Ivy
 Andy said she's sleeping well and there's nothing wrong with her appetite.

December 19, 2015 - Saturday 
6 degrees/cloudy/windy
Pentoga Road

I awakened this morning to the sound of the oil furnace running, something that seldom happens. I'm fairly good about waking in the wee hours of the morning and feeding the wood stove, but that wasn't the case last night. 

The heating system I use is fairly efficient. The primary source is the wood stove. It's burns 24/7 pretty much all winter long. The electric fireplace occasionally kicks on during the night when the fire gets low in the wood stove. Though it's electric, it's very efficient, generally costing less than a dollar a day, and that's if it's running overtime. 
Located in the dining room at the foot of the stairs, the fireplace keeps the cold at bay and the big furnace from running. 

Should the wood stove and electric fireplace fail to keep the house at 55 degrees, the furnace takes over. It's a 1970's model and sucks the heating oil, but does a nice job of warming our small home. We only utilize it on very cold nights or when we're away for any period of time. The oil tank was last filled three years ago and the gauge is still registering at the halfway mark. We're doing something right.

Speaking of heating, the wood stove is burping smoke each time I open the door. That means the screen at the very top is becoming clogged. It's not a horrible ordeal to clean that thing, especially since the roof is only eight or ten feet off the ground and the roof is barely slanted. Cleaning it will be one of today's projects.

Speaking of projects, they were few and far between yesterday. We saw a high of 14 degrees and with a thirty mile an hour wind, it was too cold to play outside. I walked my three miles then found myself on the couch covered with a blanket, sipping hot coffee, and researching small barn plans online.

Brutus and I later migrated to the shop where I worked on a flower carving, one that features several zinnias. Mostly, I spent the time sharpening my carving chisels and knives. They were dull, really dull, and felt like they'd been used to chip concrete in the past. 

Speaking of Brutus... his training continues. I'm finding the more I demand, the better he becomes. We might sneak into town today or tomorrow and work on his street/curb skills. I should drive over to Iron Mountain to work with him. They have an actual Main Street where there are people. Someday, maybe. Not today. (Sorry 'bout that... just thinking out loud.)

I worked up a load of wood from the first pile that's in back of the wood shed. It's beginning to shrink, but worry not, both outside sheds are full and there's still last summer's mountain of wood under cover. 

Sargie opened and closed on Friday. It was a ten hour day for her. She closes again tonight, but thankfully, is off Sunday. I've got a load of sheets to wash later, but definitely won't be hanging them outside to dry. I need to run the vacuum over the floors and swipe the tops of the furniture in the living room. Otherwise, I'll take my walk this morning, give Brutus a workout later, and no doubt, end up in the shop. Yooper Brother Mark and Sheri are making their annual appearances as Mr. and Mrs. Santa at the Caspian Fire Hall this afternoon, so I may sneak into town and see if I can sit on Mrs. Santa's knee and give her my wish list. Mr. Santa is much too ugly and scares me.

Failing that, there's always that pesky after-lunch grandpa nap that's almost a necessity this time of the year.

After all, a man's work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...