Sunday, December 30th/2007

-Went to the bush to start whittling away at my pile from last spring. It was really wet, and the snow was still deep despite the warm weather. As a result, I almost got stuck on the way in. I only cut enough off the pile to fill up one third of the trailer because I was sure that I would have problems getting home. All went well though and I'm glad I opened the road and packed the snow so that it'll freeze when the cold weather returns. Unloaded at home.
-Brought in wood. Emma helped bring in the wood. She had to reach above her head to pull pieces out of the loader of the tractor. I showed her how to hold her arms out in front of her and then loaded her up. She took this job quite seriously and kept at it until all the wood was in the house.

Thursday, December 27th-Saturday, December 29th/2007

-Stripped the Jeep, Buick, and Mazda pick-up of copper, aluminum, and the radiators; it took me two afternoons. I estimate that there is $150 just from the stripping. I was feeling pretty crappy and was feverish for the past few days so it was kind of miserable working outside in the damp. Danny Pelletier (owner of the scrapyard) charged me $50 to come and pick up the cars. They sold for $500.00. It came in handy as it paid for the brakes and undercoat on our new car.

Friday, December 21st-Sunday, December 23rd/2007

-On Friday we had to put Shadow down. He had a tumor near his eye that was causing glaucoma, detached lens and other eye problems. The poor bugger was almost completely deaf too. He was in pain and we had him on pain killers for the past couple of weeks; so it wasn't a very hard decision, however it is never easy to put a dog down. He was 12 years old, but still a tough machine. Celine did a house call and gave him a double dose of tranquilizer to try and minimize any potential problems. Despite the extra dose he refused to lie down whatsoever. I remember when I had Alley fixed she was out of commission with a few minutes of the tranquilizer. Anyway, Shadow knew something was wrong when we got him to lie down and began to administer the euthonal. He became aggressive and we had to muzzle him. At least he got to die at home beside the fire with all of us around him. I'm happy that I gave him another five good years of life as he was going to be put down by his previous owners. He came from living in a shit-hole apartment in Montreal and landed out here where he never had to be tied, had all he could eat from the abbatoire, could swim in the river, and roll in dead animals or shit. It was rewarding to adopt an adult dog under such circumstances and provide him with a dog's version of heaven. This is the first time in my life that I don't have a dog. I was kind of sad and crying a bit after he died because there are many signs of Shadow still around outside such as his half-eaten beef bones and paw marks in the snow. I was also missing his quiet company as I worked outside that day and into the night. I was always comforted having him on my heel as I did chores or other jobs.

-Richard and I processed and sold some contaminated aluminum on Friday afternoon.
-Picked up scrap in St. Chrys. Got an electric cut off saw and a power pack with a 1000 watt inverter. I was happy finding such treasures.
-Attempted to repair the snowblower.
-Apart from that there has been much Christmas festivities and not a lot of work getting done.

Tuesday, December 18th/2007

Post storm calm.
When the storm is raging it's like we are underwater, closed in and cut off. Once the wind dies down the silence is everywhere. The snow muffles everything and stifles all sound. The house is actually warmer as the snow helps insulate and hold the heat. Light snow is still falling in the wake of the storm; the horses are white-backed with their noses in the hay. Occasionally, they shake off the snow and steam rises from their backs as they bear the weather. The colts still play chase. I wonder how they manage with the bush only as shelter, but the Juncos and Chickadees amaze me the most how they make a living in the winter.

Saturday, December 15th-Monday, December 17th/2007

-Saturday: Hooked up push button bypass to the started on the David Brown tractor. Put the snowblower on the bastard just in time. Annie's staff party for the Clinic.
-Sunday: A pretty good North Easter came on around midnight, the first snow began falling as we came in the house from the staff party. But the wind had been blowing from the east all day. From Sunday until Monday morning a total of over 50cm fell, with 70km winds. I went out on Sunday and cleared out from behind the cars and blew out the driveway. Broke a shearing pin in the process as the snow is so packed and dense. I went back in a finished off the remainder of Crown.
-On Monday the wind finally died down in the afternoon. Richard and I finished the clearing operation. Some of the drifts were as high as the cars and spilled over the tip of the blower. I was officially cold so I went to the village for a little jug of Jack Daniels, it helped warm me. Richard and Margaret came for chicken dinner.

Thursday, December 13th/2007

-Went to the feedmill and got 4 bags of layer mash for the chickens.
-Cleared the snow out of the driveway.
-Brought in wood.
-The water in barn freezes right at the tap by the back door despite the heated wires and heating element under it. It's a hassle to uncoil the hose from the box, then drain it and bring it back to the house. I hope that Dale takes them home soon.

Wednesday, December 12th/2007

-Rested my shoulder. It's been sore since the big clean-up before the snow; this past weekend I seemed to aggravate it by loading the wood.

Tuesday, December 11th/2007

-Finished unloading the wood. Hurt my little finger on my left hand badly in the process.
-Pushed the remainder of snow out of the yard before the next snow coming tonight.
-Brought in wood.

Monday, December 10th/2007

-Unloaded half the trailer of wood we brought back from the bush, put it on the haywagon.
-Installed another heatlamp in the chicken coop.

Friday, December 7th-Sunday, December 9th/2007

-Put chains on both tractors.
-More trim in bathroom around shower stall.
-Went to the bush on Saturday alone to assess the stockpile from last year. I wasn't happy to see a set of 4 wheeler tracks that looped around from Cameron's property and went out at the ditch about 1.5 KM to the east. The trespasser is using the old 4 wheeler trails as entry points and is just making a loop around the bush. I know this because I followed the tracks. I told Francois Albert (the property owner) about this and he wasn't pleased. I was a little concerned as well considering the fact that I have at least 12-15 cords of wood back there. I reckon though that anyone who is going to steal wood isn't going to bother with logs and will prefer the cut and split variety.
-Annie and I went to the bush in the afternoon on Sunday. We piled on a good trailer full (approx 3 cords) and got home without any problems. I plowed a trail in with the John Deere, this should help the wet spots to freeze. Emma went to my parents while we worked.
-Did maintenance on the 4 wheeler: put some 0/40 synthetic in the motor, cleaned the radiator and air filter. Towed Emma around on her sleigh behind the 4 wheeler, she can't get enough. The part she likes best is to see Shadow run along beside her.

Thursday, December 6th/2007

-Brought in some high-test wood; what a difference the heavy maple makes overnight in the fire, the house was still very warm even though the last logs were put on at midnight.

Tuesday, December 4th/2007

-Cleared the snow out of the driveway and yard. The wind makes it hard to keep the house warm. Also the wood stove is not very central, but the main furnace blower running seems to circulate the heat well enough.

Weather
Picked up another 4 or 5 cm of snow. The storm total is over 40cm now.

Wednesday, Nov 28th-Monday, December 3rd/2007

-Teacher Convention on Thursday and Friday, thus the extra long weekend.
-Fixed back wheel on the backhoe.
-Went to St. Lambert with Richard for a clean-up of Jup's shed. Drove back with a load through some awful snow squalls.
-Took a load of scrap to St. Urbain.
-Picked up 4 wheeler.
-Big clean-up at home in the yard and around buildings as a big storm was coming; it took me two days of 12 hours each to get done what needed getting done. Lots of scrap to organize and get under cover.
-Cleaned chicken coop and put new straw.
-Got Irwin to pick up John Deere from the farm.
-Fixed wiring problem on my truck.
-Brought in wood.
-Monday school was canceled. I slept until 10am I was so sore and tired from the hectic weekend.
-Annie, Emma and I cut down a Christmas tree in our front copse of mixed wood. It is a really nice tree.
-Emma is trilled with the big snow.
-Stayed pretty close to the fire on Monday.


Weather
-20 CM of snow Sunday to Monday. 30-50 KM winds
-On Monday there was another 15 CM. Windy again.


Wildlife
-Saw the first Goldfinch and European Starling of the season. Also a big event was the appearance of a Cardinal. It was really bright and Emma was very excited and smiling to see one for the first time. She kept asking all day if it would come back.