Category Archives: Home
Signs of Spring
In no particular order… we’ve removed the canvas top from the Jeep and added a fresh coat of paint to my tub cover.
On the wildlife front… Murphy the Black Snake is keeping the Annex rodent free and Rocky Raccoon has returned to drive our dogs nuts.
And I got my stump ground (so to speak).
Lifting heavy stuff
I’ve never been keen on lifting heavy stuff. When a friend was moving and asked me to help get his refrigerator in the truck or the mattress up the stairs… I took a pass. Offered to contribute to hiring a mover, but don’t lift heavy shit.
I’ve stacked a lot of logs, moved a bunch of rocks and helped Barb with some big ass flower pots. But I’m real careful about what and how I lift.
I paid way too much for an electric winch (that was almost too heavy to lift!) and never did figure out how to use a come-along.
I asked ChatGPT for ideas and she suggested a block and tackle (photo). I purchased a small one and gave it a try this afternoon by dragging a railroad tie up out of the woods. Continue reading
Firewood
Brought home a load of firewood and spent an hour unloading and stacking. (VIDEO)
Moved the Bluebird house
Our ground is so rocky it is nearly impossible to dig a hole (by hand). So the steel rod upon which our Bluebird house sits is always tilted, on the verge of toppling. It has annoyed me for years.
This week I constructed a plywood box (2x2x1) and filled it with chunks of concrete. Very heavy. The birdhouse is now solidly situated, ready for nesting season.
Line crew on coldest day of the year
Local electric co-op has a line crew out on one of the coldest days of the year. Keeping branches away from power lines. Short video.
Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night…
“…stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.”
We live a the end of a bumpy gravel road at the top of a hill. My old trucks like it just fine but it can be challenging (or impossible) when covered with snow and/or ice.
We have two weeks’ worth of trash out front because the trash service driver doesn’t want to risk the hill. You do not want to get halfway up and start sliding down backward because there’s a pond at the bottom (see video above). So no UPS, no FedEx. No problem.
We have a community mail box at the entrance to our neighborhood but sometimes we get packages via USPS that are too large to fit.
That’s our mailman who tried to drive his little USPS van up the hill and when it could go no further, he got out and humped it up the hill to our house.
Tomorrow I’m going to track down his supervisor and share this story. This is me pleading with him to never do this again.
The Good Life
I asked ChatGPT for a little story to go with this photo:
The fireplace crackles with warmth, casting a soft glow across the room. A Christmas tree, adorned with colorful lights and ornaments, stands proudly in the background—suggesting the holiday season is in full swing.
In the center of it all sits a man with a gentle smile, nestled by the fire with two golden retrievers at his side. One dog lies comfortably on the rug, a red toy resting near its paws, while the other sits upright, leaning into the man’s touch. They seem calm and content, reflecting the quiet companionship shared between them.
It feels like a moment of peaceful reflection—perhaps after a long day of holiday preparations or simply a quiet evening at home. The setting invites a sense of gratitude and the joy of simple pleasures—good company, a warm fire, and the unconditional love of loyal dogs.
Thankful
Maple Tree
