Here's Weenter!

Today on this high of 12F degrees we ran out of wood pellets for our upstairs pellet stove. So we drove to town carefully on the icy roads and picked up one ton of pellets. We normally have mild winters in the Ozarks and use about one ton a year. But with this cold winter we have had it was time for one more ton. The main highways are clear but our back roads are hilly and solid ice. We did a few running starts to get over hills on our return trip and we did slide a bit on a curve. But you turn into the slide and keep from hitting the breaks. We also split and stacked firewood for the main woodstove downstairs. We are all set for 4 inches of snow on Sunday Feb 14th and Wed Feb17th are expected in our area. Animals are well fed and warm. In this photo that is solid ice in the driveway. Having four wheel drive, good tires and heavy vehicles a must out here in the Ozarks. 

On a side note that is my husband and he is feeling a lot better. What he did was give up milk and cut back on sugar and coffee. He is taking several herbal supplements I found for gallstone breaking, is taking soluble fiber, and getting some exercise. He works at his desk for long hours and does not get up and go outside as much as I do. But he is feeling hunger again, no nausea and may be getting over whatever has been ailing him for the last year and half. I am so glad I dove down the herbal rabbit hole to get him relief. His doctor recommended the fiber, exercise and peppermint oil for him. I found that Chanca Piedra an herb helps break up stones in the body. Looks like it is working for him.

 

First Snow for 2018

This is the first time we had snow before thanksgiving here in the  Ozarks.

Very cold and rain made snow. We got about .5 inches where the rest of the area got up to 3-6 with ice. 

We fixed our wood stove ourselves and the cats love it. Our boots and gloves stay dry and our cats stay warm.

The barn cat and the dog want in as well. It  did get below 17 degrees so we let them all in for the frigid evenings. My dogs have thick winter coats and they pant all night near the wood stove. So we do not let them in until the fire goes out. Our oldest shepherd was shivering and got to spend more time inside. But our dogs are working dogs and they smell. So we keep their inside time to a minimum. And they have a hug straw bale filled kennel and heated dog bed outside as well.

Wood Heated

Chopping and splitting logs by hand is how we used to keep warm in the winter when we first moved here to the Ozarks. 

We got splitting down but had an inefficient wood stove and not enough heat for our house. Propane heat is costly and not as good. So we picked up a used log splitter for our tractor at auction and built pallet log carrier to move logs next to our house.

Moving the split wood next to our house. We go through about 3-4 of these per winter.

Here is our pride and joy. Our Jotul woodstove that burns well and heats the entire house both stories. It is located in the basement area and the heat goes up the stairs and keeps us cozy. I can use the top as a cooker if needed. I usually have a pot of tea going.

The old timers who can no longer split their own wood, buy wood already split and have it delivered. And that might be our plan in our later years. But for now friends have helped up fell trees and chop logs. And we have taken a few down ourselves. The wood ashes go into the compost and the garden. My hens love to roll in the dust of the ash piles. We have woods all around us and are grateful for the heat they provide for us in the cold times.