Why is it that things always get exciting at the worst possible time?

Winter has been relatively unmemorable. Some good weather, some very cold weather, not a ton of drama.

Until this weekend. Extremely high winds, with snow, mixed with rain, and then a freeze again. Messy messy messy.

Remember when I replaced the door on the greenhouse a couple months ago? Looked like this?

After the first day of wind, said new door was GONE. No sign of it. Looked like this:

Also, had a new hole in the back wall, like this

So we went out with vapor barrier and tape and patched it up AGAIN, but this time a layer inside and a layer outside. The hope is that if one layer fails, the other might not.

Looks like this now

Needs to last just another couple months, then once the snow melts, we can work at a more permanent solution.

Then of course, the high wind helped create a situation where a chimney fire ignited. We caught it immediately, had the fire extinguisher right on hand, and it only lasted a few (very stressful!!) minutes, but while neither we nor the house sustained any damage, one section of the pipe did and needs replaced

So…worst snowstorm of the year, high, cold winds, and we are without heat. On a day when zero stores are open to acquire replacement pipe. Great. So we packed up, walked out (and boy wasnt THAT fun) and decamped to mom’s. At the right time, apparently. Shortly after we made the drive (with no problems) the wind and snow kicked up worse and driving became extremely perilous. Some roads were rendered impassible.

We hoped to head home early this morning, picking up pipe on the way, and get it repaired and back to normal before nightfall, but it’s still extremely gross out there, and we may have to stay a second night. Which means another day off work tomorrow. And another night with the house unheated. And a full day when the chickens won’t have water because I guarantee you it is frozen solid right now.

I’ve arranged to have our drive cleared at some point today, because dealing with the fire, in a high-wind, this-could-go-bad-fast situation really impressed how unsafe the walk-in-only situation was at this time. If it HAD gotten out of control, the fire dept wouldnt have been able to get to us. So, I’ll pay for the clearing this time, and we’re really proritize getting the tractor up and running again.

In the meantime, I am STILL trying to finish my weaving project (yes, still), I am working a bit at a time on my cabinet project

I have an art project on the go:

The kids and I are learning about the art of Bonsai (did you know you can make a bonsai out of a rosemary or lavender plant? I didnt! Nor oak or lilac or azalea or jade plant….)

And we have the never-ending chore of trying to keep the dust and pet hair from swallowing up our floor. Seriously. I could sweep 17 times a day, and I’d still have a panful of dust and hair at the end of the day. Soon, it’ll be mud season.