isn't it funny

how even if you aren't consciously aware of it..... you do follow the rhythms of the season
when it's cold you crave carbs, fuzzy cozy sweaters and fabrics, open fires.
when it's warm you like more veggies and linen is appealing
this time of year i bring out projects such as felted footwear, leg warmers and other things i don't really knit most of the year.... i can knit socks all year, and lace......... but felted footwear seems to me to be a winter only thing..(maybe because i need the woodstove to dry them in a reasonable amount of time?)

so that's next i think.
i ordered the adult snug pattern from 'pickupsticks' i paid for a downloadable pdf.
according to the email i got

1.Our system will automatically email you your PDF patterns at 5 p.m. PST. Orders placed after 4:30p.m. PST will be filled at 5 p.m. the following day. If you need your PDF immediately, we can hand email it to you

i ordered at about 11-12 am/noon yesterday (sunday) so i figured, ok about 8 pm
i emailed them later about 8:30 or so to inform them that the automatic system appears broken........ as of this morning still no pdf in an email.............
maybe cause it was sunday? i hope so cause this clearly said after 5pm
and did NOT say weekends will ship monday after 5pm
i had hoped to start on this last night with that charcoal gray lamb's pride
if it works well........... i plan on doing a few of these outdoor soled boots
(last year i got side tracked)

now other things floating around.....
we're talking about solar and if it is feasible to do here, our electric is going up...by over 30%!
as the state mandated rate caps come off, we already use a LOT less then an average family or small home since i have replaced all the lights with those compact fluorescent, don't use the electric dryer, burn wood so the motor/blower/fan on the furnace doesn't kick in
turn off lights
have all energy star appliances.....
don't watch tv or listen to radio
unplug appliances such as toaster, coffee maker....
keep other lights etc on light bars with a on/off switch
use mostly hand tools not electric such as manual can opener etc
i also found that ironically CANNING over the course of the year saves a TON of electric
now we not only are going to get hit with higher costs BUT we need to pick an alternative electric company
the offers from alternative electric companies have started to arrive
i did find one that has totally renewable electric....which is the most interesting to me at the moment
we'll see how competitive the rates are
so back to the solar thing
if we could get the well pump and hot water on solar for now.......we would be pretty happy, followed by the fridge and freezers....... then the lights and stove and such
in order of emergency necessity that is
think about it........ no more electric bills....AND no more worry about power outages etc
there are tax credits and incentives as well.
now that also means we would have to stay here i suppose
i guess with high fences we can do that

there are a few more things that i have to deal with that are boggling my mind......
the solar thing is huge though
and something i would love to figure out how to do......how to afford it and all......
i've always wanted to be off the grid, imagine being off the grid and still having all the comforts of home
(except tv, that i don't want back ever......but bernie is starting to ask about it...... i would rather not have it)

what else today?
baking which didn't get done friday due to unexpected chicken complication
saturday due to over loaded dishes due to friday's unexpected chicken complications
sunday due to bernie being home (he was in the shop saturday working on our van)
and rain
and ice
so today is it then
i did however get the little candie canes
they are made from natural peppermint oil............ i was impressed!

it's finally warmed up here ( all things are relative you know...... warmed up right now is above 25 degrees) and the woodstove is extremely happy.
yesterday i got the stack temp up to 550 which is wonderful as it got cleaned out nicely
i shoveled a bit of the built up ash out
and heat poured out
so much so that last night we were again warm upstairs
and while i am 'upstairs'
we got a new bath mat for the bathroom, we didn't actually NEED one.... (although i like have two so i can trade off when one is in the laundry)
but they had a MAGENTA one........
i couldn't just leave it there
so now we have an all white and cream bathroom with a MAGENTA bath mat
sweet huh?

ok, it's now 5am...... i came down at 3
bernie came down at about 3:30, as he was concerned about iced roads etc
i got about two hours until sun up
so i am going to get dressed (or maybe sleep a bit more first?)
if i do get dressed, i will start the baking
oye
if i can........ i would like the trays to go tomorrow