Beaver:

Going to minus 4F tonight! That is nippy! I added wood to the stove a couple times during the night last night, preferable to waking up cold. Means bringing in more wood - and de-cluttering the wood pile...

I had hoped to go to Quebec tomorrow with all the plants, directly to the new house BUT it will be below freezing tomorrow (not good for taking plants outdoors!) AND R still has not reached out to the owner to make arrangements. We were supposed to pay a month's rent on the 15th... It is complicated - by R & I not having the same priorities. BUT, since one of our fav groups of musicians is playing tomorrow night - their last performance as they change their priorities - I will go down anyway and stay until the next break in the snow falls. I will take Geri an agave wrapped in bubble wrap.

R says the Montreal house is fit now; he has been working on it for about a month and it is now ready for showing. There will be an open house on Sunday - and no snow predicted! Hopefully it will be sold to one of the anxious lookers. There have been 10, maybe more?, waiting to see it. An open house may bring out more. Hope...eternal!

Better news is that R et al have sold a property that has been trouble for years; much agony over getting it sorted out with various levels of government. So this is a big hurrah. A big de-clutter of R's overworked brain.

My wonderful "new" kiln quit yesterday, throwing a total monkey wrench into that planning. Larry came over this morning and showed me how to check fuses with a meter since it seems to be impossible to determine their condition by sight. Also how to open the fuse box for the "kiln room". The last pair of new fuses lasted 14 firings - firings are one of the few things I manage to record carefully. So, new fuses at the ready and new knowledge.

But the pots cannot come out until tomorrow; I will not get to see the new glazes and do one more firing (or two) accordingly until I return. I am trying to do a bunch according to friend Hannah's requests and have them for a family showing (hers). The family complained that they were not invited in October! I hope early next month will suffice.

I am wondering how much we will be moved by Christmas. While I tend to the "Bah humbug" attitude, there is a certain cheerfulness to the season which I am willing to accept - without all the trappings. I am certainly looking forward to moving the accumulated stuff from here to there. Oops! I just remembered that which I put in the van for storage! In this instance the snow is a great clutter as I will not be able to easily get to the mill carrying stuff (why I am not taking pots there to fire) so must wait until I can take it directly to the house. I hope for someone to plow the driveway there!