Dec 23 - dog days

We might have actually, partially, tired out Cassie.  She spent so much time bounding about in the deep snow while we were cutting and retrieving the tree that she could hardly keep her eyes open back at the house !

So, yes, we did cut a tree.  I got out the 4-wheeler and trailer and it helped by bringing the tree across the lake.  That, while helping, didn't make it easy.  The tree is huge -- not so much in height (more on that later) but in girth.  The diameter at the bottom is close to 10' !!  I was prepared, with a tarp to roll it up.  We had to drag it out of the bush onto the ice, hoist it up onto the trailer (well, just the end), get across the lake, drag it up the slope to the side of the cottage, around the back, into the house from the back door and then stand it up.

It measured about 18' before I cut about 1.5' from the bottom and associated limbs.  I'll also end up cutting about 1' from the top where it's likely too spindly to hold up the top ornament.

With the tree stand in place, Sandy held that down while I propped up the tree; I then held that while she went upstairs to hold the top (we were standing it up close to the loft).  Once there, I tied the top and moved the base so that it was standing relatively straight.  I then took off the tarp and snow, ice and water started falling ... thank goodness for tile floors.  It's still standing there; we've got to move it across the room today.  I haven't figured out how we're going to do that yet ...

We'll have to do some branch trimming from the back and sides, obviously.  We can't have something 10' wide in the middle of a 20' room ... doesn't leave much space !  Right now the couch is pulled part-way into the kitchen, the living room rug is flipped up to keep it out of the water which thankfully has now dried up but this thing is going to shed a ton of needles as I try and move it.

Next year we have to plan the tree cutting for when David can be up here.  Of course we said that last year too.

The coffee roaster !!! is working full steam ahead.  For the last year Sandy has been complaining that it took too long to roast; seemed to be taking longer and longer.  The Florida one is the same.  I put it down to new control board / more conservative heating cycle.  Nope. With the fan cleaned, it heats up much faster and a roast that had extended to about 25 minutes is now done in 18.  That's major.  It changes the flavor of the coffee (for the better) !  I'll have to check out the Florida machine as well, even though I hate dismantling these things.

Today, Christmas Eve, the temperature is dropping again.  The sky is clear though so it looks like it will be a great day.

Onward !