Running into Winter
It seems that this winter has snuck up on me and I can’t help but feel that I keep inadvertently running into it.
I have finally put away my flip-flop shoes in exchange for the requisite snow boots, but I can’t seem to make myself wear socks, so am eternally unprepared to walk out of the front door. Is this snow denial?
The most adventure I can take now is to go out and feed the horses. I check to make sure they are all alive. I give them hay and grain. I check the automatic waterers with something resembling a prayer in hopes that they have not frozen (last week was the week of the frozen waterer in one of the pastures, which required hauling water three times per day - don’t get me started).
Even my little dog refuses to go outside. I literally have to drag him out to do his business, while his brother (the bigish dog) romps in the dread powder.
This morning was the apex of horror for me. The wind is whipping the snow that fell last night into drifts well over 3 feet deep in places. I am home alone and don’t know how to drive the backhoe (OK, I could probably learn quite easily, but it is a big, scary and expensive piece of machinery) so I have no way to plow the snow.
My little niece and nephew spent the night last night, and wanted to help with chores this morning, but given the conditions I could not let them. Too bad, because it usually serves to help tire them out some.
So, the tractor and I went solo. We made it through most of the drifts, only getting stuck a couple of times. Most of the horses were actually standing inside of the shelters we built for them, wearing their winter blankets crusted with ice and snow. The young horses were out and about, bucking and kicking while waiting for their breakfast.
The fine, blowing snow made icecicles on my eyelashes. My cheeks are still rosy as a red hot poker.
It literally took about 15 attempts to park the tractor back in the shed. The darn thing skids in the deep snow and I quite nearly took out the wall a couple of times.
The conclusion I have come to is that I hate winter. I love our area the rest of the year, but what I wouldn’t give to move back to West Palm Beach for just a few months each year!
The kids are downstairs playing the Jaws 2 video game that I rented (admittedly, for myself). Their mother called a short while ago saying she wasn’t sure she could make it out to pick them up today. I have run out of cool auntie things to do and still can’t send them outside. How do parents do this every day?
I tried to get the kids to help me with a woodworking project that I have decided to take on (this is so far out of character that even I have a hard time believeing myself). Who knew that little kids are not good at sanding?
The kids probably need food soon. I need a nap and a hot toddy. Not necessarily in that order.