Back to the "Deep South" in Duluth GA

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I get a kick out of hearing the term "Deep South" in 2026. It is a crazy incredibly outdated label. I think maybe I should start saying the "Deep Northeast". I am a Yankee. My family came over on the Mayflower and moved to Upstate NY via Connecticut. Terms used in the revolutionary and Civil war days are generally inappropriate. My family is all but totally out of NY State now. I find the term "deep south" to be of the same thinking that the movie "Heidi" is what contemporary Europe is like. Watching the fireworks in Rochester, NY from the back yard of a house in the city made it look like a real war zone. It is a long drive between Berkshire, NY and Duluth, GA. Most of the 35K miles on the truck were spent in between. I drove the truck about 3k miles in 2-1/2 weeks. It was great to spend time on the farm. It was good to make some progress on needed repairs and improvements. I also felt good about making some new friends up there. I will be...
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I have finally got around to blogging. The bakery is coming along. The plumbing is done and the electric needs to get finished. The heat-hood for over the ovens goes in Monday. The project is a little behind, but not too bad.

I got in a battle with the folks that sold me the water heater for my solar system. They sold me the wrong unit, one without a heat exchanger. That of course wouldn't do me any good. So, I bellied up several hundred more dollars, disconnected and returned the non-exchanger model. I pick up the new one, get it home and wouldn't you know it. It was damaged in shipment. So I am waiting on a new one. Man, this has been a while getting the system done. The end is in site however. Just some insulation, wiring, and a few fittings and it will be ready for testing. I have been using so little fuel oil for water-heat now. I will be down to almost nothing with this system.

I got 1600 lbs of coal. That will last me the rest of the winter. The furnace has yet to come on this winter except for testing. I still have to move a bit of firewood around too.

Amy the cat had a nice Christmas. I was reflecting on how much I enjoyed Christmas in Antarctica. It was pleasant without all the hype and over the top stuff we live with in the US.

Interestingly we had a strange occurrence on Christmas eve at about Midnight. The dog started barking a lot down in the basement and carrying on. In looking out the window, someone was parked down at the end of the driveway and after a couple of minutes they drove away. Out here we don't get a lot of traffic especially late at night. It was pretty upsetting. What did this person want? I was thinking, where is the shot gun and feeling a bit trespassed. After a day or so thinking about it I started to feel a bit ashamed. The only plausible reason they stopped was to admire and perhaps photograph the bucolic scene. The snow covered ground, smoke coming from the chimney and one tasteful string of lights on the wreath on the red and white trimmed barn. I sometimes forget these things.

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Anonymous said…
Look at the pheasant hanging around the turkeys. That's pretty funny!

GM
4:15 PM
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I get a kick out of hearing the term "Deep South" in 2026. It is a crazy incredibly outdated label. I think maybe I should start saying the "Deep Northeast". I am a Yankee. My family came over on the Mayflower and moved to Upstate NY via Connecticut. Terms used in the revolutionary and Civil war days are generally inappropriate. My family is all but totally out of NY State now. I find the term "deep south" to be of the same thinking that the movie "Heidi" is what contemporary Europe is like. Watching the fireworks in Rochester, NY from the back yard of a house in the city made it look like a real war zone. It is a long drive between Berkshire, NY and Duluth, GA. Most of the 35K miles on the truck were spent in between. I drove the truck about 3k miles in 2-1/2 weeks. It was great to spend time on the farm. It was good to make some progress on needed repairs and improvements. I also felt good about making some new friends up there. I will be...
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