More winter preps

Had to finalize my wood storage before departing for Malawi because time is running out. This year, I constructed a new wood rack along the side of my garage. It's 24 feet long and can almost store 2 cords.
I now have enough for the winter that will soon be here.

Winter Preps 2013

I installed a wood stove/chimney back in 1998, and have been pretty much addicted to heating with wood ever since. It's a little curious because I never really grew up with it, except for a brief lapse in the mid 70's where my Father installed one of those Valley Comfort "12 hour burners" in response to the fuel crisis. It was much too large for our tiny home and it only survived a winter or two. I don't really save much money given the fact that I buy all my wood in city-slicker fashion (cut and split), but the comfort and peace of mind are invaluable. I took delivery of my last load yesterday, and recorded the "dumping...

There's probably enough for six weeks or so in that load. It's not quite dry, but I won't be using that particular wood until at least February. It's kind of comforting to know that if a winter storm knocks out the power, it won't really be much of an issue...drop by if you're in the mood for stackin'  :)

Thanksgiving and Stoving

This year, Thanksgiving afforded me an opportunity/excuse to try out an unused stove. Sometime last year I purchased a 2 burner campstove/oven combo unit. It sat idle until now. We had a bunch of people coming over for a Thanksgiving meal, about 15 or so. Saturday night I began to wonder if that lone turkey was going to be enough. We kind of have an unwritten rule in our home that nobody leaves hungry. Anyway, just to be certain, I ran out to pick up some backup protein. Alas, the stores didn't have much left late Saturday night. I resorted to grabbing two of those prefab Butterball stuffed frozen Turkey Breasts, concluding that the 6 pounds of extra white meat would set our minds at ease. Not my first choice but it would have to do...

They called for 4 and a half hours at 325F, so I thought this would be a good test, and it was nice and sunny out.

Since I had never used this oven, I knew I was taking some risk, but who cares right ? Adding to the recklessness, I decided to use a 1 lb disposable propane cylinder, the ones I despise.

The results while not perfect, were actually pretty good. It turned out that only one of the two were necessary, but leftover turkey is never a bad idea, salmonella notwithstanding :)

On the technical side, the oven is well insulated and very miserly on fuel. 4.5 hours and it consumed about 11oz of propane, or almost 3/4 of a one pound tank; that's not too bad.

All in all, it was a Happy Thanksgiving...

Overnight Trip

...finally managed to get away for a little paddle and a night in a tent. Everything went perfectly. Nice weather, lots of sun, little wind, and good friends.

...got to spend the night in my Alps Mountaineering Zephyr 2, even though I was not the first (James broke it in on me previously). It was only one night but hey, it's one more than last year. I must be more aggressive in seizing the day...ha right...

Heritage :)

This is a photo of my grandfather from 1957. When I first saw it I wondered why he was carrying a briefcase...silly me. It's a Coleman Stove of course. So, I kind of come by this madness honestly...

Outback Lodge Tent

A good Kijiji find, and addition to my supplies; a single walled throwback tent, Cabelas Outback Lodge. They are $350 new. At 10' x 10', it's quite the mansion  :)

It's seen some use, but is still in great shape. a classic with a single pole in the center...

It "only" weighs in at 16 pounds. That's pretty light for a beast of such size. I'm hoping to try it out winter camping, but we'll see...