Splitting time

October 15, 2007 (5:58am)

42º F, Light Rain, E Wind, 2 mph.

Good morning,

Saturday was a beautiful day. Sunshine and reasonably warm weather. The first day in a couple of week, the radar showed absolutely no rain on it anywhere in the U.P. Yesterday started out the same, but the rain came back late afternoon and is still here. It appears the rain will be with us for the rest of the week too.

It seemed that Saturday was mostly a wasted day as far as much progress around here for me. I spent most of it trying to get one of the furnaces in the main house operating. For what ever reason, the pilot light on it would not light. After fooling around, checking lines to make sure there were no other valves in the system I missed and that there indeed was LP in the line, it still would not light. Finally did get it to light, but it wouldn’t stay lit - too small. Never did get it to stay lit long either. I don’t know what is wrong with the system, have adjusted the pilot as much as I can, but fear it is too small the keep the thermocouple hot enough. Wrote an email to Robershaw, the manufacturer of the valve, and will see what they suggest. New valve costs nearly $200.00, on the way to the cost of a new furnace! When we get the wood furnace up and running, there will not be a need for this furnace at all, other than back-up and that may also change.

The real saving part of Saturday was the evening. Our church, and two others, had an ecumenical “Harvest Dinner.” It was a really good time and a time for us to meet other folks and to get to know some of our congregation better. The food was also great. Our church was responsible for the desserts. The ladies out did themselves. Margriet’s pies turned out good and I am certainly glad one was left home. I had a piece of blackberry pie which was excellent. I think I still have a couple of seeds between my teeth to be removed!

Yesterday I did manage to get the wood splitter cleaned up and the oil changed. Runs rather well again. I emptied out the wood from the lean-to at the door and split it. I haven’t seen so much crotch wood in a long time. Don’t think there is anymore in Iron County! There was about a face-cord there and most of it was too large to put into our little stove. Hard to put a 10" piece of wood into an 8" door opening. In a couple of hours it was all split into useable sized firewood. Now I need to clean out the lean-to and re-stack it again. I do want to put some sleepers under the wood rather than having it directly on the concrete floor. Probably will add more wood to the supply too. Most of what I split was maple and nicely dry. Like that part a bunch. There were several mouse nests in the pile too, so probably displaces some, hopefully to a different place not in a building here.

I have to preach at Grace in Kewaunee on Sunday, so probably will head to FISKLAND on Saturday morning. Not my choice of days to drive, but will make it. Probably load the truck on Saturday, then return here right after church on Sunday. Still some big things to get here.

Planned to go and work on Fjord this morning, but for some reason got up an hour and a half later than normal. Wanted also to get to my sermon before going, but that hasn’t happened yet either. Guess I will go about noon. There is enough to keep me out of mischief at either place.

Time to get the day a-going.

In Christ My Saviour,

Chris <><