When I woke this morning from my peaceful dreams I decided not to get up. I kept telling myself that it was too cold but the real reason was I had not yet decided what task I was going to do to put off the tasks that needed doing. Finally nature took over and it was get up or swim. Now I'm writing this to keep away from the to-do list. When this is finished then I'll take a nap which should take me to cocktail time. Thus another successful day will be done.
I found on arising that I had not only left my electric heat on low but I had also turned on the bathroom heater which is the 150 watt bulb under the sink.
Stumbling to the stove I found a fire already laid. I don't remember doing any of that. I think the fairy's came. It was only 45 degree F out but like I said in the title.
I won't be running around nekkid today.
This is my table wine of choice. Chianti has been my favorite for years now. There are others that I partake for special occasions but this is hands down my favorite everyday wine (that I can afford). Actually there are probably others I would choose over this if I could afford them but then I would be part of the 1% and I like this just fine. I do indulge in others but this is the everyday stuff.
When it's empty I roll it into this. It is exactly the right length for my stove. One of these burns hot and fast lasting about 20 minutes which is enough to take the chill off my humble hovel on most days if the wind is not blowing. With a north wind blowing like today a few boards cut from some old used up pallets, which I get for free, fills in. They burn hot and fast as well so care has to be taken not to create a melt down. As I write this in the afternoon it is still only 63*F outside but a few light bulbs are keeping it at 75*F inside. I can live with that. I did break out the wool kilt and have had lined moccasins on since my bare feet hit the floor. I'm so used to being barefoot they do feel strange but the pain of cold feet just ain't my thing.
This is our first "cold" cold front and it is just in time to keep the vegetation from overtaking our buildings. Now if the first freeze will just stay away for another six weeks I should have some fresh ripe tomatoes for winter solstice. We'll have fried green tomatoes within the next couple of weeks. Yum.
7 comments:
Nothing beats a good wine in which its eventual, empty container, serves a useful second purpose.
I use light bulbs to keep my water pump and pressure tank from freezing when it gets cold. What are we going to do when they quit making the incandescent bulbs??
Paddyanne: Once upon a time we used the bladder for watering plants but they were tedious to fill and regulate.
DD: We'll make our own. Unlike resistive element heaters you can tell when the heat is on with a bulb. Like freon-12 they will never stop making them. They will just get more expensive.
Ah, yes. The world smells of smoke again.
We're getting the same: Winter turned up three days ago which makes getting out of bed at 0630 a bit of a bummer, but there we go.
Now is the season for red wine and fires. Glad to see you well prepared for both.
What a glorious stove! Using an ancient Ashley here, relic of '60s Taos and the Whole Earth Catalog. In '71 I froze in my Arkansas shack and dreamed of an Ashley. It's a fine thing, even if burning piñon means I have to clean the stovepipe with a big stick while standing on the roof every couple of weeks.
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