where others come for vacation ...
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The temperature dips down to -15°C (Brrrr!!!!) and inside the house we have different temperature zones varying from 22°C (Living Room & Kitchen) to 15°C (Lounge upstairs). Of course one doesn't walk around in short sleeves anymore -- since we aren't blessed with a natural fur like our feline babies, we're usually found covered in woollens...
Our 70cm thick stone wall has a temperature difference of 30°C (-15 to 15°C).. Since the structure of the house is being exposed to a different climate for the first time in 30+ years, we're monitoring the temperature and humidity in various rooms/walls & hoping there aren't any surprises.
We do have a couple of frozen pipes but luckily the sun shines on the West Wall the next day and they thaw.. Whew!!!
Outside it's a Winter Wonderland, but inside the Fire is keeping us Warm & Cozy.. with some added support of Hot Chocolate & Schnapps 
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If you live in a 400 year old house in the Alps and it's wintertime -- sooner or later you've got to stock up on the wood. Sepp drives with his Agri-transporter @ 7:30AM and delivers the 2 tonnes of firewood we've ordered.
All righty then.. it's time to convert a loose, messy pile of wood into an orderly stack - a satisfying transformation one could say...
2 Tonnes of Firewood
2 workers -- one who knows what to do (Lukas), the other - a total newcomer (Yours Truly!)
2 Hours -- Bend, pick up a piece, enjoy the pungent earthy smell, find the right place for the piece of wood -- Repeat!!
2 meter long Wood stack
2 end towers (tight criss-cross stacking to increase the stack's stability)
Who needs a GYM anymore???
