News from Falling Downs

Got that 22 ton wood splitter.

Couldn't resist that $700 off. Unfortunately it's still in its shipping crate in the back of the truck. Some assembly required, apparently. Haven't got around to it yet.

Got the new battery into the tractor though. That rode around in the back of the car for a couple of weeks before I got around to it too. Two hundred bucks. But at least now the tractor will start without booster cables. Still have to plug it in though.

Funny how winter will catch you by surprise every year. At the back of your mind you know it's coming. But you live in denial for as long as you can. Put the snow tires on? Nah, that can wait. Attach the snow-blower to the tractor? Not yet. Got enough wood in to survive that -30 spell in January? Well, it isn't January yet, is it?

Then you wake up one day and there's a foot of snow on the ground and holy sh#t! Who knew this was gonna happen? Then it's a mad mad scramble to get ready for the winter that's already upon you.

The hounds love the snow. Take them for a five mile walk in it every morning. You've seen the idiots walking around with ski poles but they forgot their skiis? You know the ones. Every time you see them you can't help but put down your window and let them know they forgot their skiis. Gotta admit I'm one of them. Read somewhere it improves my cardiovascular matriculation. I don't know about that, but I figure I've got a defense ready if me and the hounds are ever swarmed by coyotes.

So that's pretty much the winter routine here at Falling Downs. Walk the hounds. Drive into town to pick up a Timmies and the Globe, and the NYT if they have it.  Do everything I can to avoid the necessary chores. Now that we have a foot of snow I figure I'm excused from the firewood pursuit for the time being.

Means we'll be calling the oil truck in somewhere during that January cold spell.

But it's a good life.