March 20, 2009 – Good day at Bedlam Farm. After two months of bitter, sub-zero cold and snow, the water pipes to the barn finally thawed this morning, sending water gushing all over the place. Turns out the problem was in the hydrant, where a close-off valve froze, and that froze the water in the hydrant, and then the pipes. The redoubtable Ben Osterhaupt, one of the world’s most honest, efficient and competent carpenters and fixers-of-things, dug out the hydrant, fixed the valve, replaced the burned out pump to the barn pipes and we do not have to haul buckets or hoses around.
  That was a tough part of a tough winter, and a strong signal of better times. And on the first day of Spring too. Of course, it is still below freezing her, but hey, you can’t have everything. We are delighted.