Sue, I will be emailing.... and HOW! I went to send 4 little packets of seeds in a #000 bubble mailer today at the same PO I was so proud of just a couple of posts above, and a (male) jerk/clerk insisted (impolitely, as though I were a dolt sent there specifically to make his day rough) that the fact that it was under 3/4" and the thickness was evenly distributed had nothing to do with it, that since it didn't fit through the automatic rollers as it wasn't flat then it was NOT a large envelope - he even slid it through their 3/4" template at my request... I wonder what *they* use the template for??? I appealed to the clerk next to him who in the recent past has even sent these for 58 cents, and she took it back and asked all the clerks present ("No manager here today") who all agreed (with jerk present, and he has a lot of time put in there so I think he holds a lot of sway) that it was a small parcel. Turns out that the clerk who had rec'd the memo I mentioned in the previous post was someone who worked in another PO and was only in this PO temporarily. I guess they have to import the smart ones when the dopey ones go on vacation. What a letdown. So I took my envelope out to the machine, bought 80 cents of postage (plus a 41 cent stamp since the minimum is $1.00 to use the machine), and took the envelope to the main post office about 5 miles away. I advised my trade partner to let me know if/when it gets there and to let me know if there's postage due. I hope it gets there and I can go rub jerk/clerk's nose in it. I don't understand why this is so hard to understand. I wish I had the memos the clerks are given so I could have some empathy.

Well it appears Winter has arrived. The VERY long fall weather has been greatly appreciated, we got a lot done outside. However, I was feeling guilty if I didn't go do something outside in the 60F+ weather every day! The job would go from small to large, end up using the whole day before you know it!! I got a couple of perennial beds totally renovated. We also had two spruce trees moved from the front yard to a corner of the front field as the start of a windbreak. Very interesting watching them use a tree spade, how all the parts work hydralically in the process of getting under and around the trees. Didn't take very long, everything went smoothly. Trees appear happy in their new homes, no competition from the old Oaks now. I have been keeping them watered until the rains started. I made a new garden bed in the space left by removing one tree. Really worked up the soil, did a planned job of planting and marking the new Peonies. I have both Tree and Herbacous Peonies in this bed for extended bloom times. I also got some Fernleaf Peonies to put in front, never had those kind before. The ones I have seen look so pretty with Dill-weed like greenery. I got all new varieties and colors that I didn't have already to use here. Since Peonies do best when left alone, I don't want to have to fix things later. I left a space for some Peony roots from my mom to plant next summer. Hers are always wonderful. I also scattered some Asian and Oriental Lilies to bloom in later summer, keep color in the beds. Husband has been working on his shop, had to build a protective covering on his new compressor to keep the oil warm. Everyone said he needed the cover, adds years of use to machine, keeping it warm. Just disrupted my garden shed arrangement. Garden shed is behind the workshop, allowing compressor to be close, but not in the shop for noise. HOWEVER, I will have tons more wall space to hang my tools on the outside of the cover!! Great benefit for donating him the compressor floor space! I have gotten most of my garden tools put away for winter, organized the shelves neatly, so shed is usable, We have a nice long workbench there, tool board above, easy to do projects on (or will once the compressor house stuff is gone!). Last year's fall project of cement floor has been wonderful to use. Everything stays put, no dampness, easy to clean. With compressor, I can even BLOW the dirt out the door instead of sweeping! We took the Corgi to be bred, hoping for puppies around the second week of Dec. Now we are hearing stories about quantity! One person said their dog had 13 little puppies!! I couldn't believe it! Other small dog breeds I am used to have 2-3 puppies. Corgis are larger than Pugs or Poms, this female had 5 in her litter, so that was what I was thinking we might get. I talked to the stud dog owner, he said with her being older at 5, litter should be smaller. 4-5 would be enough for me! We weaned the foal, no big deal for either animal. Did the usual separation things we do, taking him off for some walks, special brushing. Back to mom, seperate stalls to feed beside each other, apart a couple hours, back for the night for some days. Then seperate for the night, out together during the day for several days. Then just leave apart in AM and feed. We put him out with his paddock friends for a couple hours, then back in his stall with a friend he can see. Put her out with some buddies for a few hours. She paced the fence, ate grass, talked a little. She was quiet if he answered. Exercise kept her bag from getting too swollen. Next day the same, less talking. Third day they both went out with friends, just not in sight of each other. We put one of the younger horses in with the foal, someone familiar who would be more playful. Seemed to work. After horse got done examining colt, they went grazing, then galloping around. Big horse allowed baby to lead, just followed him around eating and drinking. Pushed baby when he wanted baby to go someplace. Pretty funny to watch baby being herded around, even his mom didn't do that anymore. We kind of rotated the other horses thru baby field, so everyone has been in with him, got herd status worked out. Not any kicking, lots of teeth showing him when he is wrong. Fast learner, he runs to hide behind his friends. He has been the nicest baby to work with, very accepting of handling. Got snow on Thursday AM. Not much, just like heavy frost, but lots of cold. I have some bargin bulbs to get in yet, hope the cold breaks for a few hours pretty soon. Had to pull in all the hoses, break water on the tanks. We will be putting the winter tanks with heaters and insulated boxes out tonight. Seemed so silly with weather in the 60F's! Dogs and horses are all fluffed out, look warm. Deer gun season is open here, Nov.15th, neighbors got a couple. Have kept the horses close to the barn. Let them out after noon in paddocks, to prevent accidents. After Sat and Sun we should be OK again until Thanksgiving weekend. Hobby hunters are pretty done right now, especially in this piercing wind. Sure hope they got a bunch of the deer. Good way to fill the freezer. Way too many, all fat as market steers, tearing up the crops and fencing. We have the hightest car-deer accident rate in the state. Have to see what the weather brings us. Wild winds have been exciting, lots of rotten trees, dead limbs coming down. No tornados like other folks are getting. We had just had the trees trimmed around Nov 1st. Son and his friends came by, cleaned up big trees, took some small stuff out for us. Really did a nice job. Got all the brush burned too before the winds started. We got the chimney cleaned, ready to use the woodstove if it gets really cold. LOTS of dry wood from past seasons.

I bought 2 roses from this vendor, Christmas gift to myself, haha, they are still alive but no blooms yet. when I have blooms I will post pictures. So far i have not given reviews yet since i don't know if I get the right variety or not, so I can‘t recommend anything. so far they look like two rose plants with rose leaves, that's all I can comment. She’s from San Diego, I figure if she didnt send me the right roses, I might drive down and talk to her in person.

Even on a 30-y-o unit, a La Cornue should have electric ignition like our Lacanche ranges (another post on Houzz on a 1990 unit refers to this). Press the knob or a separate switch, and you get a spark at each burner. If that's the case, and this one needs to be ignited manually, then the ignition module is defective (not very expensive part and likely easy to replace before the stove is installed again) Otherwise, if "the propane must be hand lit" means that you have to reach for the matches or BBQ igniter every time you want to start a burner or the gas oven, it's definitely something to be aware of, and for you to decide if the low price / wow factor is worth it. All the best! Patrick