Winter comes to the gulch...

...And for once its timing is impeccable!

Al the Propane Guy came to the Meadow House right on time, late yesterday morning. Now, AthePG's -er-idiom is that he always shows up on time and equipped to do the job. But then he always finds some reason why he just can't, until you correct some safety- or code-related deficiency in your installation. Yesterday he tried. He really did. But he wasn't used to dealing with Landlady, whose idiom is that she dots her I's. So he ended up installing propane and hooking up the water heater, kitchen stove and - happy day! - the new blue-flame furnace.

And just in time, too.  Because this morning when I rose, I was greeted by:

Only an inch or two, but it's the first snow we've had so far this season.  A couple of hours after sunrise the clouds rolled back, and it turned into a very lovely day.

I told her that if the oven worked, I'd help her celebrate by baking a batch of my good butter biscuits for breakfast.  It did, so that's just what we did.  Then we spent the morning finishing up the insulation under her roof.  Next, a second more conventional layer will go just over where the ceiling will be, but in the meantime she's finally got a place where sane people might be happy to spend a weekend.

And now, I'm going over to the neighbors to enjoy a lovely, free turkey dinner!  Hope you're enjoying your holiday, because I sure am.