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Johnny C. was very talkative today as he and his aunt and uncle have not been getting on.  The usual confused domestic ructions, but Danny listened patiently while they worked and I played some opera to drown it out.  Thank God for Diana Damrau singing the Queen of the Night’s Holle Roche or I might have committed mayhem.  Lord, but that boy can talk a blue streak.  Finished up the loft and got the chimney pipe from the living room fireplace raised to just below the roof.  If we get a couple clear days maybe Jeff can help us get it through the roof and weather-tight.  Then we could use the living room fireplace.  After lunch, Dan and Johnny moved the new stove into the kitchen.  The rock hearth is uneven in spots and we will need to shim up one stove leg with a good flat stone.  We tried to attach the old stove pipe, but the elbow was too old and came apart.  We will go buy a new elbow tomorrow and  try to set up the chimney pipe so we can use the stove.  Johnny went home around 3 p.m. and Dan and I got most of the under-stairs closet framed and enclosed.  Wind is really strong and we were aware of the few open fascias, the open east gable, and the broken glass in the bay window.  First clear warm day, we will go back to outdoor work and close up the last of the holes.  Finished up at 6 p.m. and blocked the living room archway with a bit of tapestry to keep out the drafts.  A good fire in the dining room soon had us fairly toasty and we had a good supper or red beans and rice, bread, jam and hot tea.  Quiet night tending the fire and reading while Dan typed in the dining room so he could enjoy the warmth  of the fire. 

Oh yes, we also had a visit from one of Jack’s other dogs, a huge black and white Dalmatian-Great Dane mix by the look of him.  An enormous dog, or good sized pony, depending on your viewpoint, but Duchess defended her ground and sent him packing.  She puts up with Draco, the little French Bulldog, but this one was just too big.  Jack moved most of his dog pack to his Dad’s house in Mississippi this past weekend and it’s very quiet over there.  I rather miss the Quorns and Pytchleys as next door neighbors, especially with the Hunter’s moon next week.  Wind still fierce at bedtime, but tomorrow is supposed to be better, though cloudy and cool, but no rain.

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