Digging out

I don't know about all you guys, but I miss posting pictures of sun and sailboats. Getting the house back up to speed has been a slow process.

The subzero temperatures made the warm up a long slow process. It didn't help that some creosote had broken loose from the stovepipe, piling up in an elbow. That restricted the draft until I let the stove die out, took everything apart, and cleaned it up. Between the weather warming up some and the stove running properly, the house is comfortable.

My wife's car is still only half dug out. Of course, it won't start. With any luck charging the battery should do the job.

The water supply line for the house is still frozen. In spite of more insulation it appears to have frozen in the same place as last year. If all goes to plan that will be fixed today. Then again, I said that yesterday.

Not all my time has been spent on the house. Last night we went with family and friends to hear a performance of “Hot Flannel,” paying what they call “Newgrass.” The fact that they were playing in the area is one of the reasons we came home a bit early. My lovely wife and I love live music. There was a huge amount of talent concentrated on that stage. The show almost made it worth putting up with the snow.

After being gone for so long, there's some business that needs to be attended to. Monday will be one of those days taking care of those little modern annoyances. I'd rather sail rough waters than navigate bureaucratic paperwork. Life gets complicated, but I'm working to simplify, simplify, simplify.

So I'm still alive, just busier than an one armed paper hanger.

-Sixbears