Monday, December 14, 2009
The wind started around 9:30 last night and blew all night long, with gusts to 15 mph. That means the dry loose snow will be blown all over the place and large drifts will be on the road and the Divide. I never did put up the snow fence, as it was a low priority on my list of things to do, and now it probably wouldn’t make any difference.
NWS is predicting snow for the next week and a half, with winds and temperatures in the high 20s to low 30s, so I shouldn’t have to deal with the sub-zero temperature of last week. The wind chill factors do come into play and temperatures become sub-zero when figured into the equation.
I spent the entire day cleaning the cabin from top to bottom. It all started when I got up to find that Rusty had managed to pull Zack’s 3-gallon self-watering container from the stand. The kitchen floor was flooded, so I had to wash the rugs and mop the floor. When I had finished that; I continued cleaning, washing the bathroom rugs and vacuuming the entire cabin, including upstairs. The “natural” litter I have upstairs is nothing more than sawdust and it gets tracked all over the place, so I did a particularly good job of cleaning up stairs. I find the bits of sawdust in my bed and everywhere you-know-who with wet feet can get to.
So far, I have tried three “natural” litters and haven’t been happy with any of them. One was a newspaper type compressed into small pellets, which neither cat liked. The other was pine sawdust pressed into pellets, which absorbed well but you can’t use a scoop to clean it out, so you must throw all of it out and start with fresh. This being a wood product, I was able to burn it in the stove, so it served two purposes. The scoopable form of this brand is just pine sawdust, which like I said, gets tracked everywhere. The last is called Swheat Scoop, which are finely ground wheat hulls. Both cats will use it, but it too gets tracked around.
At least none of these litters will get rock hard like cement after being wet, so I will probably stick with the sawdust or the wheat hulls and see how it works out. At least the sawdust absorbs well, including odors, and smells like fresh cut wood.
I carried out the burnable trash and some empty cardboard boxes and then mopped the remainder of the entry and dining room tile, along with the bathroom. After the rugs were all dry, I replaced them on the now clean floor, hoping they will last a few days with Rusty’s antics.
Other than oiling the furniture, dusting all the knick-knacks and shelves, I managed to play outside with Zack several times and on the last occasion, he broke and split yet another nail, this time on the rear foot. I had to cut most of it off and doctor it before I fed him and the cats. I showered and fixed myself some dinner before calling it an evening.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
It is overcast, but not snowing and the slight breeze is only occasional. It looks like a little patch of blue sky in the east, but it is quite dark beyond that.
I worked inside, going out to shovel the path and start the generator, plus playing with Zack, and then worked on projects indoors.
Zack and I played several times, and I spent time giving both Zoey and then Rusty some personal time in my lap. Just when I think Zoey has finally accepted Rusty and I watch them chase each other back and forth from one room to the next, she will turn on him and swat while hissing. Poor little guy isn’t sure what to do with mixed messages like that.
The sun tried to make a showing in the late afternoon, and it got up to 33 degrees. I listened to the local radio station for a bit and they say that the upper winds have broken the arctic cold front and it will be moving out of the area, creating warmer temperature, which means around freezing.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
It was snowing heavily this morning, adding more to my base. At least the wind is very mild, so it isn’t blowing all over the place. NWS is predicting snow through the week, into the weekend, and beyond.
I had a chiropractor appointment for today, but cancelled it via email, as I didn’t feel like going through the trouble to get into town just for an adjustment. I will reschedule for the beginning of next week and that way I can pick up any necessary items and fill the gas cans while I am in town. I also need to pick up the fixings for a Christmas dinner salad and will need them to be fresh.
I spent most of the day researching alternative power to increase my off the grid abilities.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
It is snowing off and on, with gusty winds to 34 mph, so the roads will have big drifts when I go to town next week. The snow is still very dry and I can’t even compress it into a snowball. If it doesn’t warm up, this snow may all blow away with the wind.
After my usual morning, I spent the entire afternoon working on the generator shed and have finished all of the new wiring and connection boxes, so I can put the foam insulation in the walls and cover them with the masonite sheets I bought.
I came in at 5 PM; as it was too dark to see what I was doing and I still haven’t run a new wire from the cabin to the shed, so don’t have electricity unless I run the generator.
One last play period for Zack and then I fed him and the cats, showered and fixed myself some dinner, ending the evening with some television.
Friday, December 18, 2009
There is more blue sky than clouds showing, so I am hoping for a nice day. The wind is calm with only an occasional breeze. NWS is predicting more snowstorms coming in tonight and through next week, but temperatures are remaining in the teens and higher.
I got out the Christmas decorations, put ornaments on the tree outside and then strung lights on it. The tree has grown a lot since we planted it and I had to get a ladder to put the top ornament and lights on. It looks nice and I have the lights on when the generator is running, so I can enjoy it, as it gets dark.
I continued working on the shed and managed to get the insulation in the walls around the area where the large generator will be, and then cut openings in the Masonite for all of the outlets, boxes and breaker panel. I put up the panel on the back wall but still have the side to put up.
While I was decorating the tree, Zack found a stick and had me throw it numerous times, so he got plenty of exercise today. One last play time and then dinner for all the critters and myself.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
It is gloomy and overcast, with NWS promising snow showers by this afternoon. I plan on working in the shed again today, but have decided to restring the Christmas lights on the tree, as they didn’t look even when I watched them twinkle last night.
It is 6 PM, and I have just quit for the day. After I restrung the lights, I decided to install the snowplow on the Argo and make sure the road up to the Divide was level and clear of any bad drifts. It took me longer than expected to install it, but I managed after a couple of tries. It is actually a two person job, so I have to balance it on something and then lift and attach one side at a time.
I had given some thought about putting a large pipe in the creek at the crossing and then plowing snow over it so it will be easier to cross it in the Argo. The way the snow and ice pile up on the banks makes it about a three-foot drop into the creek and in the past, I’ve had trouble getting across.
I had a piece of 14” well casing pile left over from when I installed my water system, so I placed that in the creek and then pushed snow over it from both sides. The running water washed a lot of it away, but enough has stayed that if more snow fills it in, it will be a nicer crossing.
When that was finished, I plowed the road all of the way up to the Divide and didn’t finish and return until after dark. I feel good about the road and the work it took to get it plowed. I will be going to town on Monday or Tuesday, so I now know that the drifts are leveled and the path is clear.
I just finished feeding the crew and building a fire and am typing this as I enjoy a glass of V-8 and watch the lights on the tree. I am glad I rearranged them, as they look so much better now.
I am going to shower and then I’ll think about some dinner before relaxing in front of the fire and watching some television.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Before retiring last night, it was snowing lightly and when Zack went out, it was raining. It rained through out the night and I was awakened several times by the snow on the upper roof, falling onto the lower roof. This warming (35 degrees this morning), may change conditions but I won’t know if it is for the better or the worse until it happens. After plowing my road yesterday, the rain could cause it to become a slushy pit that will freeze when the temperature drops. Maybe it can be a bobsled run instead of a road.
I had planned on working indoors today, trying to finish a couple of projects to mail when I am in town, but I also need to load at least one of my three empty propane tanks into the Argo to be filled, and prepare the Argo for the trip by removing the snow plow. For those of you that have followed my exploits, you may remember that two years ago, I almost flipped the Argo end for end when the plow broke loose and dug into the ground as I was going downhill at about 20 mile an hour.
I removed the snowplow and worked on organizing the inside of the Argo, installing a board across the back seats and attached two boxes to it so I can carry the groceries home without them spilling all over the back. It was raining the entire time, so I worked in the Argo lean-to until it got too dark to see what I was doing. I’ll finish it tomorrow and load the trash and one propane tank in preparation for the trip to town.
I came in and fed the crew and then showered and roasted a game hen for my dinner, which was delicious. Some television and then bedtime by eleven O’clock finished the day.
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