Sometimes I think I should keep a diary. Not because future generations will find my life useful or interesting (Dear Diary: Today I played with the dogs and read a book. Maybe tomorrow I’ll do something useful) but because I can never remember exactly WHEN I last did something I’m doing again today, and so I can’t figure out how long certain things last.
Sometimes the blog comes in handy for that. For example, yesterday I cleaned out one of my flour pails. I remember filling the pail, but I don’t remember WHEN I did. That information would be useful to answer questions like “How long does 25 pounds of flour last me?” Thanks to the blog, I know it lasts this long.
Speaking of remembering stuff, today is probably the day I get to meet a miniature horse for what it’s worth. Must remember to bring the camera to shit-shoveling.
Zoe the Kitten has taken to wanting to nap on her cabin-mates. Only Little Bear and I are willing to tolerate this. Nobody (except Zoe) thinks it’s a good thing to do.
It’s getting cold in the mornings. Won’t be long before the woodstove starts getting use. I’m not looking forward to this with any pleasure. Last February’s chimney fire really got under my skin, and I’m afraid of indoor fire. I recognize the irrationality of this, but the recognition doesn’t help much. In any case, it’s time to get more serious about collecting wood because I’ve only got about half a cord put up. I’ve got the chainsaw tuned and resupplied, and brought the trailer down. Today I sally forth to hunt the wild, elusive juniper tree.
My last three cats liked to sleep on my chest. Yuki and Osaka were too big for that to be comfortable for long, so I eventually convinced them to curl up between my arms and my chest. Jigsaw, being a lot smaller, got to sleep there more often. Her purring was pleasant, but she expected her neck and shoulders to be rubbed until _she_ dozed off. If _I_ dozed off first, she’d carefully reach up to my chin, extend _just_ the little points. And tap. Until I started again.
The only thing that saved her life was that she purred quite loudly. (This may be the original of the term “pussy whipped”.)
Conifers have more pitch than hardwoods, and leave more deposits in the chimney to catch fire.
Perhaps juniper is not the right wood to cut – maybe there are Aspen around? But Locust is the best fire wood in terms of BTU per cubic foot.
And do you know what you get if you burn Ash in your stove? Just ash.
just my .02
juniper’s what I’ve got, Jack. I’m just determined to clean the chimney a lot.
Elusive?! HA!