Author Archives: Joel

Every morning for the past three. Never warms up past the mid-forties. It’s still coming down as I type this, so… I don’t know how much we got this morning, I’m going with something over an inch which makes this … Continue reading →

Cool and very windy today. Early snow, then all day it’s been sometimes sunny and sometimes threatening rain. But always with the wind. I’ve had to burn the woodstove 3 times, which meant I needed to clean out the ashes … Continue reading →

Today was supposed to be sunny and warmish until evening, when we’re due for another 3 days of sloppy weather. Neighbor L has been after me for the past two weeks to help service their generator but we kept having … Continue reading →

The new chicks are in at the feed store!

And Tobie did not like it, not one little bit. Showing every sign of stress short of pissing himself, he stayed close to make sure Uncle Joel was safe. And that was when the hail started pounding on the bedroom … Continue reading →

Only one person pointed out that Uncle Joel can’t read a calendar, causing the 2024 Spring Equinox to occur twice this year. I was testing you. This time I mean it. The space between the false and true equinoxes has … Continue reading →

It’s a little small for the purpose anyway, I guess. He would lie in it, under orders and under protest… …but he got right back up the minute I turned around. And when I gave up and put the old … Continue reading →

And Tobie has always really loved his bed, a gift from Generous Reader MM. Alas – he has a habit of being kind of hard on the things he loves. Not as destructive as during his Hell Puppy phase, but … Continue reading →

According to the forecast the next sighting of the sun has been pushed back to Tuesday, which is not good news. Ian’s batteries are suffering and I’ve turned off his pressure pump and refrigerator. There’s something wrong there, probably in … Continue reading →

It snowed all afternoon and evening without stop. Started at one, and when I lost the light at 6:30 it was still snowing just as hard. Can’t say for sure how much because we lost a lot to slumping but … Continue reading →

Instead it’s 32o and… It’s not normally this cold on a January afternoon, though it wouldn’t be that unusual. And I, like an idiot, was thinking of taking up the mudboards just the other day. The older and wiser voices … Continue reading →

I’ve had several problems with the Lair’s gas plumbing in the past few months and more than one involved leaks I didn’t detect with my Mk I nostrils. Since at the moment both the kitchen and bedroom are running on … Continue reading →

Just ’cause I think he’s handsome… He’s something over three years old now, maturing fast and therefore a lot easier to live with, and I like him.

It’s officially Spring! Which is always nice, though I always thought assigning the season changes to the equinoxes and solstices was kind of silly in practice. I know control freaks gonna freak over control, and I suppose you have to … Continue reading →

I know nothing about what goes on outside my little Gulch and therefore am not qualified to opine on any of it. But virtually nothing is going on here at the Secret Lair except multiple walkies per day, daily emptying … Continue reading →

😀

I just ate a pot of chili with chicken in front of Tobie, then got up and washed the pot without giving him any, all in the light of his expectant and then unbelieving gaze. Because… …he didn’t eat his … Continue reading →

Yesterday evening marked a great day here at the Gulch… As the Real Townie Shower came temporarily into service for the first time since late November. Ian’s Cave never gets very cold in winter, being made of lots of concrete … Continue reading →

The rabies vaccination was available from 9 to 1. We got there about 9:30 and the line… …had already doubled up on itself. We were there for well over 3 hours, the line of vehicles ever so slowly creeping forward … Continue reading →