The dead zone

It seems to happen every year...the Holidays have come and gone, college football is over, hunting seasons have ended, and the cold wet weather keeps coming with the occasional too brief teaser of a much anticipated springtime every couple of weeks.  All that to provide an excuse for letting the blog languish.  There have been some activities since Christmas (we're not just sitting on the couch or going to the casino...although that has been in the mix).  I spent a good part of January and into the first of February doing my contractor work in Billings, MT.  I can tell you that the winter is much different in that part of the country.

The work went just fine, but there were a few nice things to see - like a sunrise over the rimrocks and the Colorado mountains in their winter mantle.

All said, I'm glad I'm done with the travel.  Billings is not an easy place to reach from Longville.  Speaking of Longville, there have been a few changes there during the dead zone.  We got Roux fixed to avoid unwanted mutt-puppies.  We also had her dew claws removed which necessitated a spell during which she was forced to wear the "Collar of Shame". (note: she looks skinny here, but has put on some weight since the artificially induced menopause to which we've subjected her.)

We had to walk her on the leash for a couple of weeks, and leave her on the porch to pine for squirrels...one time a little too long, apparently -

Well, on to more savory topics.  Denise went ballistic on the brush around the edge of the pasture while I was away.  I had to enlist help to dispose of it in typical piney wood fashion.

Also, we had to replace a solenoid on the riding mower to make sure all of our improvements did not revert to jungle with the oncoming warm season.  When I opened the hood, I discovered a fresh rat nest in top of the motor, complete with a stash of acorns and a very large and lively rat!  I can tell you that those Sears mowers are well made, because a lesser brand would have come apart due to the force with which I slammed the hood.  I had to make a run to the store to get an industrial sized-trap, which I baited and left right under the mower.

Success!  I placed the carcass out on a severed gum sapling (a remnant of the previously referenced manic brush clearing).  We'd been seeing a hawk hunting the meadow every morning...I think they have a nest nearby...and it used the stump as a perch.  The rat only lasted one day.

OK...I promise nothing else to offend the squeamish (in this post, anyway).

We've seized the 'dead zone' opportunity to brighten up the house.  We can now see in the kitchen - 

...replaced the dinky chandelier in the dining room with a simpler solution...

...replaced the bar of naked bulbs over the guest bathroom vanity...

...and added blinds to the windows in the front of the house (the final window treatment solution? ...we'll just have to wait and see).  I have to admit that all of the rooms are brighter and more cheery with these changes.

The list of improvements do not end there, however.  We took advantage of Joe's recent visit to fix the leaking kitchen faucet with an entire sink upgrade.  Deeper and larger (and it doesn't require any secret procedure to keep from dripping).

We also took on the little bit larger task of re-doing the front porch.  The demolition phase went quickly.

Replacing the 4X4 untreated (and rotten at the bottom) support posts with treated 6X6 timbers was the trickiest part.

The decking was the tedious part (Joe may never want to look at a cordless drill again!)

After trimming the excess planking and putting down the base of the trim (again, replacing rotting, untreated siding held together by countless coats of paint), the new look porch was beginning to take shape.  We ran into rain and ran out of weekend so the trim, steps, railings and stain will have to wait for his next visit...maybe Jack will be along to help next time.

For those of you who enjoy the porch swing - no worries; it will resume its rightful place once the renovation is complete.

We'll wrap up with a couple of tasty pictures (to wipe out any remnants of the somewhat disgusting images earlier in the post).  I tried my hand at elk/pork tenderloin chili when I was home alone...delicious, but we've just about eaten it all, so you're not invited to stop by for a bowl.  (It can be re-created upon request...with sufficient notice...so don't despair).  And Denise has not lost her touch on cake decorating, as evidenced by the wedding cake she made for Brandon and Kari.

(BTW - it tasted as good as it looked!)

Maybe the quickening that comes with spring will also quicken the frequency of these blog posts...maybe being the operative word there.  Later.