Cold, cold, cold, a good day

The temperature dropped so suddenly over the weekend that we had to scramble to get freeze protection ready and make sure that we had enough three-gallon and five-gallon bottles to haul water from the well house out to all of the animals twice a day. Everything froze overnight Saturday night into Sunday morning, and Sunday never got above freezing. Today was well below freezing all day. Both days were accompanied with brutal winds as well. So, Mama, Norman, and I had to take water out several times a day Saturday, Sunday, and today. Any water that the animals did not drink was frozen solid in about half an hour. The freezing temperatures are forecast to end Wednesday. 

We will have several overnight freezes from Wednesday on, but the afternoon high temperatures will be getting above freezing which will allow the animals to drink from waterers that will thaw during the day. It's a fun time, but at least right now, with me retired, I don't have to be at my computer for 8 hours a day or in the office for 8 hours a day so I'm available to help as needed. Our hope is that we will be through with this brief cold spell and it won't repeat itself while Mama and I are in Honduras in a couple of weeks. That would put a lot of work on Norman.

To help the house keep warm we have had a fire burning in the fireplace 24/7 since Saturday night. Mostly it has been responsibility of Norman to keep the fire going overnight, but since he's up several times a night anyway, just for normal biological functions, it's a fairly easy thing to just stir the fire and put another log on. Mama and I generally put a log on the fire when we first get up, but that will only last a couple more nights. It has really taken a load off of our heating system to have the huge living room heated by the fireplace.

Today we spent some time and effort cutting up trees that had been laying on the ground for several months if not several years. It is probably the best firewood we have had access to in a couple years. Grandpa and Norman were both excited to see the wood that was split from the trees we cut up. The oak definitely gives off a nostalgic aroma. 

It was far too cold to work for long in the container, but since I had purchased the screws I needed to finish attaching the trim to the walls, I did take time to get that done. Hopefully, Wednesday, we will finish out the trim on the outside of the windows. If time allows, I would like to trim out the windows inside as well, but that is secondary. I need to rainproof the windows before we do too much more inside. 

During my time out in the cold today helping cut and split firewood, I also checked the barn lot well house. I was very disappointed to find the well lines had frozen. The freezing was not a hard freeze. More like the lines were filled with slush. The heater I have used in that well house for several years was not up to the task in the 6-degree overnight temperatures. Once I upgraded the heater, the lines quickly thawed, and I drained the tank and blew the lines clear to help expedite any repairs that will be needed when I get a chance to test the lines. It may mean hauling water to the animals for a couple more days, but we can handle that. 

I spent the early part of the day making phone calls. Some were just to catch up to individuals. Those calls were pure fun. Some were more related to what I will be doing in the near future. A call to Dr. Baugh, the curator of the Creation Evidence Museum in Glen Rose, TX was one of the most important calls I needed to make. As we talked, my role expanded in the research I will be doing for the museum. I asked a pointed question as to expectations for the schedule that will be required of me to move the anticipated projects forward. Mama was listening in on the call, so she got to hear what I was hearing. It will require some accommodations here at the farm and perhaps the purchase of a camper to allow me to overnight in or near Glen Rose one night per week. That is still a matter of much prayer.

One other important call was to the realtor friend Mama, and I have in Lawton, OK. His name is Glenn. We spoke twice today and have set the sale of our house there in motion. The current lease extends through July this year, so we may not move on the house until after that lease expires. The realtor, who is a go-getter, called the occupant of the house and let them know the house would be put on the market when the lease was up. Glenn was led to believe that the renters may be interested in purchasing the house. We will see where that leads, but the wheels are set in motion. 

It was a good day. A day where we could see the Hand of God moving in our lives.