2026 FARM SEASON BEGINS

 

Yes, I have been away from the blog while recovering from extrication of a molar. The writing muse has been absent.

Here we are at the farm again, our first overnighter of the 2026 season. We’ve been busy. Opening the farm in the spring, both house and grounds, is a mixed bag of positives and negatives. On the one hand it’s lovely to see the world in bloom, but this year we have extra work due to the Horrific Windstorm of December 2025. Outdoor work continues, and we’re putting the bathroom back together. I don’t know what happened to our toothbrushes.

The early daffodils have passed, but other varieties are blooming. All three rhubarb plants look as good as they ever do. Mike and I planted three tomato plants in the raised bed, and he’s already counting the days to maturation. I hope it’s not wishful thinking. The spinach and peas haven’t sprouted. It’s anyone’s guess how the growing season will go.

These hot April days have brought the Lapin’s sweet cherry tree into bloom.

I came into the house yesterday afternoon to find the washing machine motor just purring along on its own as if it had a perfect right. (So glad we were here when this happened!) There was no turning it off either. I had to unplug it. One day last summer, the dealer called to say that this model has a defect. We said we hadn’t noticed anything, and he said he would order the part while the machine was still on warranty and we could let him know if/when we needed it. Well, I hope the part in question is the one we need.

Mike saw a pair of geese and a pair of Mallards on the pond, but we don’t know if they’re nesting or just passing through. Otherwise, I don’t hear many bird sounds, and I don’t see many. Maybe it’s just too soon. I’m watching for the hummingbirds.

Speaking of birds, the starlings that invaded the bathroom while the ceiling was open had a field day upstairs. They were clearly looking for a way out. It could have been worse. KW

FARMHOUSE REPAIRS COMPLETE

 

The contractor has finished the repairs to the roof and the master bathroom, so on Friday (April 10), Mike and I met him at the farmhouse to finalize. 

The bathroom looks great, and the new roof panels appear to match better than I originally thought. Sun and shadow probably affect its appearance.

Mike mowed the front lawn and the south side around the raised beds but had to give it up for the pain in his right shoulder and ribcage. He took a fall on his bicycle the previous day, and he was hurting. He suggests that I help with the mowing now, so with the next trip, I’ll give it a try, at least on the straightaways. I have never mowed in all the time we’ve lived here.

I raked the tire bed and planted peas and spinach. This is the earliest I have ever planted. I’m anxious to see if the seeds sprout, grow, and yield a huge crop. (I think like this every year.) Mike says maybe I could plant the tomatoes so that we actually have some before fall. The forecast is for much cooler temps over the next ten days, so I don’t think I need to hurry. The fact is that it’s just a bit iffy to plant some crops before mid-May, but maybe I should look into it.  

Last year I started my own tomatoes, and none of them bore fruit. This year I’ll just buy the plants. KW

THE BETTER THE DAY, THE BETTER THE DEED

Mike and I made another day trip to the farm on Easter Sunday. I missed sharing a Sunday morning sweet roll with our boys, but Sunday was when we could go.

We hauled the stack of firewood from the bottom of the lane to the barn – five trips in the little 4-wheeler trailer. After lunch, I weeded one of the raised beds to prepare it for tilling, while Mike processed another downed tree, made yet another slash pile, and hauled more firewood to the barn. By the time we finished our various chores, it was too late to till and plant. We headed back to town.

The contractor has repaired the metal roof on the house. You know how it is. Time marches on and the original color is no longer available, so the new metal doesn’t even come close to matching the old. Preliminary discussion included reroofing the whole house, which insurance was willing to cover, but we just didn’t want that expense or the disruption. The repair is on the back of the house anyway. We’re disappointed, but that’s the way it is. The interior repairs to the master bathroom are proceeding, and the work will be completed this week. A final inspection is scheduled for Friday.

Town trees

You know, these repairs were occasioned when the horrific windstorm of 12-17-25 thrust a slim but pointed pine branch through the metal roof and into the ceiling of the master bathroom. One thing leads to another, and the repairs were more extensive than what I would have thought.

Our town temps have been right at 80 the last few days. As my brother Chuck predicted, we went right from winter to summer. Well, it feels like that anyway, but it’s too soon to tell. KW

EASTER GREETINGS

 

FARM WORKDAY

Mike & Clint at the burn pile

Sons Murray and Clinton joined us at the farm on Saturday (March 28) so that we could push forward on the project to clear the yard of tree debris. They raked and then hauled to the burn pile by means of the 4-wheeler trailer. They did us a world of good, and we appreciate it.

After lunch, a neighbor met us at the bottom of the lane with his heavy-duty wood splitter with which he commenced to split the big pine rounds from the tree that fell there. Murray and Clint rolled the wood to the splitter and tossed the resulting firewood to Mike who stacked it in the back of the pick-up. It was heavy work, and again, we appreciate the help. We probably have yet another load of wood waiting in the lane not to mention the tree in north field.

This salamander on Clint’s fingers is the second one I have seen this spring, and they are both the first that I remember seeing in the wild. A couple of weeks ago I found one as I was digging in the orchard behind the house. In fact, I inadvertently injured it, but I recalled that they can reproduce their missing parts, so I apologized to it and left it alone. Clint found the one in the photo as we worked in the wood at the bottom of the lane. My research indicates that the presence of salamanders is a sign of a healthy ecosystem. KW

AHHH, SPRING!!

Daffodils grow wild under the pine trees in the grove

Mike and I made another Sunday trip to the farm. This time we turned the water on and rinsed the antifreeze out of the plumbing. We anticipated no problems, and we had none. It simply wasn’t cold enough this winter to cause plumbing woes. Nevertheless, we are always guardedly cautious because – you know, Murphy’s Law.

I ran machines – a rinse/spin for the washing machine and a couple of wash cycles for the dishwasher. It felt great to finally get that load of dishes washed and put away! We also turned on the fridge and I cleaned it.

Due to recent rain storms, we have standing water in the fields. The pond is now overflowing onto the path and into the spillway. I guess it’s a good thing that we at least begin the growing season with water. A hot summer is in the forecast.

We saw no ducks, geese, or quail at the pond – only redwing blackbirds.

After 20+ years in the ground, our mailbox fell over and has to have a new post. Mike spent the afternoon working on it. It’s place at the corner is now saturated with water, so I’m not sure how this will work out.

Meanwhile, I raked the yard and picked up tree debris – just not fast enough. And there was even more yard debris since our last visit due to the windstorms. At least the trees are still standing.

Daffodils and violets by the front steps

I loved seeing the daffodils in bloom – and the violets. The Crown Imperial are coming up. The cherry tree looks good. I’m guardedly cautious about the apple trees. Two rhubarb plants are making a comeback, and the strawberry bed survived the winter.

Mike suggests I grow lots of vegetables this year. Would that I could! If you only read the pictures here, you know that my main raised bed is dilapidated. We have discussed a quick repair.  Gardening wouldn’t be quite the challenge if we didn’t have to fence everything.

The other thing is that the vegetables themselves are a challenge.  I think it’s the heat and lack of rain as much as my lack of gardening skill. KW

A BRIEF UPDATE

 

We've adjusted slowly to Daylight Savings Time at our house. I start the day late at 7:30 instead of 6:30 and supper has been late by the clock all week. But strangely, we want to go to bed at 9:00 (8:00 p.m. standard time), which means we’re actually sleeping longer.

We had a lot of rain last week which caused regional flooding and mudslides. We knew it would be too muddy to work in the field at the farm, so we didn't go. 

Instead, we went geocaching Sunday afternoon. I took the above photo of our Valley from the Vineland Cemetery.

Temps this week are supposed to warm into the 70s. KW

WHAT TIME IS IT?

 

I usually don’t suffer too much through the time changes, but I was confused on Sunday (March 8) with the switch to DST. I was up early -- at least, I thought I was -- but I missed my 7:00 a.m. steps. Then the whole day was off. It seemed like we left for the farm in good time, but it was after 10:00 by the clock when we got there. Back in town, it was nearly 7:30 when we ate supper, and at 9:00, Mike announced that he was ready to go to bed. “But Mike,” I said, “it’s really only 8:00!” But he was adamant that he couldn’t stay awake – until he got to bed, that is.

And so far, that’s the way the week has gone, though I have adjusted somewhat. I understand that we arise late by the clock, but we happily go to bed at 9:00 (formerly 8:00).

A stack of wood at the pond awaits cutting / loading

We tend to think that spring is here, but it’s really only March. We hardly know what to expect from the weather anymore, but we could still have wintry conditions even into April. Still, we have signs of spring. A hummingbird buzzed the living room window in town this past weekend. “Where’s the feeder,” it demanded to know. And on the farm, the earliest of the early daffodils are beginning to bloom and the Crown Imperials are pushing through the soil.

Cottonwood Butte in distance

On this trip to the farm, Mike finished the cuts on the big tree, and I continued raking the yard. We thought about turning on the water but decided to put it off until our next visit and give de-winterization our first priority so that we can deal with potential problems. Then housecleaning will begin in earnest.

Temp was in the 50s and the sun was warm. The afternoon was breezy.

Reflections on the pond

At Bess’ request, I accompanied her to the pond. She likes to poke around there, but she doesn’t explore on her own. We scared up a large covey of quail living in the cattails, and two pair of geese got up from the south end of the pond and noisily flew off. I was sorry to have disturbed them because I like to be hospitable, but if they don’t return, that’s fine, too.

The pond is full but not overflowing into the spillway. And while we had close to an inch of rain in town early last week, the ground at the farm seemed drier to me. In fact, I got along fine in old shoes and was more comfortable as I worked.

Mike checked the upstairs bathroom and pronounced it bird-free. Hmmmm. I wonder. We hope the contractor can make our repairs soon. KW

“WORK?!”

 

As I was raking the farm yard on Sunday (March 1), Maynard G. Krebs came to mind. Maynard was the beatnik character played by Bob Denver on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis. Some of us will remember how he would screech, “Work?!”

Maybe you’re tired of hearing about the weekly “fallen tree” tasks on the farm. Well, I’m tired of it, too. On Sunday, Mike sectioned the big tree in the north field into 8-foot lengths while I loaded slash piles in the yard into the 4-wheeler trailer to be hauled to a burn pile in the field. I was not an enthusiastic worker, I’m afraid. I think I only loaded three trailerfuls.

It was another warm day (55 degrees), but it had snowed earlier in the week as evidenced by a few piles of snow in shady spots. The temps are so mild that we think we could de-winterize the house before long. It would surely be easier to manage our visits if we did.

Anyway, I allowed myself the opportunity to pursue some interests in the house. Daughter Hallie purchased an electronic piano and has undertaken to renew and expand her skills, so I selected a few books from my family’s collection of music that I think she can use. Naturally, she can have what she wants, but I included just a few slim books in the box with Silas’ afghan.

And then I went upstairs to go through an old pattern file inherited from my mother – patterns from the ’30, ‘40s, and ‘50s, a number of which are “Laura Wheeler Designs.” These were sold through newspapers – another fun feature that disappeared years ago. I’ve looked through that box many times, but yesterday I realized that my grandmother, “Mrs. C. O. Portfors,” ordered several apron patterns, and since I like vintage aprons, I immediately felt a link to her. I have apron patterns, too, and my current quest is a pattern for “Mrs. Hall’s apron.”

And while I was upstairs, I checked out the master bathroom which is currently torn apart and startled a pair of starlings – or did they startle me? I yelped and they squawked. Later, Mike opened the window and spoke to them, encouraging them to fly out, but they didn’t leave while we were present. We hope they are gone. It begs the question as to how they got in, but the contractor will have to address this.

Besides warming soup for lunch, I heated the oven and baked a package of Nestle’s refrigerated cookies.

The early daffodils are in “gooseneck” stage – signs of spring. KW

PATCHES ON PATCHES

 

The Silas

Mike wears coveralls when performing his dirtiest tasks and rightly so. He buys them used for a pittance from Blue Ribbon Laundry, so they are already on their way to the rag heap when he gets them. Then it becomes my job to keep them serviceable.

I was at a standstill in my sewing room, so I asked myself where the buffalo was lurking. Aha! Mike had asked me to mend his coveralls, and I simply didn’t know where to begin. They had great gaping holes above and below the reinforced waistline.

Now, we have known for thousands of years – Jesus even said so – that you can’t sew new cloth onto old, but Mike entreats me and I try. I just didn’t want to step up to that mending job, but it was standing in the way of progress. Once I decided how to proceed, I accomplished it fairly quickly. I ironed patches onto the back side of the fabric and zigzagged away.

I also had another mend waiting for attention – Mike’s lined cargo pants. This was an even more daunting task. He wears lined pants in winter for extra warmth, but the lining – lightweight flannel – wears out, undoubtedly due to the action of thrusting his foot down the leg, but how else is he to put them on? Well, flannel just isn’t going to last as long as the outer fabric, and that’s all there is to it. This mend was a time-consuming chore, and I served notice that I won’t do it again. (Hmmm. Didn’t I say that the last time?)

Crab stitch edging

At any rate, the buffaloes are now finished, and I’m free to move on with more rewarding work. On that note, in the process of finishing the Silas Pattern Blanket, I ran out of gray, the base color. Searching my favorite online yarn outlets, I discovered that the total cost with shipping for one skein would be $12.00 but that I could buy a pack of three skeins from Amazon for $12 total with my Prime membership. Naturally, I ordered where I got the best deal, and it was on my doorstep the very next day. As sad as it is for the world of retail, it’s hard to argue with that.

So, I finished the Silas Pattern Blanket, and so now I have extra gray yarn which I’m using to crochet an edging on my original “pattern blanket.”

The leftover colors from the Silas Pattern Blanket are now stored for the next project (if there is one), and there’s a rather large bag of them. I tell myself that supplies are an asset in this unsettled tariff-ridden world. KW

LUMBERJACK AND JILL

 

Mike said that Sunday (Feb. 22) would be a warm day (in the 50s) and therefore the best day to work in the wood. So that’s what we did. Again, we went in the big old Dodge Ram pick-up – Mike, Bess, and me. It was 50 when we arrived at the farm about 10:00 – 48 in the house. The afternoon high was 56. I dressed warmly and didn’t need a coat. Naturally, what little snow was on the ground was quickly melting.

According to Mike’s plan, he delimbed the big pine branch in the grove, discovering that it was bigger than he thought. He hauled the greenery to one of our many slash piles with the 4-wheeler. (He said ten trips; I said five.) Then we proceeded to cut and load the wood. We took a break for lunch at noon and then went back to it. It took longer than Mike thought, but that phase is complete except for the final clean-up of the grove.

Work for another day

It was 1:30 or so when we went to the bottom of the lane where Mike cut the previously stacked limb wood into lengths for firewood. I climbed (or is that clambered?) into the pick-up bed and I stacked the firewood as he tossed it to me.

Stack of wood at pond

Mike had hoped to work some on the tree in the north field, but we didn’t have time. He briefly mentioned the stack of wood on the other side of the pond, but we didn’t dare try to drive there due to the soft ground.

It was nearly 4:00 as we started back to town. The trip proved easy enough – not much traffic, and we were grateful to have leftovers to warm for supper. We were in bed earlier than usual.

On Monday, Mike unloaded, stacked, and covered the firewood ahead of the predicted rain.

We continue to see a mild winter. Regional ski hills have given up hope of opening. It rained yesterday (Monday), and this morning we had a rain/snow mix. However, the forecast shows highs in the 50s (some days almost 60) over the next ten days. Meanwhile, we watch as the East Coast is devastated by extreme winter weather. And while we might appreciate this mild winter, we will pay for it one way or another. It’s just that no one talks about it unless it’s real devastation. KW 

SILLY OL’ BESS

Bess as we walked at the pond last week

You never really know for sure what a dog is thinking, and as they get older, an element of dementia seems to come in. Mike notes that the older dog also becomes more independent. Perhaps she’s thinking to herself, “You never really know what your humans are thinking, and as they get older, they are so unpredictable! I’d better think for myself.”

For the first twelve years of her life, Bess’ evening routine was to curl up on her pillow after supper and nap until bedtime. Some months ago, her routine abruptly changed, and she began to go out after supper and put herself to bed in her kennel. Mike would go out later and close the gate.

That is, unless it’s raining. Rain seems to confuse her. It rains so seldom that it’s not a big deal, but it was raining the other night when she was ready to go out. At first she hesitated when I opened the door, but then she decided to go out anyway. We figured she’d be right back, so we watched for her, but when she didn’t show up right away, we began to worry. Mike went out to check the kennel and call her several times within 20 minutes or so, finally blowing a whistle. (It doesn’t help that she’s deaf.)

Just as we were wondering what to do next, our neighbor rapped on the door. He said that Bess had shown up at their back door, wet and whining, so they took her in and dried her off. He heard Mike calling her, and as he brought her home, she slipped into her house and he closed the kennel door.

So, Bess has a new evening routine imposed by her humans for her own good. She can either stay in the house and nap on her pillow or she can go directly to her kennel. KW 

A HUNDRED FEET OF PINE

 

Mike, Murray, and I went to the farm again on Thursday (Feb. 12). The guys lifted heavy limbs into the bed of our old pick-up. I helped some with the slash, but I couldn’t do the heavy lifting. I felt a little useless.

Mike says 100 feet of this tree lies on the ground. That doesn't count the snag that still stands. It's 100 years old, so we'll say it came to be about 1920, perhaps as the family was setting into their new house.

At some point it had rained, and the mud was even worse than heretofore. I wear “duck boots,” and I carried them back to town to be cleaned under force of water. If the ground is going to freeze, I think the temps will have to drop and stay below freezing for a while. It was 45 Thursday afternoon. 

So now, much of the work has been transferred to town. Mike unloaded the wood to be cut into lengths for firewood. Naturally, it’s green, so it won’t be ready to burn for a while.

And that’s about all I have to say. Sometimes when the work is demanding, all you can say is that you worked hard. In the end, it might be rewarding, but it’s not fun while you’re going through it.

I suppose I should add that the contractor had been there and started the repair to the ceiling in the master bathroom. And we found only one mouse in trap. KW

 

THE “PATTERN BLANKET”

I’ve made progress on the afghan, or “pattern blanket,” that grandson Silas requested. He and his mom called to face time with me the other day, and I showed the afghan to him. I explained that I have to keep putting on rows until it’s long enough to cover him. It should be long enough to cover his toes, he said, and I assured him that it would be.

I told him that I want it to be long enough so that he can still use it when he’s older and taller. He would like to use it when he’s a man, Silas said. His mom advised him that he won’t be a man for quite some time and by then he might want a new afghan.

“I’d like a travel blanket,” said Silas, and I began to wonder if he’s  ordering yet another afghan. His mom and I assured him that this blanket will work at home and in the car, too.

“I need a new bed,” said Silas, and I agreed that he should probably have a bigger bed before long and left it at that. 

And then he asked to see the blanket again, so I spread it out on the back of a chair and let my phone show it to him.

What with the Olympics and the Super Bowl, our household is focused on sports at this time. Mike is into all this competition, but for me, it's a chance to finish the pattern blanket. On Super Bowl Sunday, I made dips and set out chips and veggies. The spinach dip was supposed to be baked, but Mike ate about a fourth of it before it saw the oven. I also filled a graham cracker crust with a no-bake cream cheese filling and made a sauce of frozen sweet cherries.

After the Super Bowl, an explosion of fireworks occurred in our neighborhood. “What’s with the fireworks,” I wondered aloud, and Mike explained that this was in celebration of the Seahawks’ win. KW

STILL WORKING ON THAT TREE

 

“We should have taken ‘before and after’ pictures,” said son Murray as we left the farm on Tuesday (Feb. 3). Taking pictures of our work to delimb the big tree in the north field is problematic. It’s so big that it’s difficult to show our progress (or lack thereof), and it’s also difficult to manage the camera when I need to keep up with the work.

Mike and I worked at the farm on Saturday (Jan. 31), and son Murray helped us on Tuesday. Progress seemed slow until Mike started removing limbs from the lower part of the tree, which actually lies uphill. It’s hard work when you’re senior citizens, and Murray also fits that description, but Mike wants to do it.

Farmer Kyle came in on Tuesday, and he and Mike discussed the best way to cut the tree so that it can be hauled out of the field and into the yard near the barn. Kyle said he would do it as soon as the ground freezes, and I wondered if he was kidding. We’re having such a mild winter. It was in the 50s as we worked – in the 50s at altitude in central Idaho in early February!!! Murray took off layers of clothing – jacket, sweat jacket, sweatshirt – until he was down to his shirtsleeves.

People have speculated that we would have winter in January and February. Well, January is gone with neither snow nor rain, and I find it hard to believe that these springlike days will turn to winter. I saw crocus in bloom today and daffodils making an appearance. Yesterday it was 60 degrees in the Valley. However, I see that around Valentine’s Day, the forecast is for highs at altitude to be in the 30s with lows in the 20s, so maybe it will happen. If it does, what will it do to the fruit trees? We’re running low on elderberry jelly. KW

STILL ANOTHER WORKDAY

At the farm on Tuesday (Jan. 27), Mike and I delimbed the downed 100-year-old pine tree lying in the north field. We made a burn pile and another pile of limbs to cut for firewood.

It was not as cold as previous work days. The afternoon high was 45. The sun was out, which helps a lot. The frost was gone from the trees, leaving a world that was warmer but bleaker. The ground was somewhere between frozen and mud.

Without running water, it’s difficult to manage food prep and other activities of daily living. The dishwasher is full of dirty dishes. I plan to use disposables for the duration.

Mike lit a fire in the fireplace, which gradually warmed the house. I really love being at the farm. It’s just that it’s cold, the house is disorganized, and I’m not a manual laborer. My mind wanders while I work.

And where does my mind wander to? Well, I have happy places. I still think of making that sock doll. The other day I bought a package of three men’s work socks in off-white at Goodwill for $5.97, the best option I have found to date. Even so, these socks don’t work for the instructions I want to use. At least for the price I can afford to experiment. Whatever I do, it probably won't be as cute as the dolls in the drawing. Just the way it is.

Of course, my priority project is Silas’ “pattern blanket.” I try to work on it several hours a day. I would love to finish it soon so that he can have it before he forgets he asked me to make it.

Otherwise, I have had my frustrations in adjusting to Windows 11. I’ll spare you the details. KW

AND YET ANOTHER FARM WORKDAY

Tuesday, Jan. 20 – Mike insisted on another trip to the farm, so son Murray went with us. This was our third trip to the farm within a week. It was another dreary sunless day that didn’t budge from 27 degrees. Really, it’s too cold to work outside, but Mike will do it.

I mostly stayed in the house. Mike lit a fire in the fireplace, and the house became tolerably warm. After correcting a winterization oversight, Mike and Murray spent several hours working on the downed trees. We started back to town at 3:00.

We found two mice in traps again, so I reset the traps and set several more, one in my upstairs sewing room where last year the mice stole batting from a kit I left on the bed. Honestly, I don’t know their egress to these rooms, but nothing is sacred – NOTHING! Incidentally, daughter Hallie tells me that she has been trapping rats in the backyard of her Seattle home – five in two weeks. I have read that Boise is also fighting a rat infestation.

As I waited in the house, I looked through our cabinet of music inherited from my dad, whose career was devoted to teaching piano. I continue to store a variety of books, magazines, and sheet music, and I came up with a book of trombone “swing” exercises published in 1935, which I gave to Murray. So much is available online these days that we hardly need the books.

The trees, laden with frost, still stood in winter beauty, but I didn’t venture out to take pictures due to the cold. KW

ANOTHER WORKDAY AT THE FARM

 

We have been using the dining room evenings this cold weather. It is so much warmer, but I’m going back to the living room as soon as possible. – Ina Dobson, 1936

Mike and I went to the farm on Saturday (Jan. 17) to work in the wood. We tackled the downed pines at the pond, delimbing, cutting firewood, and carrying limbs to the burn pile, also located near the pond. It didn’t involve a lot of heavy work, but we were on unstable ground and our backs aren’t what they used to be. We were careful.

Mike was in his element and cheerful as he worked. The work is meaningful and accomplishment is always satisfying.

However, it was COLD! It was 27 degrees and foggy when we arrived, and the sun never did totally burn through. The day remained cold, but we were there to work, and we weren’t going to let the cold keep us from our mission.

Having winterized the house, we were without running water, but I heated soup in the microwave so that we had a hot lunch. We ran the wall furnace to take the chill off the dining room. As my grandparents knew, closing off the living room makes the dining room warmer.

We worked late into the afternoon. It was 4:30 and growing dark as we left the farm, and we decided to travel via Hwy 95 instead of the Gilbert Grade. As darkness fell, the fog grew denser. Visibility was poor until we finally drove out of the fog when we reached the valley.

And then we were back at the town house, safe and sound. I was glad of a warm shower, a hot meal, and a warm bed.

Oh! I nearly forgot the rodent report. We found two mice in traps, which we rebaited and reset. KW

A DIFFICULT START TO A NEW YEAR

 

Change! The older we are, the more difficult seems the adjustment. Despite the fact that people we know and love pass from our lives with increasing frequency, other unhappy circumstances exist that are beyond our control. I could do with a visit to JoAnn’s. A quick walk-through always gave my spirits a lift, and nothing takes its place. And it was so easy to visit JoAnn’s because it was right there in the little shopping center where I bought my groceries and got my hair done. The hair salon closed, too, and now the center includes an Auto Zone. “Nuf sed,” as Ina would say.

On Wednesday (Jan. 14), a lovely springlike mid-January day, we went to the farm and winterized the house. It remains to be seen if we really needed to winterize this year, but Mike doesn’t want to worry about it, and this is a valid reason to do it. The sun shone brightly in the southern sky. The afternoon high temp was 47.

Typically, we winterize the house in November ahead of a cold snap, but knowing that a mild winter was predicted this year, we left winterization until late in the hopes that we could have our Christmas celebration there. It didn’t work out due to the windstorm of Dec. 17 which blew down pine trees and left us without electricity for a full week. And with some preparation, we could probably manage all right without electricity. It might even be an educational retro experience, but without electricity, we have no water, and that’s a deal breaker. 

Ordinarily, we would not even try to visit the farm in January due to snow and cold. This year, there is no snow. The distant mountains show only a patch of snow here and there. It’s a bit scary since it means we’re in a drought.

Winterizing was all we did at the farm. Mike suggested delimbing the tree in the north field and/or cleaning the eavestroughs, but in the end, we decided to return to town. After all, he is still recuperating from a mild stroke and the flu, and as it was, it was after 3:00 when we arrived back at the town house. I had work to do in putting away pantry items and other things that I brought back, and Mike washed the Jeep. KW