2022 Frozen Tundra Farm Report

[lighter]

Amber:

What furniture will you make? Tables? Chairs?  I think that would be very satisfying work.

Lighter

[sKePTiKal]

Ah. The furniture making idea comes up on a regular basis because I can "see" what I want - I go shopping online, in person, look for artisans - and don't find what I see. Occasionally, a few years later - THERE it is. LOLOLOL.

But Hol & I have talked about this together. And it's still intriguing me. I'm a form follows function person, in design. Always have been. So think primitive, functional - and then the "purty" worked into the surface a little later. Both Hol & I are on the "less is more" path these days... expressing that differently. Style wise I'm leaning Industrial these days - with a whole lot of "Early Viking" touches. She's more modern - with a post-apocalyptic & shamanic twist.

So that's a future possibility, and maybe we only make stuff for US, to suit our unique spaces/wants. Who knows?

My favorite passed down heirlooms are a pair of handcarved, caned seat Oak chairs that made the trip to me, originating in Switerland. They even have turned spindles. It's kinda hard to imagine my ancerstors sitting on these kinda delicate things though; Grandma was 6 ft tall and 200 lbs. Thankfully, I got more my Dad's genetic make up, though I'm not gonna blow away anytime soon. 

[lighter]

I once asked for a Viking hairdo with a bit of hippie mixed in......
I got something very tall.... very 1960's beauty queen. 

::shaking head::.

When you describe your potential furniture projects...... I picture a big plank table with amazing wood......and maybe something functional to hold a coffee station....... no chairs.

 Chairs seem harder.

Lighter

[sKePTiKal]

Around here logs tend to function as seats, side tables... benches... (w/ a board of course)....

and yes, chairs - traditional chairs - are difficult to design & assemble. But there are easier ways.    (she says hopefully...)

[Hopalong]

Of course, hadda Google...
https://www.pinterest.com/marianneguymon/log-furniture/

Only original thought I had is that you can make one slice of a lovely log beautiful just with sanding and finishing, and turn it into something special with LEGS.

Check out Etsy for gorgeous turned legs at a very reasonable price.

Have fun!

hugs
Hops

[lighter]

That furniture link was very fairy magical, Hops. Makes me want to build little fairy houses in the woods with little children again.

Lighter

[sKePTiKal]

Will miracles never cease?

The shop has garage doors on it now, so all closed in from the weather. Which means Buck can bring bigger tools next Saturday. Gutters, too. So insulating the ceiling is the last "big job". There are some electrical outlets that need to be wired in; the door knob on the walk-in door... then he & I will hang his big lights. 6 of them...

Hol & I are getting restless waiting for the weather to be nice enough, long enough... to get outside and back on those kinds of physical tasks. Yesterday & today have seemed like March - wind roared last night. I have to finish up some sewing (altering) for B, start some of the early crop seeds (fertilzer is already coming in) and make a batch o' cookies for B and straighten up the house. Cleaning isn't going to be the usual because it's MUD season - and no matter how often I clean Knuckles, Hol & B walk into the house with muddy shoes. SIGH. Hol's situation is even worse, poor thing - the dogs go out/in several times a day. Freddy's started finding mousies again, so they're waking up too.

Once B can start setting up the shop - he can move what he has stored in my barn - and Hol has a portable heater I can borrow to move seed starting out there from the studio garage - where we still have purging, organizing, Hol has some stuff to still move... and making decisions about what we'll keep. B and I have duplicates of some tools.

There has been talk about moving the fire pit and using the old space for a "hillbilly hot tub" - B says the best treatment for a lot of his back pain has been in a heated pool. Not surprising - he is part fish, I think.

Whee. Fingers crossed, the surgeon we're meeting with on the 3rd, can get an OR opening (since this is outpatient surgery) during this trip. Then B needs 10 days to heal up before they fill the pump. Being less in pain, should unleash his ability to accomplish more in one day than the average 40 yr old. I have to get in shape, just to keep up with him.

Then, things will start moving at warp-speed.

[Hopalong]

Well, while y'all are doing all THAT sort of stuff,
I have been watching skateboarding bulldog videos.

(But I did schedule a nice young woman looking for short-term hourly to come work on the paperwork dragon with me tomorrow.)

Fingers crossed!

KUDOS on all you're accomplishing, seriously.
I'm awestruck.

hugs
Hops

[lighter]

Hops, your plan to hire help with the pw dragon is just as exciting as Amber's the barn, shop, firepit, hot tub, mice and planting projects.

I'm over the moon for you......something like that can move everything forward and change perspective.  So glad!

Lighter

[Hopalong]

Aww thanks, ((((Lighter)))).

It really does help (with my brain)....to have help.
She sounds smart and good-natured and I look forward to it.

Two-three hours working together tomorrow, and again on
Monday if needed.

Costly but worth it!

hugs
Hops

[sKePTiKal]

Oh good Hops! I'm glad you found someone to help. If I let that stack of paperwork accumulate I swear it grows into mammoth proportions, the longer I procrastinate. It breathes down my neck and won't let me sleep - or do anything else until I begin dealing with it.

Skateboarding bulldogs? :eyes wide open:  Oh my. The things this pandemic has driven us to.

Any news on the dating front? Eye candy at least?

Lighter, are the girls continuing to recover solidly so you can go to the island and not worry? Sounds positively therapeutic: sun, sand & surf... but until B gets moved & fixed up, we can't think about running away for some play time. He still wants to teach me diving - and now that he's experienced my claustrophobia first-hand, knows it has to be in super clear water. But he hasn't been out west for years either... and I kinda have some rattling around thoughts about Wyoming and Montana.

But, I've been more & more in a simple joyful feeling space lately... that even mopping the mud off my floors sounds fun. I am truly a weirdo. Whatever y'all get up to doing this weekend - HAVE FUN!!!

[Hopalong]

LOVE hearing you joyful, Amber!

Not dating; haven't since pandemic began. No point fighting through those obstacles. And I needed a fallow season. Might or might not start again in spring. I'm thinking, maybe not. Maybe just go take classes that appeal, do exercise, join Sr. Ctr, see whomever I happen to meet with an open mind. Will return to findageezer.com eventually if nothing else pans out. But less with goal in mind, more just...why not.

You are NOT a weirdo. You're actually sounding a whole lot more like realest Amber.

How good to read.

hugs
Hops

[lighter]

The girls continue to feel better, Amber. Thanks for asking. 

The island trip is still on.  My brother is SO happy about the pizza oven and ice cream maker he's bringing.  I'm excited he's creating new family rituals and yummy food from our childhoods.  Oh.... homeade chocolate sauce, or what we call "dope."  I hope we can find Grandma's recipe.

You're welcome to explore the cottage and crystal clear waters if you decide to go diving; )  Lord knows you and Buck would tackle a little project and I would appreciate the help.

Lighter

[sKePTiKal]

Some good news!

So, B is cleared of infection allowing surgery to proceed. Surgeon did a pretty thorough exam to plan out location of devices. It can take up to a month for the approval/scheduling process to finally complete. Then at least a month for B to heal up enough to resume his aggressive work routines. It's taken a year to get to this point - but we're finally here!

I was silly giddy happy yesterday... and it feels like a huge load has lifted - for both of us.

OH... and I have a new kitty, courtesy of B. Black Jack is a few months younger than Stinker. Deep black, glossy, with big green eyes. One small white spot on his chest. And he's a singer. He is one of the friendlier ferals B has been feeding at his place.

I'm starting garden work the next few days.

[Hopalong]

Really, really happy to hear about B, Amber!
It does seem like the hope at the end of a torturous pilgrimage
for the poor man. Just the idea of him being out of pain is dazzling.

I watched an astonishing NOVA on my PBS Passport stream last night,
about the advances in bionic limbs (based on new types of amputation
surgery that create a biological joint and preserve options in nerves that
the brain can simply pick up on to recreate proprioception, amazingly).

Bet he'd like it. Bet you both will be rolling in spring sensations soon!
And btw, BJack sounds awesome. And gorgeous.

hugs
Hops