the stove pictures are from before the stovepipe was installed, so here we are using it as a counter for electrical appliances!

we are having a pot-luck this friday dec 17 at 6pm.
HOWEVER, it is NOT at the the previously posted location, nor planned topic. Carolyn will be out of town, and will instead be hosting the february pot-luck and leading with her global warming, community resilience, food growing topic at that time.

the REAL location this friday will be at the Blaedel's house, 900 Idaho ave in ames. Our topic will be a little looser: perhaps consolations and desolations from our past year, and dreams for next year? at least we will have some quality visiting and nice food together.

HOUSE NEWS:
lots of good news!
for all that have been worried about Nate and I out in blizzardy winds at subzero temperatures, i want to report that we now have our stovepipe installed which means we can cook meals and also heat our house. thanks to joe lynch for his help, and tobie ropp for giving us detailed instructions over the phone, soothing our worries, and telling us to go ahead and make breakfast.
we also have 2 electrical sockets, which means we are able to have a refridgerator and make toast at the same time. we appreciate jeff the electrician's cheery attitude even when he has laryngitis, and hope he has time to visit us again soon.
besides all these extravagant luxuries, we also now have an indoor flushing toilet and a little sink in our bathroom.
i just want to say that it is awesome to cook at home, inside the house. of course not all the work is done, but life just got about 300% more normal, and just in time for the snow and cold.

peace, joy, love,
alice mcg

and merry christmas!

from stove installation - alice in the loft looking through the pipe hole. this is how we dressed in the house before the stove was hooked up.