Fridge IS Dead, But I Don't Think So...

http://www.mnn.com/green-tech/research-innovations/blogs/if-your-fridge-dies-should-you-put-frogs-in-your-milk?hpt=hp_bn18

How Cold is It? Part II

Find the puppy! I had a bit of a panic last night when I lost track of Holly (yes, in Home Sweet Home). Found the chilly dog burrowed in her bed, in deep hibernation mode. Unwrapped her a bit for the photo.

How Cold is It?

The heat is on, and I'm making a pot of Dutch pea soup with herbs from the garden. Plan to enjoy it with some fenugreek gouda made locally by a Dutch cheesemaker! The windows are steamed over, and it smells incredible in here!

Look What Holly and I Found on our Walk

Jack in the Pulpit times two!

Reefer Madness

A couple seasons ago the refrigerator in Home Sweet Home gave up the ghost. The fix-it guy say it would be big bucks to replace the electrical panel, or I could just run it on propane. Plan B it was until yesterday, when it attempted suicide again. The tip-off was a puddle of water on the floor. I opened the door to positively balmy temps (60F/16C), although the ice cubes in the freezer had barely broken a sweat. Strange. I began evacuation efforts, cramming all my perishables into my travel fridge and farming out my frozen salmon to a neighbor. I went to bed annoyed, knowing I'd have to deal with it this morning. Well, today the crazy thing is working again. That's life in a tin can...

I Could See My Breath!

My little village is so eager to celebrate Independence Day that we start on July 3rd. It’s a nice event in the harbor park, with live music and fireworks to follow “at dusk.” I arrived shortly before sunset, well bundled and with a split of the local wine designated for sunset viewing. (As columnist Dave Barry used to say, I’m not kidding.) Clearly, the entire population of 201 was there—and each brought at least five friends. The sunset was glorious and never ending, and I was soon envying the fortunate few who were wearing down jackets. Apparently dusk does not follow sunset here, as I sat freezing for one and a half hours, waiting for the fireworks to begin. (Seriously, I was wearing a hooded sweatshirt and a jacket and trying to tuck my jeans into my boots.) I was flirting with hypothermia by the time the flash-and-boom began. I oohed and aahed for a few rounds and then forced my cold, stiff body back to the car. I could see my breath!

Progress Noted

We can now see fruit on the cherry trees. Yay! However, there is no progress with the summer weather. We're still using the furnace on a regular basis. So glad I brought lots of winter clothes.