if you told a friend

that you were without a car,
and
that if the snow came, you would be alone as your husband wouldn't be able to get home from work
would you expect them to offer you to call on them if you needed anything?

is that a reasonable expectation?
especially if they lived within a stone's throw?

at least would you expect a reply even to the effect that they would try but may be too busy to help you if an emergency arose?

i am just wondering.....

ok during this brutal and unseasonal cold, i have tried to windproof the pens, without any real success on the back pen
i got the two smaller pens done ok but the back one is too hard for me to reach, too tall and too wide
i did what i could today with string (which i then lost) and plastic but there is a 10' by 5' apex opening that i couldn't do as i couldn't reach at all
so much for that......it's in line with the bad prevailing winds

so the birds will have to rotate the smaller pens
and the basement
i can put them out alternate days and alternate areas
so much for this cold snap
i may however give one of them a bath meanwhile
and phoebe and lilli had a knock down drag out fight today, so there goes my dream of the three ducks able to share the smaller by the house pen and falstaff goes into the a frame

why these ducks want to make me crazy with their pms is beyond me

in other news.......i have wool moths
i found a pair of felted clogs that i was going to put new soles on..........
forget that as they are totally tunneled.........i should post a picture before i toss them into the compost no?
oye
ok the other fast highlights
bernie cleared part of the studio for me while i was cleaning in the kitchen, cooking a cassoulet and making homemade yogurt.......in the new 1.5 gallon double boiler....which works like a charm and NO MORE black teflon specks in my yogurt ...(yogurt finishes up turning into yogurt by sitting overnight next to the woodstove...no towel nothing....it just works)

i love the new staub 3 quart, i made the rice pudding in it and it's to die for
i want some more of these enameled cast iron as they are wonderful
i made the cassoulet in the 6.6 quart red one from sam's club, and i want to pick another one of them up next time i'm down there
so now i got a 3 quart and a 6.6 .....i would like maybe an 8 or 1o quart
something large enough to roast a chicken in

i am thinking of meat rabbits......... i need to buy some rabbit first and see if we like it
if we do
i am getting meat rabbits
or planning to get meat rabbits

and that brings me to the garden, which is got me worried....
i am going to do a mix of lasagnia gardening, and container gardening this year
and hopefully some raised beds as well
i am also hoping for either a smallish homemade greenhouse or a hoophouse
we haven't had a decent harvest in two years, we need blockbusters this year

in knitting news....good news after the wool moth issue
is i started the felted boots, knit a boot foot twice and ripped it out realizing that it isn't quite right
SO
i am going to do the narrow sole from the alpine boots pattern by fiber trends
and then add the family classic felted slipper top to it, and a leg shaft instead of a cuff
that should work
i hope so as it's getting to the point where i need it to work
like right NOW
so with luck it will be done this week......hopefully before the snow
and if it does work.........i will be doing a few more
ok my little chicklets, i have to run now......this is actually for tomorrow but i'll post it tonight

take good care and stay warm