Kitty Madness and Other Assorted Craziness

Helloooo

We're still here, I'm just trying to find a "good" time in my new work schedule to squeeze in a new post now and then.
Quick updates.  Linus has taken his string weaving to a new level.  I'm continually impressed by his creative genius.

Kitty Weaving Madness.

He has discovered if he wraps his string around the toilet it doesn't get caught and stuck as it does when he uses a chair leg.  The string is just the right length for him to "catch" the other end.  He will spend hours "chasing" his string to entertain himself.

Linus has worn himself out after a particularly intense session of kitty weaving.

We've been to the "farm" three four times now.  We've dealt with a non-working furnace, 38 degree indoor temperatures and frozen toilets.  The furnace is fixed now.  No major damage to report.  Amen.

There has been drifting, blowing snow creating three foot drifts across the driveway that we've gotten stuck in.  The drifts are always around the driveway curve and at the top of the hill at the most vulnerable spot were momentum is critical.
Numerous white outs on our travels up to Evart have created intense white knuckle driving conditions.

Yet, we still love our too brief sojourns up there and are impatient for that lovely day when we will be home.  

If you look closely you can see the barely visible lines of our driveway.  The shovel was my failed attempt to clear said driveway.  We ended up calling in the big shovels, you know the kind attached to pick up trucks.  The big shovel got stuck twice before the deed was complete.

55 mile winds created white out conditions on one of our trips.

The calm after the wind.

Drifts palooza.

Sunrise on the "stead."

Meanwhile, back in Troy we are living in a war zone.  The city is replacing the water main in our subdivision.  Great news, except we have large yellow Cat machinery whizzing up and down our street, digging up our driveway and yard.  In it's muddy wake we have brownish water with unknown particulates, unexpected water shut offs, Port-a-Johns on the street corners, mud on every surface, eight foot high piles of snow and dirt, plus those obnoxious orange barrels.

Our front yard where "Cat and Deere" have become a little too comfortable.

Our paved street disguised to resemble a dirt road.

Orange barrel alert.

The black plastic to the right of the photo is covering a new fire hydrant.  They are gleefully installing them every fourth house.

The "Cat and Deere" resting in front of our house.

The good times continue.  The sink in our powder room began leaking about two weeks ago.  I determined the cause of the leak was at the sink drain.  Jeff and I procured a new sink drain. I've been stymied ever since.  I can't get the old sink drain removed.  The sink is a pedestal sink and there isn't enough working room behind the the pedestal to use any kind of tool to help loosen the joint.  So the water has been shut off to that sink for week three now. 

The sink situation.

 Hannah was home last week for spring break.  On Friday night she informed us the toilet in the upstairs hall was not working.  We figured out the water wasn't coming in at the valve.  It was, of course, after five on a Friday evening.  No help available.  Hannah's roommate was also spending the night. The girls were forced to use the powder room toilet but had to use the kitchen sink or the upstairs hall sink to wash.

The toilet malfunction we confidently traced to an unannounced water shutoff Friday afternoon while the "Cat and Deere" were once again devouring our front lawn.  The water was shutoff, the water was turned back on and the toilet was no longer operating.  Those darn dirt particles can cause such havoc.

Kudos to the City of Troy, however, when we informed them of the unfortunate event. On Monday morning they sent a work guy out to fix the problem.  Here it is not even 1:30 p.m. Monday afternoon and the toilet is in working order once again.  Thank you Troy for your prompt response.

We did a speed trip up to Evart this past weekend, leaving Saturday morning and coming back Sunday around 1:30 p.m.   When we walked into the house we were assaulted by the malodorous perfume of skunk.  You know the stinky kind that makes your eyes water and stomach roil.  I had to be at work in an hour.  Just enough time to crack a few windows, change my clothes and boogie.  As I'm driving to work, I'm horrified to discover the smell of skunk has decided to be my companion for the day.  I spent the day at work keeping as much distance as possible between myself and customers.  I also went outside for carts numerous times in a vain attempt to "air myself out".  Not my finest work day.

Ice tree.

Despite the recent trials we seem destined to experience for unknown reasons, we always find peace and grounding in our brief visits to the farm.  On Saturday afternoon in Evart the sun was shining, the sky was blue and I could feel actual warmth radiating off the siding as I stood on the back deck.  That night as I stood on the deck the moon was a quarter disk of pearl white surrounded by a billion brilliant stars in a sky of blue/black and there wasn't a single sound of civilization. It was quiet without any traffic noises, dogs barking, radios blaring and fading as cars drove by.  It was refreshing peacefulness.  Ah for the day when it will seem commonplace.

Another sunset.

D :)