It's That Time Of Year Again


I was supposed to be at the Coast today.  The Jeep continues to require new parts.  This time a distributer assembly which is making for hard starts and rough running.  Parts just came in today so here's hoping the mechanic can get it going.  If he does, and the weather looks like it will improve,  I might make the 1000 kilometer trip tomorrow.  The highways people are telling us to stay off the roads today, if possible.  Probably good advice.

The weather has been problematical:  several snow falls requiring plowing in the last couple of days,  freezing rain yesterday evening and this morning now turning to snow.  Cold days can make for some nice pics.

Of all the ways the weather can manifest,  the freezing rain crap is the worse.  Invariably it puts a film of water over the compact snow and ice.  We're talking curling rink.  Snow I can always plow,  and to see this stuff turn to the white stuff is a relief.

We have been spending days (weeks) cutting meat.

Easy to take apart, harder to get together..
 Got a hamburger ( dog food ) cow and a small Blue Beef one all comfortably ensconced in our freezer. The dog food cow was a gift from an organic Rancher in Vanderhoof, Whispering Winds Ranch  It had a bad foot, since healed, but was treated with antibiotics a year ago so he wouldn't sell it to his customers.  He sells all his beef, about 250 head a year via the internet and integrity is his byword.  I really admire that.









 Of course with the Jeep down we had to improvise transport to the shop.  Fortunately it was a calf:

We also discovered that half a cow in the trunk of a Ford Focus makes for dicey steering!

Working on a couple of computers for friends.  I am installing Linux Mint 12 on them.  I am trying to set up "Granny" Machines.  Simple trouble free set ups for people that don't want to fiddle with their sets, worry about virus's and can't afford to pay the Micro$oft tax.  I repair a lot of computers for people - well actually I spend 99% of my repair  time removing virus's and spyware from windows boxes.

The green house isn't doing well these days.  The problem I am having is regulating the temperature in the green house.  I know it sounds funny, especially nearing winter deep, but I heat it with wood and when the sun does come out, the temperature can soar.  I have an automatic fan installed but if it gets hot enough  (35c / 95 F)  to come on, it causes the fire to back draft, filling the place with smoke.  An installation of another fan in parallel at the other end of the green house should take care of that problem.  The other problem is the futility of trying to grow cold weather crops, spinach and Brassicas and tomatoes in the same building.  Vastly different heating requirements.  So, regretfully, that's the last of the tomatoes for a while.  Probably March or so.  By then it will be time to start the plantings for the outside mini green houses - the tire garden.

We are starting to get seed catalogues in the mail.  Jo-Ann refers to them as "Gardner Porn"!  And they do encourage some gardening fantasies!  Mmm, I can just about taste those new spuds.

Anyway I know my lucks improving: Here's proof, a piece of crispbread,  resplendent in butter and jam that fell from the counter and landed thusly - jammed side up.  How cool is that.

Hope your bread falls buttered side up!

Comments

Oh Art, How I worry about you two in that snow and ice! Love that your friend kept his antibiotic treated animal for good use. Last year we had a cow with pnemonia who had to be treated so could not be returned to our organic herd. Instead she became the best milk cow ever for a family of 7!
Art Blomquist said…
We're doing great. If broken down equipment is the only problem we have right now were doing pretty good. I think it's the Big Guy telling me 2000 klicks in snow storms on icy roads is not a great idea. Apparently there were 100 cars in the ditch in the 250 kilometers from here to Prince George, the nearest "big" City.

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