Tuesday, January 17, 4:00 PM. Brewer.

I’ve been feeling quite a bit better this week. I still have kind of a dull headache almost all the time, but that sure beats the piercing ones I had before. I’ve been resting better. I’m thankful for Amy and the kids. They’ve stepped up to take on the chores I can’t do—that they won’t let me do.

I’ve been reading a lot, alternating between practical things like fishing magazines and books on agriculture and enriching things like the Bible and novels. I read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe for the first time since I was a kid. Just started Lonesome Dove for the first time. Amy gave it to me, said I’d like it. I like it. What she really wishes I’d read is her Jane Austen novels, but I can’t get into them. I read ten pages, then think, “Wait, where are we? Who are these people? What’s happening?” Just can’t do it.

Of course I thumb through A Family Farmer’s Country Almanac every few days. It’s kind of a habit now. I read the Book of Job yesterday—the whole book! I can identify with Job to some degree. I don’t want to identify with him any more than that.

I got up today and did more work around the farm than I’d done in a week. The water pump looks fine, filter looks fine. The barn needed attention. They’ve let it get a little sloppy.

All the unprotected gas is worthless now. None of the cars, none of the machines with that gas will start anymore. The stabilized gas seems fine, thankfully. The propane seems fine even though I’ve never found a way to preserve it. I hope it lasts.