Baby its c-c-c-cold outside

The night of the 16th the mercury dropped and dropped and dropped until it hit -4F. Thank goodness there was no wind. The Century Furnace, a sort of fireplace, was crucial to our comfort that night; I filled it with wood about 10:30 p.m. and added two more logs about 2:00 a.m. - which were still burning well at 7:00 a.m. It seems quite efficient and certainly pumps out an extended flow of warm air.

We are forming a Sunday tradition of walking down to Long Man Creek. Sunday was much warmer, maybe 32F (0C), but gusty and totally gray, that particular gray of winter. The farm has acquired a new beastie, Jack Tar, a six to nine month old black male cat who reminds us so much of Tam. He showed up on one of those terribly frigid nights and we put food out for him. Now he sleeps in the bathroom at night... totally socialized and very affectionate. Yesterday he followed us to the creek and back like a good dog. Four cats are enough in the house but Jack may become the mouser-in-residence at the workshop.

A little snow last night, just enough of a dusting to highlight the criss-crossing deer trails. Stay warm, fair reader.