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71

Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board / Re: Farm Journal - 2025

« Last post by sKePTiKal on January 27, 2026, 10:28:52 AM »

Well, I made an attempt to shovel snow yesterday; took me longer to suit up for the cold than I was able to stand it out there. I did make a path next to house on the deck, to the "back door" in the bedroom. Snow is deep enough out there to provide them a wind break, while they're below it.

Jack snuck out the first night and didn't come back in till 2:30. Then he wasn't happy, he was snow covered and cold. It was his own fault. I've been letting the whole crew out in the mornings for an hour to get their curiousity sated & their zoomies out.

We are being slugs too. Except for B's snow plowing. He probably won't stay out as long today. I'm making chicken & dumplins. I also have split pea & ham, using Swanson's spicy chicken broth - VERY good. Probably make fancy grilled cheese sandwiches for that.

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Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board / Re: Farm Journal - 2025

« Last post by Hopalong on January 26, 2026, 08:41:51 PM »

Oh goody. I'm so pleased you enjoyed it!
That handmade tile with a freaking tiny built-in vase (bud vase?) got to me too.
Girl had a creative love for what she was doing, much like yours.

I didn't look up the depth of snow here, I'd guess six inches, but the ice on top is really all that matters. As with every winter, I feel zero worry about "getting out." So many friends are measuring how they're managing are extremely focused on clearing driveways so they can get out as quickly as possible? Me? Maybe I'll worry if I'm not "out" by crocus time.

Being retired it's easier, but I'm fully enwombed, cocooned, cozy and to my shame, LAZY.
Pup is devoted to food, warmth and brief excitement skittering through the yard for about five minutes.

I could be decluttering, but I've found someone I might hire for help with that, after melt.

hugs
Hops

73

Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board / Re: Mindfulness and codependence thread

« Last post by lighter on January 26, 2026, 12:22:25 PM »

Youngest DD and I are in big lake house.....keeping temp around 65°....in case power goes, don't want it to be a shock.  We also sleep better in the chill.

We've gathered wood.....spent to me cooking together....taken every meal together, besides breakfast this morning.  I was hungry.  She was sleeping. 

It's windy and 35°.  The ice is solid....looks like snow.  How does it stay frozen in above freezing temps?  So weird.

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Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board / Re: Farm Journal - 2025

« Last post by lighter on January 26, 2026, 12:16:51 PM »

It was peaceful, Hops.  I enjoyed the use of reclaimed windows, lighting, switches and wood.  The gal built that entire tiny home....thought through toilet and kitty litter clean out from exterior....the handmade tiles, with little plant holder, very special. 

I have to say .....that projects way above my pay grade, but so fun to see.

How's the weather in your neck of the woods?

Lighter

75

Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board / Re: Mindfulness and codependence thread

« Last post by sKePTiKal on January 26, 2026, 09:21:46 AM »

Well, we did all out 'outside' storm prep a week ago up until Saturday. So, I feel like I've been 'shut in' for a whole week already. Cabin fever maybe setting in.

B wants to harness the 2 toms who are good hunters (not so much, Stinks) and go hunting mammoth. The round little girls are just pudgy lovey lap heaters.

Power has stayed on, so far. So studio will be nice and warm... it would at least provide Hol & I a change of scenery...

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Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board / Re: Farm Journal - 2025

« Last post by sKePTiKal on January 26, 2026, 09:12:48 AM »

We didn't get that much snow; 6-8 inches. But sleeted very fine flakes of ice all day yesterday. And the snow on the roof slid off in big piles onto the back deck (it faces west). Today MAY begin the digging out, except I remembered: once the crust of ice is broken up, the powdery snow will drift in the wind we're going to have most of this week. And the feels like temp is going to be about zero all week, going below zero at night.

Then, next weekend the AI is forecasting another 8 inches of snow again. Rumor has it, there is another storm setting up AFTER that one too.

I keep hearing a line from a poem, that was frequently used in Peaky Blinders: In the Bleak Midwinter... it's because I haven't been feeling 100% and my house is so small (especially with 5 cats draped everywhere) that I've just been sitting in front of the tv & computer. B was full-on storm prep up until it started, so we'd have dry wood, vehicles taken care of, etc.

Today, I think I've rounded a corner... and am a grumpasaurus... so I'm going to do SOMETHING useful today. Maybe thaw the venison and round up ingredients for crockpot venison stew, as I TRY to take over clearing the decks, while B plows. It's so cold, we can only work about 1/2 hr before having to warm up. We both have experience with extreme cold - so we know how to cope. Everything is going to take longer and that's just out of our control.

But, Hol did make it back from airport with C and I'll touch base with them in a bit about work coordination.

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Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board / Re: Mindfulness and codependence thread

« Last post by lighter on January 26, 2026, 02:16:49 AM »

It's Converse Shoreland tenny pumpers for me.

Sometimes brown leather biker boots or soft luxurious cowboy boots....gifts from my Mother.....a mountain trip....her mountains.

I have a pair of her fancy fur boots....black.  she had many. A pair of green sub zero boots, with inserts, that were my father's....never worn.

I used to wear sandals, a lot, but my toes rebelled, ending that.

I'm not having a great day.....storm prep.  Kids not committing to leaving mountains with me, so I can shut off water into house, and drain the pipes......I want to kick the new instant hot water heater to death.....straight natural gas is SO SMART cause one still has hot water when power goes.  This new tankless thing requires I blind unscrew front panel and reset button A to get to B to raise water temp back to HOT, bc it only gets warm on default setting. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

The handyman, who cancelled when I was halfway home from lake house Monday morning to meet him, is here an hour late, using my leaf blower and shovels.  I was shocked he brought gloves.  Not shocked he left his message board icon picture, him, appearing to angrily look down at viewer, like one is stuffed into the floorboard of a vehicle.  He was a short man....quiet.....worked a shov l like a 5yo with a trowel....asked to leave at ,3:00.....explained his day this way:  High blood pressure, worried he was stroking out, wanted to come back in the morning.  I wasn't up for it .....have him and extra, newer shovel, and wished him well.

No hot water this am..... there's some kind of baffling mystery around the electric wire used to tie in power for the unit......a huge PITA so far.  "Fixed" for now.  Will see.

During yesterday's heater install....the contractor answered a call from him s basement renter, then ran out the crawlspace, bc his wife and a dog got "tore up" by other dogs....hospital .....just ran.

He cam back, but was shaking.....kept repeating...."lawsuit, not gonna recover from this."
His dogs killed his renter's shitzu.....OMG.

And so it was we finishedthe heater install  that failed this morning.

I'm having another coffee......a terrible idea, but the warm comfort is apparently worth the increased caffeine stress.

The wrens are back, checking out their watering can nest.  Reminding me to breathe, and carry on with what I can do.....to give gratitude for the lovely things you n my life.

I've stopped worrying about the ice and snow.  The kids will survive.

I'll be at the lake, prioritizing self care and upcoming projects.....
or, as quoted from Strange Brew, the movie...."I'll be in the kitchen, selling smokes."


 

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Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board / Re: Farm Journal - 2025

« Last post by Hopalong on January 24, 2026, 11:53:01 AM »

This made me think of both of you, Amber and Lighter, though tastes vary and y'all are waaaay post hippie, still thought you'd relate in some ways to this woman and her B.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onqPvEFnFHE

It was a pleasant, peaceful story to wake up to and have my coffee with.

Off to a big local diner-ish spot with my pal, who has anticipatory cabin fever, LOL.

hugs
Hops

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Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board / Re: Farm Journal - 2025

« Last post by Hopalong on January 23, 2026, 11:09:10 AM »

Hope you'll be careful too Amber...it'll be a yikesey, sounds like. I'm not looking forward to it as my block "turns off" too often. Ironically, since there's a power station close by. Oh well. I'll be under the covers with Pup and we'll just tough it out. No choice really.

I can't clear snow or ice so all I do is wait for it to melt.

I'm also very affected/addicted when I lose the internet. I'm very dependent on being online to feel connected to much of anything.

Stay safe and warm and enjoy snuggling and vegging out with B!

hugs
hops

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Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board / Re: Farm Journal - 2025

« Last post by sKePTiKal on January 23, 2026, 07:35:08 AM »

I hope you ladies are ready for the ice storm. Lighter, you'll probably see the worst of the ice on this coast. Power outages expected; probably trees down in places. And freezing (near zero) temps. Fortunately, I don't think there will any strong wind.

Cold is already settling in here. We're in the mostly snow range - a foot or more. That puts B and maybe Hol on plowing duty. I can shovel around the decks and jeeps. C needs picked up from the airport - Sunday was original flight. Storm is expected to continue here & north into Monday. LOLOL. A person just has to work around the weather! I'm probably gonna have to reschedule eye appt Tues if my jeep can't get out to the highway.

We went out Tues/Wed to prepare to be snowed in and total slugs. MIGHT lose internet - our starlink is on a plug that's not on generator. The ipad has it's own cell chip - so as long as the tower is up, I have my "lifeline". LOL. Hol and I did a radio check yesterday (handhelds) just in case.

As long as there's no wind... we should be good. Even with the arctic temps.