- Sunday, 2/2: I got Mary's electronic signature corrected on the tax forms and Illinois accepted our IL tax form. Churchill is having trouble staying standing when he gets up to go outside. We think his heart is getting weaker. It was super warm, today. The washing machine quit while full of water prior to getting into the spin cycle. Fortunately, Mary already did the sheets and was washing the furniture covers. She took them out to drip dry on the line and bailed out the water from the washing machine. I looked up diagnosing the problem and will have to get into that. We cut firewood in the timber SW of the house...3 dead white oaks and a few branches and a small cherry tree. The chainsaw, with its new parts, chain, and bar, worked extremely well. Most snow is gone, but it's mushy everywhere. Listened to the Super Bowl. When the Kansas City Chiefs were down 21-10 in the 4th quarter, they scored 21 unanswered points to win 31-20. Haven't paid attention the the Chiefs, except for 2 playoff games and this game, and they're amazing at coming from behind and winning. Now Missouri has the Stanley Cup and the Super Bowl. Like Bill said, "I guess the Royals or the Cards just need to do something this year." Bill texted that it was transfer day for his current batch of beer (see below).
 |
| Before racking Bill's latest brew. |
- Monday, 2/3: Started sunny and turned cloudy. We watched thousands of snow geese fly east to west over our property in the morning sunlight. We cut more firewood from the SW woods...this time 2 dead red oak trees. We had so many chunks out of the first tree that we left a good part of the second tree. The saw cuts so well that just after a little bit of running it, we have what we need. You don't know how dull your chains are until you get a new set in the chainsaw. I also sawed up a piece of elm that fell down under the cedar trees between the machine shed and the chicken coop. Then, we sorted the wood according to moisture levels and put it in appropriate spots...most is needing splitting. After chores, we ate omelets and read into the evening.
- Tuesday, 2/4: Since I saw online that my package of wine brewing stuff was on a UPS truck to be delivered and because it was snowing, I paid close attention to the UPS tracking and when I saw it was delivered, yet we didn't have anyone show up at the house, I knew it was at the end of the lane. It was 28 pounds, so I drove the car down. The package was left unprotected (usually they put boxes in a plastic bag), plopped down in wet grass, with heavy wet snow coming down. Plus, one side had wet mud on it. Drove it home and immediately sent a message to UPS. They sent a message back, telling me someone from the Palmyra MO UPS office will be in touch with me. A woman called. She was appalled at what I told her, said an alternative driver delivered my package, but that was no excuse, and that he will be talked to when he gets in. Fortunately, all items were in good shape. After I get a few things, like sugar and white grape concentrate, I'll make my next batch of wine...this time, grapefruit wine. Did a bunch of online research for washing machine repair. Gained access to the timer and figuring out its electrical continuity proved to be difficult. All research indicated that the switch is often misdiagnosed, when a simpler solution is the case. Mary was in favor of getting a new machine, since this one was purchased in 2002, so I looked up prices at Lowe's in Quincy...$400 to stupid was the range. After thinking about it all day, I tore into the machine after dinner. I could get water to fill the tub, but nothing else turned on. Checked for a drain restriction and after gobs of water emptied out on the floor once I removed hoses off the pump, decided that wasn't an issue. Then I checked for continuity of the lid switch and it was nonexistent. Manually pushed the switch and it fell apart...BINGO! Removed it and temporarily put the washer back together. Since it was late, I didn't order...will have to order that switch tomorrow. Mary made tortellini soup and chocolate pie...both were extra yummy, along with acorn squash. Katie texted that she got 100% on her accounting test. She was on her way to a Barnes & Noble book club meeting. It snowed just a little and melted immediately. Churchill had a tough day, but we got through it.
- Wednesday, 2/5: Churchill is doing better today. My amaryllis has one flower fully open and it's a beauty (see photo below). The other 3 buds will soon open, too. This is a Royal Dutch Red Pearl Amaryllis out of John Scheepers. I ordered the washing machine part for $11.60, including shipping, from Repair Parts, Inc., out of Ohio. If this fixes the problem, it's a lot cheaper than a new $500 washer. I ordered a new power strip for the microwave that withstands higher electrical wattage amounts from Home Depot, which will be delivered to the Quincy store. Mary figured monthly monies. Three Patrick O'Brian novels that I ordered from Thrifty Books came in the mail. It snowed most of the day, but didn't amount to much...about a 1/4 inch through the day and maybe 1/2 inch overnight. I kept the chickens inside. I saw an owl buzz by the south side of the house and dip its wings to enter the west woods. We listened to the start of an audio book, George, Nicholas, and Wilhelm, about the cousins who were kings of England, Russia, and Germany.
 |
| The first Red Pearl Amaryllis flower. |
- Thursday, 2/6: We got a skiff of snow. Mary and I split wood from 2 different firewood collections that was stacked in the machine shed. It took a long time, because there were several big logs. Mary made chimichangas.
- Friday, 2/7: In the hour just after sunrise, I saw 2 coyotes trot across our yard and behind the machine shed. They were about the size of a German Shepherd. They were more gray, than brown and both had a thick fur coat. Got another small bit of snow. We stacked wood from yesterday's firewood splitting. The newly split red oak is nice and dry, whereas the white oak is wet and needs drying. My washing machine lid switch came in today's mail. Tore the washer apart, cleaned up the insides, replaced the lid switch, put it together and ran it on the delicate cycle. It works like a charm. It feels nice to fix something with just a $7 part. The 2nd flower opened on the amaryllis, with the remaining 2 soon to open (see below). Mary noticed that the garlic plants are coming up, due to warm weather we've had earlier in the winter. She's not happy. It means frosted tips of garlic plants. While walking Churchill near the machine shed at night, 2 barred owls were talking up a storm in the trees just to the north of us.
- Saturday, 2/8: I gave Mary a haircut. She was due to get a haircut in December, but Christmas got in the way. I figured out a grapefruit wine recipe from a combination of recipes that I've collected. Mary worked on a cross stitch piece and listened to 3-cousins who were kings audio book. She drew up a shopping list.
No comments:
Post a Comment