Winter Woes at the Farm

The kitchen sink

In the winter we leave a trickle of water running to keep the pipes open. The reason that we do not turn off the water is because we can't. We have a boiling spring way up the hill in the woods. Unfortunately things have not been moving this year, as we had hoped. We have not been out to check things since the middle of November. The toilet split, but I will spare you that scene.

Bathroom sink

If you are wondering what those funny cups are over the hot water tap, we don't have hot water. People who visit naturally think we do and turn it on. This makes problems in the cellar. And yes, that is "cellar" not basement.

Bathroom rug

Oh, we've had our winter woes in the past! There was the time when we heard the water running as we entered the house only to find a split pipe and water spraying all over the bathroom.

Then there was the time when everything appeared to be okay until we fired up the kitchen wood stove. I was mopping up water and skating on it at the same time as it froze. The jacket in the stove burst because the water, which circulated through the stove to warm, had frozen. So Paul had to cut the pipes in the cellar, and that was the last of the nice warm water when the stove was going.

Another cellar story is when Paul was working with some jack posts because of sagging floors. I realized that I was getting cold but couldn't get the door open to get wood for the fire because of the jacking up Paul was doing. So he had to undo all that he had done. Seems to me he was standing in water in the cellar too.

And there was the winter that we spent time actually living there...until some kind friends offered their real house to us for the remainder of the winter. We hesitated...not at all before we said, "YES" & "thank you very much"!

Lately, when Paul asks if I would like to stay overnight at the farm (this is January, you know), I say "no thanks". I do love the place, but I also have my limits!