Hi, my friend, Sorry to be so late getting back to you.
I have been crazy busy. I am all well now, but I caught a bad cold (rhino-virus) lasted a couple weeks, but no fever nor body aches & the chest/head congestion went on for ever 2+ months, and exhausted all the time, competition getting air into my lungs. Had a roof leak and replacement this Fall, so I had to redo my under the eves storage. Tear out & replace the insulation, I have the insulation in, the rest I will do in Spring/June. My ancient kitchen faucet fell apart, literally, pieces flying. I had bought 1-1/2 years ago, a new faucet, high arch, single leaver, pull down with stream/spray toggle. So now I couldn't put it off and I installed the new faucet, just now. It was cheep, on deep discount from Home Depot, last one, cheep. And, the toggle stays on spray or stream until I change it, no matter how many times I turn the water off. Oh, I was taught by my father, I do all my home repairs, myself. My friend hurt his back & couldn't help replace the roof so I had to hire a roofer; but I already had all the materials. We have had a very mild winter again. I still haven't run the snow blower since winter of 2017/2018. I start it up to make sure it works, and move it around the yard to get it out of my way, during the warm months. Here in central N. H. we always have had spot temperature drops to -30 below 0, during January & February; also, weeks at a time never rising above freezing (32*) during the day. We had 1 single digit night time temperature in January & none so far in February. We have had a lot of up in the 40's during the day. So Global Warming is real. When I moved here 32 years ago we were a solid/tender Zone 4, right now I am a warm Zone 5b; and as of this winter I am a hardy Zone 6a. A super hardy Zone 6 (well sheltered) could thrive here. We have lost a lot of our amphibians, the hatching time of the amphibians is not matching up with the hatching time of the insects they need to eat to survive. Also most of the bugs they eat need very deep cold temps. to survive & the temps. are not going cold enough; so, not much biting bug activity in the spring. That is also hurting the migrating birds; lack of food to replenish from the long flights. Earth, hurts & has a temperature. I only put out black-oil sunflower seed, high in fat; It is all my birds ever eat, they ignore the song bird stuff. I never have to replace it all winter, they won' touch it, even if it is all that is there. And we have a lot of birds coming back early. The last week in March has always been the start of maple syrup season. They have been collecting the sap since late January, around here. Oooooww, I just checked the weather, we might get 1-4 inches of snow tomorrow. I just drive on that with my wide studded tires & pack it down like they do in Canada. Here's wishing you and yours a great Valentine's weekend; mine will be, even though I am working, I'll have fun. Hugs T. P.
