Working Hard:

:

 Today we have been here full time for 25 years. Over the years we have discovered there are certain tasks that we need to do in preparation for the next winter. Getting an adequate amount of firewood is essential but other tasks are equally essential. We have our doctor and dentists visits as when the snow does arrive it can be risky making the 100 mile round trip to town and back. The roads drift in quickly and can make going and coming home a challenge. 

Then there are tasks like painting and staining exterior surfaces due to weather, wear and tear Servicing the tractor and implements so they will be ready when needed. Service snow throwers and chainsaws. Spreading road base on the driveway to keeping it from eroding away. And this year working on cutting and hauling to the burn site all the trees that blew down last winter. There are dozens more tasks that are required and can only be done in the non snow months. 

I read somewhere recently that a person was getting ready for winter as they get a whopping 100" of snow each winter. I had to laugh as we get on average 265" and we deal with it for roughly 8 months. Getting 100" would be a really nice winter for us. 

Today Carol is headed into town to get the Jeep serviced and that will be  one more item off the list. We still need to get Klaus and Lucy in for their shots and check ups. I need to clean the chimney and wood stove (dirty job) so it will be ready for next winter. We already have our firewood in which is roughly 9-10 cords of split and stacked fuel for next winter. 

I have the tractor to service where the oil is changed and the hydraulic oil is drained and replaced. I also go over the tractor checking for any loose bolts, lubricating the grease fittings and in generally just give it a complete check. 

So life here in the mountains sometimes seems non stop work and preparation. It is a hard lifestyle - especially when we live like we do. Not everyone heats with a woodstove but then we love the radiant heat. It is a more simple life but does require more work. I recall when we lived in the city and had central air and heat that it seemed the furnace blew cold air even though the room temperature was comfortable. Wood stove heat is not fake but real heat. 

Hard work even when you are in your 70's and 80's has its own reward and to boot it keeps us fit and healthy. I'm afraid city life for me would result in a much shorter life span. The fumes, pesticides people and cities spray, the noise and light pollution, the treated water that comes from your tap all in my opinion are unhealthy. 

We have fresh clean mountain air, pure water that comes from our well and more than ample physical work that keeps us healthy. It may be a hard life but it is a satisfying life and I for one enjoy it.