All of November rained. There was no sun whatsoever the whole month. Early December was very snowy. This past week, it popped up to 14 above zero for 2 days, melted all the snow, turned the yard into a muddy horror amd then froze again.

In between the rain and the snow and the thaw and the freeze, we got the firewood stacked in three big stacks across the front. Less than a week later, 95km/hr wind gusts toppled one of the stacks. So we get to do it again.

The front of the greenhouse tent is beginning to fall apart (tarps + sunlight and wind = torn tarps). We spent a couple hours taping up the holes and reinforcing the places that are ready to split. An hour after we finiahed, the dog went crashing through the freshly-repaired door and undid all the work. Great. I decided that we shall simply entirely tape the door zipper shut, and create a new door from one of the dust-barrier construction zips. I ordered one, but it isnt here yet. Also, before I tape the thing closed, I need to move my zone 6 plants inside. I havent gotten to that, yet. The coldest we’ve had is -8, so they’re fine yet.

I had to shoot an alive thing for the first time last week.

This muskrat was less than a foot from the back of the house, and right outside the chicken run. When the dog went out, it tried to bite the dog, and when I went out with a broom, it tried to bite me. So I had to shoot it. I didn’t enjoy the experience, especially as it didn’t die. I thought I killed it, but when I went back to bag it for testing, it wasn’t there. So now we have an aggressive AND wounded muskrat somewhere around. Best case scenario, it died of its wounds later. We’re being watchful, though.

I havent finished the placemats yet. I’m a bit less than halfway finished the second one. We all got sick for the first week of December, and the baby has been clingier of an evening than her usual, so I’ve not been able to do it every day. A friend is heading that way in January, so I will try to have it finished for her to take, rather tham deal with the mail which is heavily backlogged due to a 6 week strike.

We’ve had some sunshine this week, which is very welcome indeed. Sadly, our solar light, which has been the kids’ nightlight almost every day since we moved here has recently and rapidly begun to die. It is a Luminaid PackLite Nova. Spectacular product, but definitely not meant to be used every day for 2.5 years. They’re marketted for tent camping and disaster preparedness. It has performed above and beyond. I’ve ordered 2 more of the big-brother models, as the Nova was not available at the time I ordered.

Tis the season for Amazon packages. Especially as they arent affected by the mail strike. I already have quite a pile of collected cardboard, and by spring, I should have a small mountain. I finally got around to cutting the pieces for my new garden bed the same day we stacked the wood, but I didnt get it assembled, so I’ll have to do that come spring. I’ll have plenty of cardboard to line it with, though.

We’re in garden-planning mode now (in the best tradition of Canadian winter). Each of the kids has decided they wish to expand their gardening this year. One wishes to plant a tea garden, one a butterfly garden, and the third wishes to raise leafcutter bees (aka kind bees or gentle bees), so will need to plant a few of the things they like. Birthday gifts thia year will be either a bee kit or a round garden bed, and a trip to the garden center for appropriate plant starts.