Prepping for Winter

The autumn winds are blowing and winter is on its way in. I've been burning fires in the fireplace and wrapping my head around the fact that I am really living here now and that this isn't just a summer lark. This is my life. Also wrapping my head around the fact that C isn't in my life anymore and learning to be cool with that. Learning to turn the page. Learning to move forward. Learning to let go of a brief dream that seemed so promising.

It's funny how excited I am about installing these new windows I bought yesterday. The current windows are old ones from my grandparents' house that got new life and use here in the cabin. They weren't installed with insulation or winter living in mind. There are visible cracks between the sections where wind blows clean through.  When I lived here previously, 15 years ago, I tried to weatherstrip around them. I also stretched plastic sheeting over the outside of them to break the air blowing in. This probably helped somewhat but in the long run didn't really do a lot to stop the draft of cold winter air. The windows I bought yesterday are energy effecient, double-hung modern insulated windows. I only bought 2 and I'm going to need 6 more. They cost $170 each so I'm buying them a few at a time to cushion the layout of cash somewhat. I'm also excited about the reconditioning of the wood-burning stove I bought off my neighbor. It's an old cast-iron piece that's been sitting outside on his farm for several years. It looked rusty and beat up as hell until I bought some black stove polish last night and started working it into the metal as Curt and I sat inside the cabin drinking coffee and talking. He's a damn good friend. People like to joke about him and make fun of him for being such a hillbilly but I can honestly say he's one of the coolest people and best friends I've ever had. In many ways he's like the older brother I never had. We come from different backgrounds in many ways but we share so many common interests and personality traits that we get along great. He really is a an american archetype. I realized this the day I met him and as the years have gone by I've recognized this simple truth more and more. He's full of contradictions, failings, human qualities good and bad. I really can't imagine living here without having him on the far m next door. The place just wouldn't be the same.

Anyway, I was amazed at how much the stove polish improved the look of the stove. I got just one thin coat on it last night and it already looks so much better. In the days to come I'm going to apply a gooey stove putty to the cracks and welds on the unit and then go back over the entire piece with another thicker layer of the black polish. Last night I also purchased the stove pipe I'll need to get the thing venting properly. With a combination of the wood-burning stove, fireplace, electric wall heaters, modern windows and insulation beneath the floor as well as caulking various cracks around the cabin structure itself I think I will have this place pretty comfy this winter. I've cut and split firewood myself on my days off and Curt has been bringing me truckloads of wood too. When the needle starts dropping and the flakes start falling I want to be ready for it. I feel like I'm making progress with it and that feels good.