I could’ve relied on Deb, who works near the post office, to get our mail today — there were two packages ready for pickup, both of which I needed in order to wrap the woodstove install — but waiting would’ve set my work back still another day, and that didn’t sit well with me.
Running counter to my penchant for efficiency, then, I drove to town and grabbed the parcels myself.
I wondered if there was anything else I could do, as long as I was out, to make the trip more worthwhile. I remembered that we need pallets to accommodate the cordwood I’ll bring in over the next few months, so I continued on to Miller Hardware.
Any time my business takes me out behind the store to “the yard,” I can count on an extended visit. As usual, young Devin and I talked fishin’.
After dropping off the pallets next to my woodpile and pausing to photograph a curious whitetail fawn, I got to work installing the fresh-air kit. A task that promised to be straightforward wasn’t — the three-inch hole saw I bought probably should’ve been three-and-a-quarter, meaning that I had to enlarge the hole to feed the duct through the wall.
It was harder than it had to be, but I got it done.
Once the duct was connected to the woodstove at one end and to the inlet screen outside, I mounted the trim plates. The exterior fixture got a generous bead of caulk to seal it against the elements.
It turned out okay, actually. (I readily admit that’s because I’m getting better at hiding my fuckups.)
Tomorrow morning, I’ll seal the gap between stove and flue with high-temp cement. Then, I expect, I’ll power-wash several panels of barn tin and get busy on the heat shield.
The beat goes on.
This (pictured) is a salad I had with dinner last night. It may not look particularly appetizing in the photo, which was only a quick snapshot, but it was amazing.
Iceberg lettuce (still my favorite). Cucumbers, sliced thick. The star of the show was two big chunks of herbed farmers cheese, handmade by one of Deb’s customers at the bank.
Balsamic vinegar and several spoonfuls of oil from the Mason jar of cheese dressed the dish.
The result was an explosion of flavor, yet the ingredients were simple. I still have the fixins for another round, which I plan to enjoy tonight.
Take care of yourselves, Patriots. Stay calm. Stay sharp. Stay free.
#WiseUp #LibertyOrDeath #Ungovernable
#LetsGoBrandon #FJB