Chimney cleaning for the winter
Yesterday was chimney cleaning day as we convince ourselves that the warm weather will soon be leaving and cold weather will be arriving. Yes, I rubbed soot onto my face when I used the back of my glove to scratch near my nose. Dignity, always dignity.
We aren’t ready to bring over stacks of firewood yet. We kept a small pile in the house all summer — just in case. We have finally reached the self-sufficient phase where all the wood in our pile is from our efforts and from the land. Mostly, it is fallen limbs or trees or dead trees that we had to take down. Last winter’s big snow storm did so much damage that we still have broken and fallen limbs to clean up. Some of the broken limbs that fall in out of the way areas are left on the ground to rot and replenish the earth and feed the critters that like that sort of thing.
The bats are back and feeding and flying. I’m glad to see them at work in the twilight time. I have difficulty following them because they are so fast and nimble in flight. In the low light, it is like watching shadows fly.
