Harrisburg, PA 56°F
Winter is not my favorite tme of year. My wife often tells me that I am at my happiest when I am outside, and winter does not afford much opportunity to find work out of doors. The garden is fallow, the grass lies dormant, and most other outdoor chores are on hold for at least another four months.
So when Saturday rolled around, I actually jumped at the chance to do some work, even though the wind was brisk and the temperatures cool. Some leaves had found their way once more into the driveway, so I moved the vehicles and raked them to the lawn. Then I used the mower (once more) to mulch them up and put them in the chicken pen. Then I re-arranged the power equipment in the shed, putting the mower and rototiller in the back corner and moving the snowblower front and center. I added Sta-Bil to the tiller, mower and the Harley to prep them for the lack of use over the next few months.
Then I tackled a bad brake light on the truck. Like so many tasks, it seemed simple; remove two screws, pull out the tail light assembly and change the bulb.
Twenty minutes later, the assembly finally came free, and I naturally found that I did not have the correct bulb on hand. A quick call to my wife, who was out finishing up the gift buying took care of that issue. I finished this project after she got home.
I walked the yard and cleaned up some more downed branches that had fallen from the trees, picked up clothes pins from the split open bag on the clothesline, filled the bird feeders for the wild birds, fed and watered the chickens, collected the eggs, and fed that pesky outdoor cat that adoped us. I looked about for more outside chores, and found none, so headed inside.
I took apart the inlet and outlet of the boiler and used a pump to run de-scaling solution fhrough the hot water heat exchanger. Wouldn't do for it to fail over the coldest times of the year. While the pump was running, I grabbed a ladder and took down the exhaust fan in the bathroom. It had gotten plugged with lint and dust and needed cleaned. After re-assembling it, I checked on the boiler and then took a quick break for lunch. After cleaning up the dishes, I removed the pump assembly from the boiler, put the lines back together, cleaned the pump and hoses and made sure the boiler functioned as it should. Thankfully, it did.
Back upstairs, I decided I still had time to do some baking. An hour later and two loaves of rye bread were rising on the stove; later they smelled great baking in the oven and tasted even better with dinner.
I cleaned up and the wife and I went to my son's place to see my ten day old (and first!) grandchild, Bentley. I'm sort of surprising myself with how I feel about having a grandson - as are those who know me. They say having children will change a person, but I never realized what having grandchildren does.
And now, Sunday is here. I made an oven bake for breakfast, which seemed to go over alright. The wife is doing the dishes as I type up this rambling column. I think we'll put up our tree this afternoon, and then relax a bit. It is the season, after all.
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You can find my book NIGHT WHISPERS, HERE. Makes a great Christmas gift!
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