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(Here’s what’s happening in our world this week, including the continuing adventures of Charley, the little black cat that Tim sent me the day after he passed. Read all about her shenanigans here. -jb)
It’s been such a cold week! I think the lowest temp I saw on my phone was -2 degrees, but my weather app assures me that it’s really -30 degrees if you factor in the wind chill.
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I’ve spent a lot of time this week shoveling a path to my woodpile and ash barrel, and also bringing wood in to make sure Charley has a nice warm fire to lie next to. We can’t have her getting too chilled. Plus she really loves having her very own heated tile.
When I’m working in my office on the other side of the house (it’s such a long journey from the warm woodstove to my office, though I do have a little heater over there), she usually hangs out on her bed on my desk.
But sometimes it’s like she can’t believe the cold and snow that’s happening outside the window. She’ll just sit next to her bed and stare at me. I do have some birdfeeders outside to keep her occupied if she can bring herself to look out the window.
Here’s the current status of the woodpile. I’ve gone through about half of what’s on my deck — about three cord so far — and I’ve got probably another five or six cord stacked next to the deck. Wood supply is holding steady so far, even with the frigid temps.
I heard from a couple friends today that Bowers Harbor is either frozen over or in the process of freezing over. I drove over there after church, and it’s sure looking pretty frozen. I’m sure we’ll have some ice-fisherpeople out there in no time.
Here’s a photo from the corner of Kroupa Road and Neahtawanta Road. It looks like water out there, but I’m pretty sure it’s ice.
Here’s a couple photos from farther down Peninsula Drive, south of the Boathouse as you’re heading towards town. A few winters ago, Curt Peterson organized some walks out to the island on the ice. I bet he might do that again if it freezes over.
Meanwhile, over on Bluff Road we still have open water, but there’s a lot of ice near the shore. I love the sound of the ice — like winter’s lovely wind chimes. There was also a large flock of swans out there — maybe a dozen or so.
In the fall, I brought some of my outdoor geraniums inside to see how they fare inside over the winter. So far so good, but they’re awful happy to be on this side of the glass. I wish I had my dad’s greenhouse about now, but they seem to be doing pretty well.
Here’s a few more pics of Charley and me by the fire. You can see why it’s a struggle to make the long journey to my office. Once she climbs into my lap, it’s game over.
I do have a laptop and a little laptop desk thingie that I need to call into service. The challenge will be making room for Charley and the laptop.
I posted this photo on Facebook, and my friend Laurel Greilick mentioned her dainty little muzzle. It cracks me up, because she looks like a miniature panther.
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Jane, we sincerely know how hard it is to loose a beloved cat, so please accept our deepest sincere sympathy. We do know from experience, however, that when one cat passes on, it seems that their spirit guides you to another that will fill the cat shaped hole in your heart. You will never have another Charlie in your life, but she has picked her replacement, and that cat is exiting for you at the local shelter. When you are ready, that cat will be there, looking for you.