To The Surbiton Manor Born

  It is a time for indoor activities. The last week was that raw, unendurable, dangerous cold that we usually get for a week or so in January. Not unexpected, but not at all pleasant. The wood burning stove could not quite keep up. The security camera out back caught a poltergoose, repeatedly, that must have been lurking in our furnace.  The cold should break today. Though, as I sit here next to the fire, I can hear an absolutely howling wind blasting around us. Oh well. That's winter for you. It will make summer that much more sweet. This means that it is time to start purchasing seeds.  It's important to beat the rush. So yesterday I ordered up a packet of mixed salad greens, a packet of herb seeds, and some of the garden basics that we know we want: marigolds, tomatoes, Detroit red beats, acorn squash, snow peas, banana peppers, small stoplight peppers. I won't make the mistake of two years ago and start them too early. Nor will I make last year's (somewhat forced) m

The bitter cold comes every winter in Minnesota. This year it took its time getting here. Still, we couldn't escape so lightly. The snow came on Friday, followed by a bitter wind. It's minus one Fahrenheit right now, with a low of -7 predicted tonight. Last night was about the same. And it looks like it is going to be a wee bit chilly for the coming week. A light zephyr is wafting across the landscape. The wind chill is -35. Our fire cannot keep up. Our little wood stove (the very smallest one I could find, and the only insert that would fit into our tiny fireplace) is rated to heat 1,200 sq. ft. We've got a 1,600 sq. ft. living space. It's been plenty so far this mild winter. But not for this.  Still, in a reminder of why it is important to think about preparedness, I had a call from my mother this morning. Her furnace had gone out. She doesn't have a second way to heat the house. An inadequate electric fireplace is all there is. I offered to bring over another ele

 Good riddance to 2023.  Steepmeadow is in mourning.  We lost Muffin on 12/26. So our poor kitty, only 14 years old, is no longer with us. This followed a short battle with constipation and diabetes, and then multiple organ failure. She was a wonderful cat. One of the very best. Always ready with a purr and a snuggle.  Kiki wrote an obituary: Muffin A kitten acquired as the result of an impulsive act. I saw a “free kitten” sign in the Rogers/Princeton/Elk River area of our state. We were driving up to get a couch and I just knew I needed to stop. The home was full of cats, the woman had gathered up a batch of kittens and others from a farm and the smell of the bedroom was able to overpower the smell of cigarette smoke in the rest of the place.  I reached under a bed and like the claw game- I snagged a small one. I wanted a tiny kitten and I got one. Who could know that a 14 year relationship was just beginning and that she would turn out to be our wonderful Muffin?  I held her all the