Sunday, December 25, 2016

CHRISTMAS DAY

Hi everyone, Merry Christmas. Today is a good day, I was glad for the two most important things I look forward to. Waking up alive and coffee, lol. The temps. have been slightly above 0 to -24 degrees. I started my day off with a good breakfast.

Eggs, toast and ham with coffee of course.
Then I kinda sat around enjoying my coffee and the quiet. After awhile, I went out to split firewood to replenish my inside stack.

With installing the ceiling and my great wood stove, this stack will last 3 days in -24 degrees.

There is nothing more invigorating than splitting wood in cold temperatures at 69 years old.

 We finally got plenty of snow and that makes me very very happy. Seems Winter is the only season that gets my juices flowing.

This is my Christmas tree, the very first one I have ever bought and artificial at that, oh well.

This is how it's looking here since the snow we got, my deck



I am so glad I bought that $40 snowblower, it took about 20 min. to clear the snow.


Now! I've been holding off posting for something special. Last Friday, my friend Randy and I flew out to the cabin and yes, there was a glitch. It was cold and I mean cold, around -5. The skiis were stuck to the ice on the lake so, I had to rock the wing until he moved it to the snow.  Then, the engine was taking longer to warm up which took about 40 min.

Finally, it warmed enough to fly. We took off and Randy noticed that the gas was reading below 8 gal. he said he put 15 gal. in. Then the plane stalled for about 5 seconds and a lump hit my throat. it immediately corrected and the fuel indicator showed 15 gal. Everything was cool then and I do mean cool, more like cold. He had a gap in his slider window that came back on me, glad I was dressed for it, lol.

We got to the cabin without a hitch. We carried stuff to the cabin then, Randy went back out and tamped down a  runway to take off. I went to work taking some re bar ( 6 foot pieces of 1/4" round metal bars) and tied bright orange surveyors tape to them and distribute them as a guide to my cabin.

Why you ask? I have made arrangements to start having  things freighted out to my cabin so, I can spend much more time out there and do some work. My friend Chris who runs a lodge 16 miles North of me will be grooming the trail and freight my stuff out in a week to 2 weeks..

I apologize for not providing pictures, it was so cold, my camera would not work. Next weekend is suppose to be in the 30's and if it is, I plan to spend 2-3 days. So, keep your fingers crossed. Take care.







33 comments:

Mary said...

I've been splitting a lot of wood too. You must have a very efficient stove. I think that amount of wood would last me maybe two days. Maybe less.

Bushrat John said...

Hi Mary, it is a very good stove. It's called a Colorado stove, sold by Sportsman Warehouse here in Alaska. I'm pretty sure it is sold on Amazon, Bass Property and Cabelas. I paid $202. Thanks for stopping by.

Mike Silvius said...

The cabin is looking cozy. It don't take much to keep a small space like that warm. You have as much snow there as we do here. We have been getting warm spells in between snow storms so on Thursday it snowed and on Saturday it rained and now its about 13F out there. Bit of an ice rink outside now.

Anonymous said...

Hi! John, Merry Christmas! The snow outside on the trees looks beautiful! Glad you made a trip to your remote cabin and safely returned.
It will be nice when you get supplies transported to your cabin and then you can work on that! Best wishes in the coming year with many adventures! Take care, KC

Bushrat John said...

Merry Christmas KC, Thanks. I do love the snow. Can hardly wait to get working out there. Happy New Year.

Carol G said...

Merry Christmas John. I am glad you made it out to your cabin and that nothing bad happened on your flight. Very scary! Hope to hear about a longer trip with pics soon.

Bushrat John said...

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Carol. Thanks. It will start happening soon.

Washkeeton said...

Glad you made it out there!!! With the wood stove I have, that stack would be gone in a day or so. Hoping to have a new wood stove in the cabin the first of January.

Wash

Bushrat John said...

Thanks Wash, hope you get a decent stove. Seen quite a few on Craigslist. Good luck and hope you are enjoying your new cabin.

Washkeeton said...

I'm going the expense of a new one. Figure if get it right the first time I won't have to do it again. Wish you had gone to the lodge for dinner. It was beyond awesome. According to a friend of mine they hired a new chef out there. Hoping your dreams become a reality and I see more posts from your remote cabin. Happy Hollidays!

Wash

Penny said...

Merry Christmas and Happiest of New Years! Way to keep yourself young...and healthy, I'm sure. I hope your good spirits continue. I love snowy winters, too. I love how it challenges you and tests your mettle. When you're competent and lucky enough to get and stay prepared, I think it speaks peace and wonder to your soul. Thanks for sharing your experiences!

Bushrat John said...

Hi Penny, thank you. So good to see you checking in. Lately, I have been happy and feeling good and healthy. Stick around.

Bushrat John said...

Thanks Wash, wishing you and Seth all the happiness with your new cabin and life. Happy New Year.

lynn said...

Merry xmas John, so glad to see a post. Maine got it's first real big snow fall last night. Glad things are moving forward for you at the cabin, something to look forward too. Happy New Year

lynn said...

Merry xmas John, so glad to see a post. Maine got it's first real big snow fall last night. Glad things are moving forward for you at the cabin, something to look forward too. Happy New Year

Bushrat John said...

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Lynn. Good to hear from you. You guys got a lot of snow. My sister lives in Upstate N.YOU. and she got dumped on as well. Things are happening at the cabin. Take care

Anonymous said...

HAPPY NEW YEAR. 🎉 From Alabama John. Hope all is well with you .....your friend. Bert From Bama 😊

Bushrat John said...

Happy New Year, Bert. Everything is fine, hope you are feeling well.

Anonymous said...

Happy New Year John. Hope you get to spend some time at your remote property this year.. Family was going to make a run for our cabin tomorrow, but 2 dead batteries and some other maint problems slowed us down.. We'll try again when all the parts get here and we get the two older machines put back together.

here's wishing you a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year (glass of Raspberry juice held high)

Old John

Jim said...

Happy New Year!!!

40 minutes for the plane to heat up. Surprised it started at all. I've been watching "Ice Pilots" it takes place in Arctic circle above Canada. That makes me an expert right?

John I'm curious about communication when you are in very remote places. Suppose your friend says he will pick you up via his plane on a certain date, but then can't. How do yoou communicate up there? Do lots of folks have Ham (amateur) radio licences?

Hope you have a fantastic year!

Bushrat John said...

Hi Jim, here in Alaska and I'm sure it is the same in other remote places, communications isn't a problem. We have cellphones that work in remote places, aircraft and marine radios, ham operators and we have something called SPOT, it is something like GPS, only push a button and it will send a signal to 911 and it transmit your position within feet. If all else fails, I wait for my friend to show up.

Anonymous said...

Well John I'm getting your snow lol ,it doesn't snow in Alabama often.Its very hard to predict in this area because of the terrain.Suppose to get 2 to 3" we shall see.Ill just be snug as ah bug in ah rug staying inside.☕️🍩 Coffe n doughnut kind of day standing looking out the window 👀 Lol ... Will let you know how it turned out....take care my friend ....Bert From Bama

Bushrat John said...

Hi Bert, 2-3 inches isn't bad. Being snug, toasty, coffee and donuts makes for a good day taking it easy.

Anonymous said...

Winter update. ...snow just very little dusting..had sleet and freezing rain which shut us down sinse friday and temps not above freezing until noon monday.Thats the way it is in my area..it's so hard for meterologist to predict in alabama.And our city isnt equipped for clearing up the streets.How's the weather in your area? How soon do you think you'll get to your remote cabin? I'm sure your looking forward to it...well take care my friend. ...Bert from Bama

Unknown said...

I hope you and yours had a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and are having a very HAPPY NEW YEAR. May we display your header on our new site directory? As it is now, the site title (linked back to its home page) is listed, and we think displaying the header will attract more attention. In any event, we hope you will come by and see what is going on at SiteHoundSniffs.com.

Carol said...

Hi John, I know I am very late with my holiday wishes for you but I hope it was a good one and may this new year bring you good health, happiness and all good things. I love seeing your snow as ours comes and disappears again. Can't seem to hang on to it...lol. I am so glad you made it out to the cabin and hope you get to spend more time there. Looking forward to more posts from Alaska.
Take care John
Carol

Debi said...

hi John. just thinking of you. Debi

Unknown said...

Hi John,
First of all wishing you all good things to come in 2017. I have been away from following and blogging for about 3 years but yours is the first one I had to look for. So happy to see that you are still blogging and posting those breathtaking photos.
I look forward to following your life in Alaska, thank you for sharing your place in the world.
Laura

Bushrat John said...

Hi Carol, late or not, it is always good to hear from you. Thanks. We seem to be getting our share of snow, just not as much as past Winters. Look for a new post tomorrow.

Bushrat John said...

Hi Debbieveryone, it's always nice to know you are thinking of me. Thanks

Bushrat John said...

Hi Laura, it's so wonderful you came back and put me on your priority list. Hope you stick around. New post tomorrow.

Pat said...

Looking forward to an update!! Pat/Central Texas

Bushrat John said...

Hi Pat, you are just in time, new post tomorrow.