November 18, 2006

id I tell you guys why the top of the stovepipe came off in the windstorm? We finally got the thing off the roof where it had been laying and discovered that the end that slides into the next piece was all rusted and corroded, and it went Snap! It was an older pipe that had been used previously and had been in the 'bone yard', so it was about time that it got replaced anyway. The pipe never had a cap on it before we moved here, so it was a 'temporary' fix which lasted a little over a year.

My guy had to work on his truck this morning, so he will pick up a new section of stovepipe on his way back home. It is always interesting shopping with a 82 foot long logging truck.

Amy stopped over with presents this morning on her way out of town. She made me three threading hooks for my spinning wheels, since mine got lost somewhere on one of my moves. These are way prettier than mine and I told her she ought to sell some. She plans on selling them for $3-4, so give her a shout at Highland Clover Farms. She is going to make some with semi-precious stones too. For those of you questioning, yes, they are supposed to have curves on them to go through and up through the orifice of my flyers on the spinning wheels. 

I had the rude awakening today of losing my team for the second time in five years of being around sled dogs. "Kid" had two friends over (one which is sorta his second girlfriend, albeit the other one was when he was like in the third grade) and her brother and we went dog sledding in the back 40. Thankfully "Kid" was on gate patrol while we were out there and hung around until we made the circuit. The 2 passengers leaned the wrong way and dumped us over as I could not hold the sled. It seems that the "steering handle"  is just out of reach.  So close.. so far.. 

"Kid" saved the day as the team got hung up under the gate with the sled, which never tipped sideways. He has never driven by himself and certainly not with 6 dogs. He got the team turned about, which can be quite the challenge in itself and came back to pick me up as I had to go the long way to make sure they did not tangle around a tree. He acted like he has been doing this for years and had all the commands down pat. I was rather proud of him. 

For those of you wondering, I was also wondering the other day why I talk about "Kid" more than "Teenager" and the reasoning is that I work more with one and my boyfriend works more with the other. We are set up in teams for most chores and things.

We got the new section of stovepipe on and we can build up the fire like normal, instead of 'just barely above freeze mode".

The magazine got 7 more subscriptions first thing this morning and a very nice letter from Eddie.

"Thanks so much for the copy. I have downloaded it and printed it already. Keep the great mag going. We need what you are providing. I like to learn new ways to do things, keeps me young. (GRIN)" Eddie in Wolfe City Texas

I get these emails and handwritten letters from time to time, I have a special place I keep them as they are boosters when things sometimes get rough at the magazine. Like when magazines get lost or the 'professional printer' says they were going to charge me $15 per copy my cost to get Winter 2005 done (which was a good thing as then we got our own press). Thanks you guys for sending them. 

jmaclover if you read the blogs, your email address is full and I cannot send you your free pdf from your subscription, please contact me.