November 13, 2011



2nd load on Saturday, next to wood
from Friday and 1st Sat load




Hazy mountains on 11/9



The ground is barely white and I'm already feeling the urge to hibernate.  The bears and I.  Especially now that we have so much wood cut, split and stacked.  And piled, ready to cut.  Most of the wood in the photo above just needs to be cut, not split.  I swear some of the wood we gathered this week has been laying on the ground so long that it is half petrified!  The chain saw doesn't like it, but it will be great for burning.

It cooled off again Friday night.  Saturday's high was only 27.  When the temperature gets down to 25 or less, there's a definite chill in the air.  At that point we have to work at keeping the fire going and the house warm.  Warm, as in 70.  We like it toasty inside when it is so cold outside.

We dragged and cut two trailer loads of wood on Friday, most of it smaller logs that will not need to be split.  JB cut most of them into 4 ft lengths to fit in the trailer, then I can cut each piece into three pieces at the cutting pile.  On Saturday we simply cut the rest of the wood we had dragged up or pulled down along the road.  Again, most of it will not need to be split.  We now have two BIG piles to be cut into stove length (16").  However, we plan to take today off after all our work this week.  It was very windy all night, and still is.  Kept waking up with the strong gusts, so when I go back to bed after posting this, I will probably be lazy and sleep in.

We were back home and unloaded by 3:00 pm on Saturday, and the snow had just reached the west ridges of the canyon. We thought we had just timed that perfectly, but the snow never did cross over to us.  Quite often we are on the very eastern edge of the weather pattern and can see the rain or snow falling west of us, but we never receive any of it.

 We have subscribed to a new magazine that I am really enjoying called "Cappers".  It's another down to earth, living close to the earth, common sense publication with great stories and recipes.

And, speaking of living close to the earth, it is so much easier Up Hear to listen to that tiny "voice" or urge that tells you when to do or say things.  It tends to get drowned out with the cacophony of daily life Down There.

There was a very interesting article in the paper that my BFF, Sandy, sent to me by Jacquelyn Mitchard of AARP entiltled "Things not to do after a certain age", and is aimed at people for whom "the 50's are in your rear view mirror."  All very common sense, but what I liked the best were the following:
"People to no longer tolerate:  Space invaders.  Those who stand too close, consuming space, energy, oxygen and time.  People who learned all they ever needed to know in high school and are still living it.  Arrogant doctors, educators, waiters, TV commentators, authors, legislators, coaches or anyone who lets a little influence go to their head.
Things to do at least once: Dance outside at night in a foreign land.  Write long handwritten letters to your grandchildren, even the ones who aren't born.  Start telling the truth, every day.  Stand up for what you believe, and do it with dignity.  Be able to retire but say, to hell with it, I'm going strong."

Regarding "people to no longer tolerate", I think I have already made it clear how I am going to vote next year.  And as far as "the things to do at least once", I believe I have done or am doing all of them but one. So I guess I better get those letters written.

Thought for the day:  "Just trust yourself, then you will know how to live."  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe