addendum to rain and lethargy and other stories

 That's right!  I forgot to mention that I'm fully functional now; I finally have my propane tanks!  I've been putting my washer and dryer to the test.  I have a set from LG and they sing to me when I turn them on and when a load is done.  The tune gets stuck in my head and I find myself whistling it over and over.  But my clothes are wicked clean, so who cares about earworms?  Dee-deedle-lee-dee-dee, dum-deedle-lee-dum-dum...

My dishwasher is a complex creature I feel I will never fully understand.  'Nuff said.

And my Pat-Boone-made-me-buy-it tub?  Well, I've discovered that I don't have enough patience to sit in a tub and soak, which is regretful.  Yes, the air and jets and lights and heat are all lovely, but after five minutes I've had enough and I want out.  Using it as a shower is a test of one's ability to contort (it's a tiny space) but I manage.  I'm ok with it not being THE BEST THING EVER.  It's still pretty nice.

I'm still working on the lower level, but currently I'm battling humidity that wants to keep everything dank and musty.  I've been told that once the concrete foundation cures, this will go away.  In the meantime I'm spraying copious amounts of Lysol and have two dehumidifiers going 24/7.

I've been running the mini split on air conditioning mode and it's doing a fantastic job.  You could have knocked me over with a feather when I saw my entire electric bill during a blazing hot spell was only $49, and most of that was the mysterious "delivery charge", not my actual usage.

The built-in air fryer in my stove is pretty cool.  Yes, I've actually cooked.  Send up the flares.

So, yeah.  I'm pretty pleased with my little pad.  Limited space keeps my hoarding tendencies in check, I love the open concept, and I sleep pretty well at night.  What more can a girl ask for?

rain and lethargy and other stories

 Something strange is happening to me.  I'm not sure if it's because I had (for the most part asymptomatic) Covid-19, because I'm "a woman of a certain age", or maybe side effects of the Covid vaccination, but I can't seem to rally any enthusiasm for...well, anything really.  Lately I find that I have little to no energy and even less ambition.  I've been forgetting things and making foolish mistakes at work.  It's been difficult to get the house situated when I can only seem to get through a couple boxes per week.  I haven't done anything with my yard, which is depressing.  I want to get a fence up first so I can better judge where I want things to go, but lack of money and lack of  ambition are a hindrance.  I need to fence the mule track, but again...no ambition. I don't think I've ever experienced this level of apathy in my life.

We've also just clocked the 4th rainiest month in New Hampshire in recorded weather history.  If it's not raining, it's hot, muggy, and generally oppressive.  This sort of weather doesn't exactly bolster one's ambition, either.  It's been great for the gardens and the wells, though!  I haven't felt too guilty washing load after load of bedding, towels, clothing, curtains, and whatever else I've come across while unpacking.  Man...why did I ever think I needed that much bedding?  I had 3 bedrooms in my old house, and I think there were sheet sets and quilts for each bed according to season.  I'm happily purging my ridiculous amount of belongings once again.  

I have, however, been absolutely loving watching the wildlife through those huge windows.  There's a large doe and her spunky little fawn, a doting mother turkey and her two little chicks, Huginn and Muninn - the very vocal ravens who love to sit in the mulberry tree and shriek with delight, and a gorgeous blonde coyote I've been calling The Beast and her happy little pup.  I've even set up a game camera in the hopes of filming these wonderful creatures.  So far I've got about 30 hours of great footage of tall grass blowing in the wind.  With my trusty DSLR, I've had better luck.

Momma Turkey and her chicks; the second one is in the grass to the right.

One of the ravens.  No, I can't tell them apart.

The fawn spots Momma Turkey and her chicks.  One chick is just visible to the right of Momma.

Harassment.

 

Run away!  Run away!

 

The fawn would assess the situation, then slowly creep back toward the turkeys only to be chased off again by Momma.  This went on for a while.

The Beast, snacking on mulberries.

And after I had started this post, my game camera was able to capture some pretty amazing footage of the coyotes.  CoyoteS...plural.  It seems there are actually two pups, and another adult.  Mate?  Last year's juvenile?  I'm not sure.  The Beast decided to bring the whole family to the pasture in broad daylight the other day to stalk Momma Turkey and her chicks, but I won't have such shenanigans.  Not in the daytime.  Nope.  Whatever goes on under cover of night is fine, but I don't want the coyotes becoming too comfortable running around our yard, so I ran out and yelled, and the pack took off.  Mom brought Roo dog down into the pasture and Roo did her best guard dog impression, barking and growling and running back and forth, and the pack didn't return.  Momma Turkey didn't return, either, so I have no idea what the status of that family is.  

Thug life?  Nah.  Woods life.  Gotta love the drama.  😉