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Wood Stove Time

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This year I have switched to burning larch. Last year for some reason I had a difficult time with the stove. I think some fir wood that was too “pitchy” was the culprit. I had been getting soot on my windows and ceiling. Horrors.

So far I have lit two fires. Successfully.This morning I noticed I had left the kitchen window open all night and the kitchen was not cold. A wood fire warms my trailer up like no electric or oil-filled heater can. I dried my laundry in the living room on a rack.
 
This year may be a cold one. Who knows? The price of electricity has gone way up out here over the past year. I paid a lot for the larch wood, but it will be less smoky and burn more efficiently.
 
I have been reading a meditation from Divine Intimacy almost every day and hope to soon start writing about them. My daily meditation is an important part of my day.

 

Firewood

A rainy day! Good for working on websites. Of course I plan to do some vacuuming too. And researching for Rozsa the cat’s favourite freeze dried morsels. And check online to see what my electricity bill is. That takes courage.

I did read just yesterday in Divine Intimacy that “…courage will come from the Holy Spirit…” My electricity rate has increased considerably. And I have been using electric heat still. There are some other matters that require courage now too. Family relations and health matters.

 

drylarch

Back to electricity… Since the weather has been warming I have not been using the wood stove. I was thinking about next winter though.

And… last week one afternoon I was walking down the street and a truck passed. The driver waved. The truck was loaded with firewood. I thought “hey!” to myself but by the time I turned around, the truck was gone. 

I walked up to the next cross street and saw no sign of the truck.  Up to the lane next where I saw the grass was flattened. And I heard the sound of wood being unloaded. Two houses in I found Edward pitching wood off his truck. 

We agreed on 2 loads of larch. He delivered it all within days. Beautiful dry larch. I have put some away and the rest is under tarps just inside the front gate. When the sun comes back, I shall resume moving it into the woodshed. And when the shed is full, I can arrange it on boards and a pallet that is still usable. 

It is a great relief to have secured wood so early in the year. 

woodpeckerw

In the Bleak Midwinter aka Happy New Year

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New Years….    2023…..

All I can say is that I think all my theological spiritual concerns are sorted out. Hurray! On to the big issue here which exists in the real solid material world for me– my messy home. Years of doubt, fear, stress, confusion, family pain, to name a few, have left me in a deep dark state of shock and denial. 

However, at last the time has come for me to face some facts. I know God is watching supportively from wherever God is, not at all concerned which church I go to or which hymn book I prefer, just so long as I try my best to be good and to do good.

And to do good to me too. Which means, at this point in my life, I have to get out of “park” and shift into “drive” and get my home clutter free. That is what 2023 means to me. Wish me luck! Pray for me! Think good thoughts towards me! Thank you!

 

the bleak midwinter
Cdaycat

Merry Christmas

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Some cats are not very Christmassy. Rozsa is not a winter lover. I am not sure if she notices the decorations and lights. There were no kitty Christmas presents. She is really tired of any food but she must be eating because the food does eventually disappear from the bowls, and she is still getting up and down off the washer (a favourite snooze spot). Prairie Harvest (made by Acana), her favourite dry food, is being bought out by an American firm that manufactures less fancy stuff (Purina). I cannot confirm whether the sale has gone through.

Rozsa does not like cold weather, or snow. We went through a very cold snap and she just lazed around inside all day. At night she was more active, but would not venture out. Sometimes she will go out when there is snow. but not when really cold. At present snow is sliding off roofs, icicles are dripping, and the roads are a nightmare of slush. Today she ate a little and is now sleeping.

Visiting the Valerian Plant earlier in December

I continue to offer Rozsa wet food, much of which gets dumped in the garbage, but as long she eats some of it I keep offering. There is only one brand she likes, and then only 2 of the flavours. Cat treats she likes, but I give them out sparingly, only when she lets me brush her.

After Christmas visitors, Facetime and telephone time with relatives, it got quiet at home again. Though yesterday neighbour Tom showed up with his snowblower, and did the sidewalk and front parking area while I got a stepladder out and chiselled the snow chunks off the van roof. We keep waiting for the big storm weather experts are predicting. So far we have kept things together here. I have enough wood chopped to last for days if a blizzard does arrive. Food too.

windowcaredw

Hot Times

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Long ago when my children were very young, the older began repeating a line of a song: “we’ll have a hot time, in the old town, tonight”. She probably heard it from me, for I am often repeating lines of songs I remember. Usually I can only remember one line of songs I heard as a child. For some reason some little bits just stay in my mind and never go away. At least I hope they never go away.

Now then, where was I? Oh yes, hot times. It’s certainly a hot time around here. Although not as bad as other parts of the world. And yesterday we had a very brief, thunderous downpour which saved me from watering the garden. Today the sun is back in all its glory.

The tall grass has become a mosquito and flea paradise. Just thinking of them (fleas) makes me feel itchy. I felt so bad for Rozsa scratching away that I broke down and got Advantage II from the Vet. I followed her around the trailer as she avoided me. As soon I touched her she would walk away.

I persevered and my kitty finally stayed still long enough for me to apply it as directed. About a second. It was a tiny tube. I am in the process washing bedding, and vacuuming. She is no longer scratching. But I am.

Yesterday I walked to a shady beach, and as soon I sat down, the mosquitos came. Only when I went back up to the sunny train tracks did they leave me alone.

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Snowed In

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More fun than walking in the snow

Okay WordPress. We are having a snowstorm. A mild one, but enough of one to justify spending time on a post. I am set to go with a photo which I could not get off my cell phone via bluetooth because my phone was “not connected to the internet”. (It is). I got the photo into iPhotos. And am trying to Insert from URL, following all directions assiduously (is there really such a word) to no avail…

Thanks to blocks, I cannot see what I am doing, Blind faith, however, isn’t working.

Rosalee and I have been having a great day, playing, eating our repective breakfasts, followed by napping (Rosalee) and website posting (me). Rosalee is having a more successful time of it. I see her napping on the couch. I am not doing well and am becoming really frustrated because what used to be so easy to do is now a time-consuming nightmare.

Yes I have restarted both the computer and the phone as well. At least I got the photo into iCloud. There it sits. Let’s see if blocks will let me look at the html. It did the other day. Dead end, I can’t figure out where to put the imaged id amongst all the parentheses…

Well finally I got wise. HEIC files are not supported by WordPress. So we’ll haul out the file convertor… Done in second. Then drag and drop. Done. Rosalee still sleeping. I am going to go out snow wading now if I can find pair of boots with no leaks that don’t hurt my feet. Must remember the ice at the front door. Cleats a must for descending the stair case.

rosared

YEAR TWO

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Rosalee celebrates by rolling on her hot spot stones.

Calicocats.ca will drag on for another year. I couldn’t decide whether or not to renew and procrastinated to the point when auto renewal kicked in.

There is much to celebrate here. First and foremost we have had rain. Enough to turn brown grass green again. Enough to clean the smoke out of the air. Enough to cool the temperature too. It got a little uncomfortable here this summer. Like a lot of places in the world.

I purchased a lovely cedar board from a new sawmill, oiled it, and stuck in the bedroom to hide and protect the water pipes which run along the wall. A project I have been planning for a long time. The bedroom was emptied for a new bed, which has yet to be delivered. I have my grab and go kit there now, with a yoga mat and Rosalee’s carrier. Rosalee has taken it over for a cat room. I have been sleeping in the sewing room all summer.

Today I saw a baby fawn. Deer were feeding on fallen apples in the pasture on the next street. I photographed discreetly from a distance. The deer got jittery but didn’t run off.

Depending on how long it is rainy, I hope to get my shed painted before fall. I washed off all the chalk art that daughter, grandson and I made on it this summer. I was looking at the part of the plywood wall today and see a pattern… I hope I can do it. I am a terrible artist, but I really want to try to make a simple mural.

Creating a new routine

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When I had two cats, there was always a tension at home. Two cats on guard all the time, taking little paw swipes at each other when they passed close by each other. Lots of hissing.

Rosalee got pushed out a bit because I felt I had to care for Muffin, who was ill, and make life as pleasant for her as I could. Now with Muffin passed on, Rosalee is redeveloping her own routine. I noticed today that going in and out a lot has become one of them. Since it is getting very cold here, I suspect she will be spending more and more time indoors. Me too.

Snow on the mountaintops.

So far today I have opened the door for her at least 10 times. Every time I do the cold air comes in. Today I will be out soon to try cleaning up the yard a bit. I have to get my winter tires accessible too. They are at the back of a shed which is littered with cardboard boxes and odd bits of firewood and kindling.

There is leaf raking and clearing frozen flower stocks.. Then there is the garden where almost everything has been killed by frost. I ought to prop up the sunflowers so the birds can eat them more safely than if they fall on the ground. Rosealee may keep me company. Or she may have a long nap inside now that she has eaten most of her food.

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