Fire Safety

 I am the daughter of a fireman. Now they call them all firefighters, but my Dad was a Fireman.

Fire safety was taught to all of us at a very early age. We had fire drills - I'm not too sure who's idea it was to have said fire drills, but we had them - There was 9 people in my family so it was very important to plan "in case of a fire" drills. We all had to exit the house and gather at a specific bush in the front yard and be counted.

I respect fire. 

We have a firepit in our backyard and I enjoy a good bonfire, but I know never to leave a hot fire and do not pour flammable liquid on hot coals.

We own a fire extinguisher - I know where it is stored and I know how to use it.

I check for the exits when I am going to a new public place and mentally plan a fire escape.

I try real hard to remember to keep an eye on candles burning.

I respect Fire.

So when the gas starter extension pipe on my fireplace broke off I kept a close eye on the flame that remained.

I notice last year that the firebox was crumbling and cracks were showing. I took a picture and went over to the place who installed our fireplace. He sold me some putty for the cracks and told me to buy a reflector for the back wall.

This year I had a bad feeling that what I did wasn't enough so I called "The Retired Fireman".

He came and took one look at our fireplace and told me I was lucky the house hadn't burned down. Not quite what a Fireman's daughter wants to hear. His father was also a fireman so he understood how embarrassed I was.

The broke pipe was like a flame thrower destroying the firebox.

He replaced everything and got me back on track to safely enjoying my fireplace again.

He recommended a moisture meter so the wood I was burning was dry. Wet wood - not good.

He also suggested a ash vacuum. 

We have had this fireplace for 15 years and I always swept and shoveled the ashes into a  bucket. 

It even has a light so I can see what I'm doing without getting down on my butt and leaning in.

I always say Use it up. Wear it out. Make it do. Or do without. Well, I am never going to be doing without this thing. It's a godsend.

Now I am back to enjoying safe, warm, beautiful fires, till the spring comes and winter weather goes away.

Footprints in the Snow

 We finally got some snow.

It doesn't matter to me and Sharen - we still take our morning walks everyday. Our limit is 10 degrees, so we only missed one day so far. Though we have had to wait till the afternoons a couple times.

The great thing is that we can see the prints from the wild life that live in our neighborhood. 

I thought it would be fun to take pictures of some and send them to the grandsons to see if they can recognize them.

They got them all right.

Bunny - this was pretty easy for Owen 

This one threw them - Dog

2 squirrels playing on the driveway

pretty easy - Deer

I texted them to Mary and she shared them with the boys. They had a good time with the pictures and I had a fun time hunting them down on our walk.

They especially liked these 2. Mine and Mike's snow angels. We had fun making these - feeling like a kid again. Laughing and playing in the snow.

I looked forward to meeting up with Sharen and walking every morning. She feels the same. So snow won't stop us and cold just slows us down a little bit. 

February Vacation

 For the last 12 years, ever since retirement, Mike and I have taken the first 2 weeks in February and gone on a vacation to someplace warm to celebrate our anniversary.

We usually take along our golf clubs and spend a few days playing golf.

This year with the pandemic and with strong advise from Mike's doctor not to try swinging a club for at least 6-8 months after his last knee replacement (Nov. 9) why take the chance.

So we are both ok with being home and getting some home improvements done.

But Mike's clubs need to be taken out and someone needs to get the cobwebs cleared.

This is what I found in the garage. 

Time to get Mike's knees better and him back out on the golf course and the cobwebs removed.