Inside on a Cold Monday

Overnight was -1°f/-18.3°C, but has warmed to 22°f/-5.5°C as I write.  Mostly cloudy but some periods of sun.

My tree is not leaning, although it sure looks like it here! The yoyo quilt on the chair is waiting for me to repair it. Several of the yoyos are loose and need a few stitches.  Maybe I will start on it tonight.

Cold, why yes it certainly has been! Last night was a let-the-faucets-drip-and-leave-the-cabinet-doors-open kind of night. We were warm enough, and turning on the cookstove to make coffee and tea soon dispelled any lingering chill in the house. Larry was pleased to report that the heated watered for the rabbits worked well. The chickens stayed snug and warm in their new coop under a light, which added enough heat to that they generate themselves to keep them comfy. There was no schol here because of the cold temperatures. I am glad they build in enough snow days in the calendar these days. It always seemed silly to risk children's and school personals health when bad weather could have been allowed for in the okanning process.

It has been another inside day, with Larry only going out long enough to take care of the animals. Even the dogs are happy to stay in, although Pip, being still a puppy, keeps trying to get somebody, anybody to go out and play! The older dogs are having none of it though, so Pup has had to be content with rolling in the snow alone. His fur is so short I don't know how he stands it, but the silly boy loves it. Buddy, who is only 3 years older, stays near the fire, as does dear old Daisy, who is now 17 and totters around amazingly well. Yellow Labs do not usually live this long, so we are grateful for her long life.

I have been pricing stuff, again, getting some totes ready for when we go out to our booths again. We do plan to go out tomorrow night as a musician friend is playing in town. The roads are fine, our driveway, so far, undisturbed. 

Larry has been working on cleaning those pocketknives I bought at auction last month. He finished three and they look great. 

There are at least a dozen more to do, so this little project will keep him occupied for a while. He is still working on all the hickory nuts and black walnuts, too, and has done 2 quarts of walnuts and a quart and a half of hickory nuts so far. It's a good winter project for him, and will keep us supplied for the rest of the year and longer.

It has been easy cooking days lately. Yesterday I made a brunch of eggs, fried potatoes and toast as we ate fairly late, then grilled some chicken breast tenders on the stove and made wraps for dinner. Today we had oatmeal with dried cranberries and cider along with some toast for breakfast. I made, broccoli cheese soup for Larry's lunch (I wasn't hungry) and dinner was salmon,  baked potatoes and salad. I have been using what is in the refrigerator freezer; I had frozen the basis for the soup so just had to thaw it, heat it up and add the milk and cheese. Yummy.

I love the way Blenko glass looks whebmn the shapes overlap. It adds a bright warmth to this cold day.

On the porch, Green Man awaits the Winter Solstice, when he will take over from the Holly King.

And on a porch shelf, lights and joy!

While the Garden Madonna, as I call her, ponders stones beside an old chipped pitcher that I don't have the heart to throw away.

Enough for today!