Author: Rod

Jan 19 It’s All Wonderful

What a wonderful life I’ve had! I only wish I’d realized it sooner. Sidonie Gabrielle Colette I am going out in a few minutes to gather snow. I don’t want to cut the last of my salvage lumber, once that is gone it’s gone. I will probably have to. As always, the cold Arctic air…


Jan 18 -45 Again

How can you expect a man who’s warm to understand one who’s cold? Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn 3:11 AM I just started to use the last of my firewood. I am burning as low as I can. My firewood, what’s left is buried under a deep blanket of darkness and snow. There is no way to get…


Jan 17 Too Much Snow

There is no success without hardship. Sophocles I had delusions of travel today. Until I saw how much snow fell last night. At least 8 inches, with another 8 or more to fall, then high winds to whip that snow into tall drifts. The winds would bring Arctic air -34 tonight. That cold always sticks…


Jan 16 Survive

To live is to suffer, to survive is to find some meaning in the suffering. Friedrich Nietzsche My knees and back are already telling me what the weather forecasters are saying. Even Environment Canada has predicted before the fact and not after it happens. Both knees and my back are damaged, never repaired. They are…


Jan 15


Jan 14 Relaxin Mostly

Don’t make things too complicated. Try to relax, enjoy every moment, get used to everything. Angelique Kerber Slept through two alarms again. The alarms are for loading the fire. No problem. Since I emptied the ash, I was able to put in large, horrible pieces of wood that took 6 hours to burn. The only…


Jan 13 Touch Too Much

Cut more wood chop more wood.   Big day, feeling it now. I did the ashes from the woodstove. About a hundred pounds worth. Next comes restarting the fire. I looked outside, it was too foggy to travel, so I opted for cutting firewood instead. By the time I got a load inside, the fog…


Jan 12 Back Again

My life is based on pain, passion, and purpose. Elijah Cummings Another back breaking day. I went out gathered logs, gathered snow. I am in the process of chopping the wood. I had to take a few breaks. Too hot to chop, too sore to chop. My lower back is completely out. I did manage…


Jan 11 Ain’t No Easy Way

The high road and positivity is never the easy way but always the best way. Nancy Wilson   Tough night. Couldn’t get the fire to light. So I gave up on it. Only that was the time it lit. I slept through most of the early morning. I guess I needed to. I looked out…


Jan 10 Gets Tougher

Everybody has their ups and downs, and that’s what makes you tougher. Isaac Hanson   When the going gets tough. The tough want to whimper. All wet and heavy logs. I estimate 880 pounds through even deeper snow. Ya, you know, I have to split them right now. No matter how tired I am, no…