Friday, 1:55 pm: It’s the afternoon and it’s -5° (F.) and the wind chill is -17° (F.). I’ve already brought in my daily allotment of firewood, plus a little extra for this evening. Now it’s time to kick back and relax. It seems that life in the country, work is never really done, just brief respites.

I forgot to get up last night to stoke up our woodstove, and our inside temperature plummeted. When I finally did get up at 5:30 am the temperature had dropped to a chilly 48° (F.). Within a half an hour or so the temperature was back up into the 60s.

My wife has been complaining about this writer’s recent choice of foods. Ruth thinks I’m nutritionally challenged. She states, I am eating too much processed meat and bread and not eating enough vegetables. Yep, she caught me alright; I am guilty of eating too many hotdogs, hamburgers and assorted cold cut sandwiches. I plead no contest. Hmmm, and I thought I was intellectually challenged, at least today. Always onward!

Current values from our wireless Vantage-Pro weather station:

Temperature: -5° (F.)

Wind Chill: -17° (F.)

Barometer: 29.631 & steady

Humidity: 44%

Wind: NNW at 9 mph -- variable

Visibility: > 3 miles

Skies: Clear

Precipitation: None

Since midnight:

Low temperature: -15.5° (F.) at 6: 25 am

Low wind chill: -24.8° (F.) at 9:15 am

High wind: 18 mph at 11:20 am