So as you may know, this winter has started out unusually dry. We've had a few inches of snow several times, since late September. And overall cold temps, down to -10F. Actually setting the record for the coldest October in the area. But even when it's cold, when the sun comes out and you have dry air, the snow just evaporates. It's called sublimation - the process of a solid turning
Winter is well on it's way here. The snow isn't deep yet, but the temps plummeted weeks ago. Burley and I as always, are cozy in the house. And the way we stay cozy, is with the little mini
Everything is good a white around here now, but the snowfall amounts are below average here at my place compared to last winter which was the most snowfall ever recorded in the state of WY!
I'm still doing some cooking on the wood stove thanks to still not having my replacement range. The first one sent out arrived badly smashed by the freight company so I refused shipment. The company I purchased it from, AJ Madison, I really really wanted to be able to recommend to you all as they do have a great selection of tiny house sized appliances along with all their full sized stuff.
But after being shuffled around for nearly three weeks after the smashed stove arrived, not answering their phones, not replying to emails, saying it was taken care of, finding out later nothing had happened, etc. I can't recommend dealing with them. As of yesterday and yet another long phone call which resulted in finding out they had still not shipped a new stove, I asked them to cancel the order and they said they will refund my money. If not that does not happen, I will dispute the charge with the credit card company. I now have a new stove, same model but costing a few dollars more, shipping though an Amazon seller. It was shipped this morning, and I am hoping I will soon have a range back in that hole in my kitchen.
In the mean time, I am cooking simple things on the wood stove.
And doing other chores around the house.
And finally, I know it's not a good photo, but this little critter startled me in a tree right beside my house one night well after dark. I'm pretty sure it's a flying squirrel, but I've never seen one before. The cute little guy scrambled up and down the tree peaking out at me for a bit before I was cold enough to want to go back inside. But it was a pretty cool experience!
A beautiful scene under the full moon a couple nights ago. I love that I live somewhere you can still see stars even with a moon bright enough to be able to read by outside.
But with the cold, comes some winter chores. Like maintaining a clean and safe chimney on my little wood stove.
And another review, this time of my oven/range. Which I love, with one big caveat, the electrical power use of an appliance that is supposed to be propane powered.
After posting that video, one of my amazing followers offered to buy my current stove. And being semi local, he drove over and picked it up, giving me the cash to purchase basically the same stove, but with a different oven ignition.
It's in the mail, but for a few days, I have a hole in my kitchen and am cooking on the wood stove. I'm excited to get the new one installed and I've been wanting to switch out my first one since about the first week after moving in here!
Enjoy your winter evenings whatever the weather in your area!
Winter is settling in around my house and I'm curious to see what the weather does this year. I've heard all kinds of predictions that say extra hard to mild. So I guess I'll just have to wait and see. :) The mountains higher than me already have almost 90 inches of snow, but here around my house it's fallen and melted back and fourth a bunch of times so nothing is very deep yet.
I'm finding that being home more is changing a bit how my firewood use works out. Here's a few thoughts on that.
I have now split all that wood that came from the trees that blew over near the garden, but due to increased usage, I'm now anticipating needing a little more than I used last year. So, before the snow gets and deeper, I went out and collected about another cord of logs. Which I am now cutting into rounds and then will split as I have time.
I am totally loving the slightly more relaxed life, at least until there's snow to shovel every day! And as always, I love watching the little creatures that scamper by my place!
