Riley’s first snow
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Snowy Creek
Riley on the treadmill
Until we get Riley fitted for her Invisible Fence collar (next week?) she goes out on a leash which means she can’t really run around to burn off her puppy energy. Barb has been training her to walk on the treadmill to get some exercise. She’s getting the hang of it but I’m not seeing puppy joy on her face.
Grapple Loader
We’ve had a bunch of brush piles on our property for the last five years. Home to many birds and critters no doubt. But a couple close to the house had become eye sores so I had the boys from Korte Tree Care come and adios them.
More adventurous types would burn these but the thought of setting our woods on fire is too much for me.
Me and the pups
Hattie and Riley (2019)
It makes no sound
I can assure you, when a tree falls in the forest –with no creatures around — it does not make a sound. A heave wind pushed this guy over last week. Been dead for a long time, providing home for bugs (and birds). I fired up my little chainsaw and cut it into nice, easy-to-lift chunks that will be hauled out later this week.
August Smart Locks
From the August Smart Locks website: “Ever forget or lose your keys? Wonder if you locked the door on your way out? Or go all the way home just to let someone in? August Smart Locks take any worry out of getting into your home. Use an app on your phone to control your door to unlock/lock, grant guest access, see who came and left, and let anyone in from anywhere. Simply attaches to your existing deadbolt on the inside of your door – your outside lock stays the same and you keep your existing keys.”
Uses a couple of AA (?) butteries that are easy to access and change. You can still use your key and lock the door manually if you need to.
PS: Sorry about the annoying sniffs. Runny nose.
Fireplace
The only thing that can make a room cozier than a couple of Golden Retrievers is a nice wood-burning fireplace. Growing up, the only time I saw one was in an old Frank Capra Christmas movie. Barb grew up with one and her father loved futzing with it. We don’t use ours to heat our home, so we don’t go through a lot of firewood. I sort of like splitting firewood but we’re just a likely to toss one of those little fake logs in.
Our friend Susan always has a Hollywood fire going when we visit on Thanksgiving so this year we bought a load of firewood from her guy.
I think I might be done loading/hauling/stacking firewood for the year. Good exercise, oozing zen… but enough is enough.
Last of the wood piles
After five long years, the last of wood piles are gone. I finally got up the nerve to take the pickup down into the woods… and get her back out. This opens up lots of possibilities. Instead of hauling bags of mulch in a wheelbarrow, I can drive the entire load to where it’s needed. Same for firewood.
Couldn’t have done it without the pickup and, sadly, it did not come through unscathed. You really can’t see how big the dent is in these photos. And, ironically, the good steel in this older trucks makes is more difficult to remove some dents.
UPDATE: The guys at Xtreme Body managed to fix the dent and put the trim back on… all for $120.