On the bright side, while today is cold and blustery with a random snowflake here and there, at least the sun is shining now and the forecast looks like we'll stay above freezing with much more moderate days for the next week or so. There's not a lot to do outside again until all the leaves are done falling, so a quiet day in today with the Packers starting at noon and newspaper to catch up on.
How was your Halloween?
Any night by the fire is a good night. Halloween is coming, but I bought a ticket for a band's livestream concert that night, so no holiday fire next Saturday. Also no Halloween celebration for us this year, but more on that later. Sorry, it's mostly another firepit post again, it's just this 2020. A couple more pictures from last night are after the break.
Okay, you get the idea, but there's more here and elsewhere. Blue Witch brought up the topic recently on her blog, and she is correct, this should be talked about more and correct protocols discussed. And I don't think either one of us is above mask-shaming. Masks are nothing but icky things on your face if not used correctly. And by correctly I also mean covering both your nose and your mouth. At the same time!
On the other side of the fence is another blogger who I shall not name, but is in my right column*. I've followed them for a very, very long time now so while I still check in over there I usually refrain from commenting. I have a feeling I would be shouted down anyway as I'm not really debate team material. At all.
One of my favorite sayings about masks likens it to pee: Imagine you're standing in front of someone, facing each other, and you're both naked. If he pees, you get wet. If you wear pants and he pees, you still get wet, but not as bad. If he wears pants and pees he gets himself wet. We can't help but pee, or in this case breathe. Respect others and keep yourself contained, for chrissake.
I've not addressed my own mask wearing here yet, but I will now. I don't wear a mask 98% of the time, but that's because I'm at home 98% of the time now, if not more. I don't wear a mask outside in my own yard, but I don't run into other people in my own yard. I don't wear my mask on neighborhood walks, unless we have to get near people, which is a good reason to avoid the bike paths. I don't wear a mask in my car, I wear a mask when I get to my destination, outside of home. Anywhere I have to go outside the home, like just regular errands, I wear a mask.
We've had exactly 10 friends over to the house effectively all of this year, and all for firepits. Social distancing is pretty easy in the back yard as the most at a time we have over is 2 other people. I have required masks if they need to go into the house, and all have happily complied or not had to go inside. No large gatherings here, and not likely for the holidays, either.
When this first started I ordered a pack of cloth masks, and used them, and washed them. But the washing made them shrink so they were tight and uncomfortable, so I bought a box of 50 individually wrapped black paper disposable masks. Much more comfortable for my big head. Now, if I only use one for a few minutes then I have been known to throw it in the glove box and use it again, but keep in mind that one I used for just a few minutes one day may sit for over a week until I use it again. I'll probably get some grief for that, and it may be deserved. But at only 40-50 cents a pop I have no qualms about tossing them and using a new one for most things, either.
How is your mask use? How's mine?
*Update: I removed this link from my right column on November 18, 2020. I can no longer support or promote his writing by leaving it there.
Late afternoon yesterday the firewood delivery arrived. I'd been done with work for hours and was pretty much in relaxation mode, but with my wife's help we got it all neatly stacked. The small pile on the far left is the leftovers, the other small pile is new wood that wouldn't fit on the rack. I don't expect either of these small piles to last very long. Now I know I'll have enough to get through spring, or at least to spring.
Today has been overcast and blustery, with an expected high of 67ºF, and again the news is saying this will be the last 'nice' day as high temperatures will be going back down to about the 50º mark in the extended forecast. I managed to get some yardwork done yesterday while waiting for the wood, including mowing/mulching the leaves in the back yard, but there is more to be done yet.
I contacted the fencing company yesterday to verify we're still on for replacing our fence about a month from now, and they confirmed. The exact day may change due to the weather, but it should only take one day to complete. I wanted to keep the old one as long as possible but it's just gotten so rotten it's starting to fall apart. I probably should have done it last year and next year it will only be worse, so best to just get it done. It should look pretty similar, 6' dog-eared, but brand new cedar. At least it will be one thing crossed off the list, and it will look a lot better, too.
Most fall chores now are just hurry up and wait. As the plants wilt I'll mulch them up with the string trimmer. As the black walnut leaves fall I will mow to mulch. After the maple tree leaves fall I'll rake and mulch them for flowerbeds. And when all the leaves are done I'll need to clean out the gutters. All the potted plants will need to be cleaned up and the compost turned. And before it starts to freeze regularly (still haven't had first frost, but maybe tomorrow morning) I'll have to get the hose put away and the power washer stored in the basement, along with a couple crates of paint, lawn care and other products out of the garage.
So, while it seems like a lot of work it will be spread out for several weeks up to a couple months yet. I hope for plenty of opportunities to relax by the fire along the way.
Actually, I hope to be able to go out to eat, hang out at the bar, go see a show or just socialize with friends and family, but I'll take what I can get this year. Stay safe, all. And wash your mask.
Tonight as I sat by the fire, I looked up. It was about 20 minutes after sunset, which is when bats can start being seen flying above and I like to watch for them. What happened next was a lot of leaves showering down on and around me. I never did notice any bats while watching the leaves.
It's fall and leaves are changing, but neighbor Dave's three Black Walnut trees are always the first to lose their leaves. And conveniently, mind you, as they are not good for compost or mulch in the flowerbeds. They can wash out the color of flowers and we have a lilac under them that proves it. I usually mulch them into the lawn with the mower and harvest the later leaves, mostly maple, for mulch around the yard.
That's almost it for my firewood until Tuesday, just a small pile left after this weekend. On Friday I was looking ahead and put in an order to have another face cord of mixed hardwoods delivered. I still have plenty of time for having fires before winter sets in, after all.
First face cord took 2 years to burn. Second face cord, only 3 months. Thanks, 2020.
It was a dreary and overcast evening yesterday, but at least it was dry. I went out to sit by the fire and decided to film a little and wound up taping the whole night. Don't worry, this is only the first half hour. After that I was on a video call with my mom for some time, then it just got dark. Pull up a chair and relax by the fire with me.
I've gone through a lot of wood this year. My previous face cord lasted me two whole years while this one, delivered in July, has lasted about 3 months so far. I'll have to get another delivery in the next couple weeks as last year I managed to have one more fire after the winter solstice but before the new year. It's these pandemic times, I have nothing better to do and no other place to go, may as well do something enjoyable.
So the orange one finally got sick. No, I'm not celebrating. I don't like that anyone is getting sick and that some are dying. What it comes down to is that it was preventable. They were extremely careless, and they got the Covid. It was just a matter of time, really. The timing of his illness and the extent of how ill he'll actually get is very interesting, however. Stay tuned on this one, folks.
Fall weather has definitely arrived here, and that brings outside chores that will need to be done soon. I also have to get used to wearing long pants and socks again after several months of barefoot and shorts. And non slip-on shoes seem like an atrocity now so I have been holding out still, even if that means wearing short socks with sandals, sorry. But I don't hardly go anywhere or see anyone else but my wife these days anyway, so who cares?
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| Pulled out for cleaning. |
Last night was the first time I had a chance to have a firepit for two weeks now, and it was very nice to once again sit by the fire and ponder life's meaning. After the last fire I was on vacation for a week so, of course, every day was wet. Off work all week and I couldn't even do what I look forward to the most, this year anyway. Then this past week I was back at work, so I couldn't wait for Friday night. Oh, I could have a fire during the week but it does put a damper on it knowing I have to get up early the next day. Tonight, Terry and Becky are coming over to celebrate my and Terry's birthday - postponed from last Saturday. It will be nice to visit again and catch up around the fire.
The bright dot is the ISS flying left to right across the sky last night. Below and a bit to the right is the North Star, and on the right side is Cassiopeia with the top left dot of the W obscured by light pollution. I could still see the Big Dipper over the garage, getting lower in the sky, and later I even saw Orion and his belt hiding behind one of the trees. The ISS will be flying by again tonight at 8:02, 63 minutes after sunset.
The cat box project is coming along. I was thinking I started it years ago but it was actually June of 2019, I'd just been thinking of doing this for years now to help contain the mess. The biggest problem was that nothing under the stairs was square. I had gotten everything pretty square last year except for one piece that had to be replaced, but I had that piece cut and painted already, just not installed. With that installed I was able to build the drawer but then it's been pretty much waiting for paint to dry between coats. The drawer is now installed as of yesterday, and the cat box is moved into it, so it's about 90% done. All that's left is a walkway so the cats can go from the bottom stair over to the drawer without stepping paw on the floor. This way I don't have to do anything for them on the occasions a few times a year when water comes in. I built and started to paint that walkway today, so it shouldn't be long now and I can finally share with you my latest DIY creation.
