Jan 4 - think it's time

It was a cold one yesterday.  The temperature did get over 0F / -18C but not much.  This morning it was -3F a little while ago and has now "warmed up" to -2F.  It is supposed to be a few degrees warmer by the time we pull out, but no enough to keep us here !  A few snowflakes have started to come down.

I can now walk on the ice.  I wouldn't go far but had we been staying, I would have been able to do some ice fishing today.  C'est la vie.  Cassie has a healthy fear of the ice.  It must be instinctive.  She won't go on it.  I guess that's a good thing  Next Christmas she can learn to go ice fishing with me ... if we have ice !

Sandy continued to clean.  I went into town and got the mail.  Bell long distance will be turned off shortly.  Xplornet will be turned of as of tomorrow and, unless I change something in between, back on May 15.  A few hours from now it will be colder in here; heat set at 50F / 10C. 

I did all my computer backups yesterday; that takes some time.  Before I change houses I back up all the recent docs and pictures to a local backup drive as well as a carry-along backup drive.  That gives me offsite storage of critical stuff.  

I decided to bring in the ATC batteries and topped up their charge.  Now all the batteries are disconnected.  They'll pretty much retain their charge in the cool of the house but no freezing like outside !

We are pretty well packed but nothing is in the car yet.  At this temperature I don't even want to leave dog food in the car. 

We're hoping to get away around 8am.  That would be relatively easy except for moving all this stuff up to the car and packing in the dark ... and cold.  I'll bring the car down from the barn around 6:30 and start loading.  I told Sandy to plan on "water off" at 7:30.  It takes me about a half-hour to let the pipes drain and prep the toilets and sink traps.  She's keen on getting away around 8am

Most of the fridge contents have been moved to the downstairs fridge and freezer, save what we need this morning and are taking with us.  Sandy will take care of that and do the blinds. 

Southward Ho !