Friday, November 6, 2020

The Whacky Weather is Here, Too

After me grumpity-dumping about our extremely cold month of October (temps down to the low 20s), this past week has given us gorgeous days in the 50s, 60s and today we hit the 70s.
 
Who's trying to gaslight us?  I'm not sure my mind (nor body) can make these adjustments.
 
Our daughter did some outside painting for us today which we didn't dream we'd get done this year.  She was on the south side of a small building and as the day progressed, she stripped down to a sleeveless t-shirt, rolled up her pant legs and took off her socks(!) in order to stay comfortable.  She may have ended up with a sunburn.  Or tan at least.
 

We had a pile of huge (HUGE) spruce and balsam logs Papa Pea had cut up two years ago.  I'm sure they were thinking about becoming punky and useless as firewood, but we hadn't found the time to get them split up this year.  With the advent of this spring-like weather (or more like summer up here in the north woods) we were able to get them unstuck from the stack where they had been frozen just a short week ago and today finished getting them split and stacked under cover.  That felt good.
 

I was even able to do some window washing.  Truth to tell, I had taken it off my Must Do This Fall list, but there was no way I could avoid it today when that thermometer climbed into the 70s.  (Although I sometimes think washing the outside of our windows is wasted effort as after the first rain or snow they seem to look as dirty as before.  Anybody else have this problem?)
 

I think it was late last week that I finished the Thanksgiving-themed X-stitch I've been working on.  It's now on a kitchen wall, over the stove.  It could/should be a little bigger for that area, but I'm happy with it.
 

The pattern includes instructions for two other turkeys, one hen and another male turkey in a side view pose.  I may do the one of the hen later on.  Like next year.
 
Right now I need to close this post and get back outside to help stack the wood that's in those wheelbarrows.  Unless I've stalled long enough that Papa Pea has already done it.   

17 comments:

tpals said...

I've been doing surprise outdoors work as well. It feels good but tiring.

Michelle said...

We had a terribly dry October and start of November, which has spoiled us. Not that we got everything done outside, but it helped. I rarely wash windows, so no, I don't have that problem. ;-)

LUSSIE KANYE said...
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Mama Pea said...

tpals - Kinda makes a body feel the same way it does after those first outdoor tasks in spring!

Michelle - Well, shame on you! I'll confess, mine have to be pretty dirty before they finally get washed. I mean if we can sit with yarn and needles in hand and still see out, why bother? ;o)

Nancy In Boise said...

Nice to get a break in the weather! We've been in the upper 60s the last several days and next week the forecast is not to get out of the thirties. Are first substantial possibility of snow in the valley in the next 2 days and temperatures of already dropped about 20°. It was almost 70 yesterday and the high today supposed to be about 50, clouds are rolling in and it's getting to be winter. I love your quilting so cute! How about some more photos of the kitchen! I love the cheer yellow paint. We have the same trouble to with their windows as soon as we wash them in the storm blows through with their dirty again since our big picture window faces the Northwest which is where all the prevailing storms come from. I still clean them but what can you do? Stay warm

Mama Pea said...

Nancy - What can you do? Nuthin'! Which is the excuse I use when mine look so gringy. Enjoy your good weather while you have it. I've had the yellow paint on the kitchen walls for 20+ years now and have no plans to ever change it. I do love the cheery look it gives. I've posted pics of most of the kitchen before so I don't want to bore people again, but since you insist!! ;o)

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Rosalea said...

Is picture #1 your kindling supply, MP? I love sparkly, clean windows..one of the pleasures in life! Love your colourful window boxes. Do you have a vent over your stove? Your stitchery is beautiful. The high yesterday here was 21.5C and it is heading in that direction again today. There are pussy willows coming out on the willows around the pond.

Mama Pea said...

Rosalea - The wheelbarrows are full of medium/small pieces of softwood that we put on a started fire to catch before putting on large chunks of hardwood. The wood shed in the background (the front tier)shows birch and maple hardwood on the bottom and medium/small pieces on the top. We shouldn't have to touch this wood shed this winter as we have two others that are full to use first.

We went back and forth as to whether to install a vent over my stove -- matter of fact even purchased one -- then finally decided not to use it. I do little frying on the stove so have tried it without. In the twenty-some years we've had this arrangement, we haven't felt a need for a vent.

We had a very gray day yesterday, but today has dawned with bright sunlight. Yay! Thanks for your kind words. Enjoy your day . . . and whisper to those emerging pussy willows to go back where they came from or they're gonna get frozen!!

Rosalea said...

Thanks Mama Pea. I was curious about the vent, as we don't have one here and to install one would seriously compromise our cupboard space, which we don't have a lot of to start with. My kitchen is small, but sufficient for the two of us. When we started looking for our 'forever' home, I had dreams of a big kitchen with an island, and lots of counter space.... I love my little kitchen, and it works for us! (I'm going out now to whisper...)

Mama Pea said...

Rosalea - Yep, losing cupboard space was the reason I wanted to try getting along without the stove hood/vent. There is a window that opens at the top and bottom kitty-corner and very close to my stove so if I do get a bit of smoke or cooking odor, I pop the window open at the top and that seems to take care of it. (Or rather my tall husband opens the window at the top as I have to drag a step stool over to reach it!)

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Cockeyed Jo said...

We are cutting, splitting, and stacking firewood also. Why do we wait until the last minute to do this...I dunno!

Mama Pea said...

Cockeyed Jo - Hope the wood you're working on isn't for this year's heat! ;o) I think we have more dry wood under cover this year than we ever have before. It's a really good feeling as I'm sure you know!

Retired Knitter said...

My windows are filthy. But we are getting new windows in December so I am not going to wash these now.

Sue V said...

If you put Rain-X on your outside windows after you wash them, they will stay clean for a long time!

Cockeyed Jo said...

Mama, the wood we are working on is for later this year. The trees fell two years go down in the ravine. We've already finished four cords under cover and dry for heat. On average we only burn about three and a half. This "newer" wood will be the reserve cord or two. Yes, nothing beats the warmth of a wood stove.