I went to Thicut yesterday, lunch in hand, prepared to spend some time in the quiet. I brought Lady along so she could do some off the leash running (she loved it!). It was about 40 degrees, snow gone and sunny outside. I

• checked the furnace: at 9/16 full
• turned pump and H2O on (and off when I left)
• reset stove clock which was blinking (power had gone off sometime only for a minute or two)
• tried to turn off the water heater at the fuse box to see if that would lower Anna Ruth's electric bill, but couldn't get the double fuse to budge; I'll ask Bob to try next time he comes with me
• checked all over the house to see what else may be drawing electricity: only the stove clock, the lights on timers, the answering machine and the radio in the kitchen are on as far as I can tell
• replaced the dead bulb in the basement near the stairs
• cleaned up dead leaves on oxalys (sp?) and wandering jew and swept the floors
• sat down to read my book while eating a warm lunch of mac and cheese and hot chocolate
• let Lady run around outside while I filled the car with wood to donate to the church's youth 'Homeless Awareness Sleepout' happening this weekend. The kids gather around a fire barrel in shifts all night in front of our church on Main Street to raise awareness of the homeless.
• picked up the few branches in the yard and driveway from the week's blustery weather