Author Archives: Joel

Tobie is a happy boy. In two weeks’ time he’ll be a spoiled boy, because… S&L are off on an extended road trip. For personal reasons they’ve been tied to the house for years, and now they’re doing what they … Continue reading →

First pallet of fuel for D&L’s extremely hungry pellet stove. Used to be there were three of us to do this. Used to be we were all ten years younger. L is thinking about replacing their main stove with a … Continue reading →

So the tankless water heater in Ian’s Cave went operational in late 2020 or early 2021, can’t remember which. Neighbor D, who’s been running one for a long time, said “You have to flush them with strong vinegar regularly or … Continue reading →

Neighbor L wants to use her tractor, which hasn’t been touched since D’s accident almost a full year ago. Wait, that’s not true: She got rid of the horses in early December so it hasn’t been used since then. Anyway: … Continue reading →

Last month I bitched about having to patch yet another pair of everyday pants. Shortly afterward I got an email from a regular reader, bragging that his wife had an uncanny ability to find like-new pants at the local thrift … Continue reading →

…and the only remaining question I had about the new chainsaw, involving battery charge duration, has been answered… …it lasts longer than I do. We got this much wood into the yard this morning… …and the battery still shows two … Continue reading →

It’s a delusional bush. With very few virtues as firewood, except that it lives for centuries by dying in sections, so that it isn’t necessary to cut and stack green wood for seasoning, and it’s free. But getting relatively straight … Continue reading →

Several years ago Big Brother gave me a gift of an electric chainsaw… …and at first I responded with distain, because such a weak little thing couldn’t possibly be of any use. I was, as is my custom, completely wrong: … Continue reading →

Tobie doesn’t make any fuss on Water Day, but that doesn’t mean he likes being abandoned and he has taken to expressing that in a funny/sad form of passive aggressive behavior. Lately I found a flavored leather bone that he … Continue reading →

I got my signal back yesterday, as abruptly as it disappeared, so it must have been a local repair thing. I checked around and wasn’t the only one so I knew it wasn’t me. Curiously it’s not the first or … Continue reading →

Something is wrong with the local cell system. Started mid-day yesterday. I’m standing on a hilltop more or less in line of sight and my phone has two bars which is just enough for text. Last time there was trouble … Continue reading →

I sent away for some winter stuff, and it all came in at once. It’s such a beautiful morning: If it weren’t for impending winter I do believe late September/early October would be my favorite part of the year. Mild … Continue reading →

Got a call from Neighbor L today at about quarter past noon, just as Tobie and I were finishing lunch. Pretty good timing, because I planned to head out as soon as we were done. I had laundry on the … Continue reading →

Every morning – seriously, every single morning – I wake up humming or whistling a tune. It’s usually bafflingly random – I mean once in a while I can identify it as something I heard the night before but normally … Continue reading →

Oh frabjous day, delayed but not cancelled… Things can get weird when you don’t have a physical mailing address. For years I couldn’t use the local mail at all, I just had things sent to a friend’s house in a … Continue reading →

Apologies for the light posting, there hasn’t been much going on. Weather has been rather autumn-like… Unusually cool mornings, never getting very hot in the afternoon. Past two days have been fair but we had surprising morning rain before that… … Continue reading →

Commander Zero continues to promote his admirable holiday… Every year he sends me a nice card and gift, though I’ve never given him anything. This year, today, actually, I got a substantial box containing several things…

Caught on the game camera this morning.

Ticking two items off my winter prep to-do list… The kitchen bypass regulator died during last winter’s first freeze and I’ve been using the Plan B regulator ever since. Never got around to getting a new one till today, when … Continue reading →

If I can’t control the weather, what good am I*? It’s walkie time! Tobie and Uncle Joel have had their breakfast, and now it’s walkie time! And what are we doing? We’re sitting indoors not going walkie, that’s what. Because … Continue reading →