about $50k less than market value. They were glad to get it. It is their first home and a baby is on the way. His parents live across the highway, so his mother is excited to have the new baby so close.

I had one of the generators break down and had to take it in for repair.

Brought in some straw bales for Gracie to set up for her elderberry starts. They have survived two freezes and are doing well with new growth on all.

We took a look at our fruit orchard the other day, and there were new buds on all and flowers on the plum tree. We don't know how last night's freeze will affect the trees. Someone posted a meme on Facebook this morning which said "RIP Peaches in Missouri." Probably so. We certainly enjoyed the ones we got last year from the initial planting. Letting the tree grow another year before fruit just might be a good thing.

Since we were stuck inside so much, I was able to finish and publish my book. It is causing quite a stir, which is something I like. I like it when I know I have hit a nerve and people have to think.

Last week we had some good warm weather, so I was able to begin work on our clothes closets. That kind of work requires that the doors be open as I go in an out with materials and tools. It is incomplete because I need to use the framing to line up my closet on the other side. When done, we will have a "separated" bedroom, instead of being open all the way to the front door. You are looking at the backside of her unit which shows the framing and the interior lining with cedar boards.

Lastly, Gracie has been wanting a utility vehicle to get around the property. We have some acreage to the north of the house that is difficult to access and is open to the possibility of squatters. When I went to pick up my generator I noticed he had some on the lot for repair. I asked if he ever had any to sell. Two hours later he had found this beauty. It is a 2012 Polaris Ranger 800. Bought it for $7500. Gracie is grinning from ear to ear. I like it when I can make her happy. 

Until next time, do your work, live, laugh and love.