It's cold outside (again). The snow has tapered off, but it's still bitterly cold. The danged groundhog saw his shadow, and I'm inclined to drive up to Pennsylvania and take a .457 to his sorry self. Overkill, perhaps, but I'm all done with this winter crap. I'm a summer girl.
Fortunately for the rodent in question, I can't leave my neighborhood.
I'm not quite sure how this winter storm blindsided me. I had monitored the forecast for the last 10 days, watching as the predicted snow days grew closer and closer. Yet it didn't occur to me that I hadn't stocked up on food, and I made plans to go places, including handing Boo over to a friend for a sleepover yesterday.
Today Doodlebug and I were going to go visit one friend in the morning, come home and hang out while I made food for a Super Bowl party (Doodlebug was going to head over to a neighbor's house for the dual purposes of interviewing the dad for a writing assignment and playing with the kids afterward), and then we'd all pile in the car, go to a Super Bowl party, and I'd bring my girl back home. Then tomorrow - Monday - would be a normal weekday morning, where we would do school and take Doodlebug to therapy.
Yeah, that ain't happening.
About 10:30 or 11 this morning, I decided to go try to get Boo and perhaps go to the grocery store. There's a highway not too far from the house that goes right by the grocery store, and from there it's nearly a straight shot to our friend's house, so I knew that if I could get out of the neighborhood, I'd be fine.
After two failed attempts, however, during which Doodlebug sat next to me gripping the door handle with all his might, I bowed to the inevitable, slid backward into a driveway, and came back home. We were gone for less than 10 minutes.
I've made Chex Mix, and I'm going to make some meatball bubble biscuits, and it'll just be the three of us for the game. Doodlebug was incredibly disappointed that he didn't get to see his friends and attend a party, but he's at the neighbor's house now and I've promised him that if Boo isn't home by this evening - right now, it doesn't look like she will be - I won't make him do school. He'll still have therapy, though, because apparently his therapist makes calls if appointments get cancelled due to weather. Well, I say he'll have therapy… if the doctor can get to the office and we can't, I'm not sure what happens. But I'll cross that bridge when we get there, I suppose.
We'll scrounge in the bottom of the freezer for food, and if we wind up eating a few meals of pancakes or biscuits, then pancakes and biscuits it shall be. The forecast for the next few days doesn't look much better.
Are you snowed in? Tired of winter? Or are you a winter person who has four-wheel drive (or, better yet, a town with effective street plowing plans)?
Showing posts with label weather. Show all posts
Showing posts with label weather. Show all posts
Sunday, February 2, 2014
Saturday, December 21, 2013
First Snow, Now Ice
We're dealing with ice here this weekend, a big change from the 70-degree weather we had earlier this week that actually had me sporting short sleeves. Thankfully this storm isn't as bad as some others I've seen, but we still have some limbs down and trees snapped in two, including the pine tree that I used for my pretty snow picture. Oz and I are both glad that we took out so many of the dead trees that littered our yard this year; some of them were quite close to the house and Boo's window.
Anyway, because I'm a sucker for misery, I stepped out of the house in my boots and with my camera to snap a few ice photos from around the yard. Even when the weather is miserable, it's beautiful. Thanks for reading, and enjoy :)
 |
| I set out a separate tray of seed for the birds - no starving birds in my yard! |
 |
| There's the poor pine tree. Also, the creek is still rapidly running! |
 |
| Sheila has some sinus congestion today... |
Saturday, December 7, 2013
SNOW!
It's been nearly three years since we've had any sort of decent snowfall around here. I don't like driving on ice and snow, but I absolutely love sitting in the house and being surrounded by the hushed whiteness for a day or two at a time. It's bitterly cold outside, and I strongly suspect that this snow won't be melting for the better part of a week, but I still wanted to go out and snap photos as soon as I could.
These are my favorites. Enjoy!
These are my favorites. Enjoy!
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Thoughts on a Frosty Wednesday (A Post with Literary Ambitions)
Morning came hard. I had fallen asleep last night under the drowsing influence of NyQuil, my head sandwiched between two pillows and my being cosseted with blankets and warmed from beneath by the heated mattress pad that was cranked up more than usual. When I woke this morning I could sense the cold of the house, the tip of my nose chilly compared to the warmth of my bed, and even though the children had already come down and were noisily banging about in the kitchen, I wanted nothing more than to stay snug in my warren until the groundhog saw his shadow and predicted spring.
Eventually pragmatism won, and I hauled myself out of bed, dressed, and emerged from my bedroom in search of coffee. I glanced out the back door as I passed, and the sight caused me a moment's pause.
The ground was glittering. A fine layer of white covered everything from the edge of the black grill cover to the individual blades of grass that browned the yard. In the past two years, I realized, I could have counted the hard freezes and glittering frosts on the fingers of a single hand, and seeing the phenomenon again was beautiful. Glorious. A winter memory brought back to life.
I poured my coffee and walked to the back door. I rested my hand against the glass and felt the heat loss, the exchange of the house's warmth for the nip of the outdoors. I removed my hand from the glass and wrapped it around my coffee mug, the contrast between cold door and warm mug stark against my skin.
After staring outside for a minute, curiosity plucked up the courage to order me about, and I opened the door and stepped outside, barefoot on the concrete. The air was cold but still. No September wind ruffled the leaves. No summer crickets chirped, no spring peepers croaked - even the birds were silent, likely sleeping late in their warm holes and nests, realizing that in this cold, there would be no worms to be early for.
I walked to the edge of the porch, and a few sounds made their way to my straining ears. A clatter off to the left - a squirrel picking its way up a tree, heading back to a snug den after digging breakfast from under the frozen leaves. Ticking noises to the right - leaves clattering against branches on their way to the ground, soldiers falling, having lost the battle with winter, their movements made louder by the deathly silence all around.
Frost is a callous thing, a bitter master, not caring whether it coats the weed or the rose, the mundane or the exotic. Life, and warmth, and a dry wind are its only nemeses. I poked at some of the frost with a naked toe and felt it attack me with shards of fire, stinging like a honeybee and, also like a bee, losing its life in the fight. When I pulled back my foot, a dark spot remained, the now-dead grass a victim of the siege that had taken place overnight.
Listening to the silence once more, it became reminiscent of Christmases past, and a waiting, expectant thrill ran through me like a shiver. I looked at houses nearby and pictured them covered in long white strings of holiday lights. It was a cozy thought. Turning back to the house, I saw the glint of sunlight peeking over the horizon, and the ice flashed. One last stand, it said, before I make way for the relative warmth of the day.
I returned to the house and its artificial heat, letting it clothe me in comfort and decadence. A swirl of steam from my coffee reminded me that there were other sources of heat, and I took a sip as I walked to the stairs. The outdoors could remain in the grasp of dead, wintry frost for a while longer; I was made of life and would avoid it.
Eventually pragmatism won, and I hauled myself out of bed, dressed, and emerged from my bedroom in search of coffee. I glanced out the back door as I passed, and the sight caused me a moment's pause.
The ground was glittering. A fine layer of white covered everything from the edge of the black grill cover to the individual blades of grass that browned the yard. In the past two years, I realized, I could have counted the hard freezes and glittering frosts on the fingers of a single hand, and seeing the phenomenon again was beautiful. Glorious. A winter memory brought back to life.
I poured my coffee and walked to the back door. I rested my hand against the glass and felt the heat loss, the exchange of the house's warmth for the nip of the outdoors. I removed my hand from the glass and wrapped it around my coffee mug, the contrast between cold door and warm mug stark against my skin.
After staring outside for a minute, curiosity plucked up the courage to order me about, and I opened the door and stepped outside, barefoot on the concrete. The air was cold but still. No September wind ruffled the leaves. No summer crickets chirped, no spring peepers croaked - even the birds were silent, likely sleeping late in their warm holes and nests, realizing that in this cold, there would be no worms to be early for.
I walked to the edge of the porch, and a few sounds made their way to my straining ears. A clatter off to the left - a squirrel picking its way up a tree, heading back to a snug den after digging breakfast from under the frozen leaves. Ticking noises to the right - leaves clattering against branches on their way to the ground, soldiers falling, having lost the battle with winter, their movements made louder by the deathly silence all around.
Frost is a callous thing, a bitter master, not caring whether it coats the weed or the rose, the mundane or the exotic. Life, and warmth, and a dry wind are its only nemeses. I poked at some of the frost with a naked toe and felt it attack me with shards of fire, stinging like a honeybee and, also like a bee, losing its life in the fight. When I pulled back my foot, a dark spot remained, the now-dead grass a victim of the siege that had taken place overnight.
Listening to the silence once more, it became reminiscent of Christmases past, and a waiting, expectant thrill ran through me like a shiver. I looked at houses nearby and pictured them covered in long white strings of holiday lights. It was a cozy thought. Turning back to the house, I saw the glint of sunlight peeking over the horizon, and the ice flashed. One last stand, it said, before I make way for the relative warmth of the day.
I returned to the house and its artificial heat, letting it clothe me in comfort and decadence. A swirl of steam from my coffee reminded me that there were other sources of heat, and I took a sip as I walked to the stairs. The outdoors could remain in the grasp of dead, wintry frost for a while longer; I was made of life and would avoid it.
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Dear Tuesday
Dear Tuesday,
I am writing in regards to your delivery today, August 13, 2013. I would like a replacement; I feel this particular model is defective. In case you may feel that the problems have been caused by user error, let me itemize the problems I've had so you can see that they are, in fact, manufacturer issues:
1. M2 spilled milk all over the floor first thing this morning. Neither she nor I cried over spilled milk, but now I have stinky milk-soaked towels drying on top of my washer.
2. M1 decided to go to the school room instead of eating breakfast this morning. While in there, he felt the need to attempt to log into the computer multiple times, thereby locking me out.
3. Rain. Really?!? It's August in Oklahoma. It isn't supposed to rain, let alone flood, and there was certainly no need to induce a heavy downpour on the day that M2 decided to leave the van door hanging wide open after she ran outside during M1's swim team practice to get her school books and umbrella. You're just lucky I keep towels in my van during summer as seat protectors or I'd be asking for a gift certificate for a van cleaning/detailing service. On second thought, send one of those along with the replacement Tuesday.
4. The dog yarked orange vomit all over the tile and pooped on the rug behind the couch. I was not gone that long.
5. The cat also had apparently yarked on the formal dining room carpet sometime recently, under the table. I found it today. Of course. Between the dog and the cat, I need more SpotBot cleaner fluid. Please enclose a bottle with your reply, because that stuff ain't cheap. I find that convenience often isn't.
6. This week, the children seem to have forgotten how to load the dishwasher, wipe their placemats, pick up after themselves, flush/clean toilets, change/bring in toilet paper rolls, change/bring in paper towel rolls, and do any work in a timely fashion. They have not forgotten how to whine, fuss, bicker, and randomly fall asleep (that last trait being one of M1's signatures).
7. The UPS guy showed up while I was trying to clean up the urp, get the boy to finish his school work, and put away all the stuff I hauled out of the van. Kindly inform him that while I appreciate him ringing the doorbell to inform me of a delivery, the sound does ramp up the stress level when I'm already feeling overwhelmed.
The consolation prizes that I have found in the bottom of today's apparent Pandora's Box - being able to find everything for some upcoming craft projects in a single trip to Michael's and having an appointment for myself at a very inconvenient time this evening - do not make up for the aforementioned defects that I find in this day, largely because there is not alcohol served along with any of it. Should you be unable to send a new Tuesday, you may instead enclose a check for the price of a weekend trip to an all-inclusive resort, including airfare.
Thank you for your consideration.
Signed,
Exhausted Mom
I am writing in regards to your delivery today, August 13, 2013. I would like a replacement; I feel this particular model is defective. In case you may feel that the problems have been caused by user error, let me itemize the problems I've had so you can see that they are, in fact, manufacturer issues:
1. M2 spilled milk all over the floor first thing this morning. Neither she nor I cried over spilled milk, but now I have stinky milk-soaked towels drying on top of my washer.
2. M1 decided to go to the school room instead of eating breakfast this morning. While in there, he felt the need to attempt to log into the computer multiple times, thereby locking me out.
3. Rain. Really?!? It's August in Oklahoma. It isn't supposed to rain, let alone flood, and there was certainly no need to induce a heavy downpour on the day that M2 decided to leave the van door hanging wide open after she ran outside during M1's swim team practice to get her school books and umbrella. You're just lucky I keep towels in my van during summer as seat protectors or I'd be asking for a gift certificate for a van cleaning/detailing service. On second thought, send one of those along with the replacement Tuesday.
4. The dog yarked orange vomit all over the tile and pooped on the rug behind the couch. I was not gone that long.
5. The cat also had apparently yarked on the formal dining room carpet sometime recently, under the table. I found it today. Of course. Between the dog and the cat, I need more SpotBot cleaner fluid. Please enclose a bottle with your reply, because that stuff ain't cheap. I find that convenience often isn't.
6. This week, the children seem to have forgotten how to load the dishwasher, wipe their placemats, pick up after themselves, flush/clean toilets, change/bring in toilet paper rolls, change/bring in paper towel rolls, and do any work in a timely fashion. They have not forgotten how to whine, fuss, bicker, and randomly fall asleep (that last trait being one of M1's signatures).
7. The UPS guy showed up while I was trying to clean up the urp, get the boy to finish his school work, and put away all the stuff I hauled out of the van. Kindly inform him that while I appreciate him ringing the doorbell to inform me of a delivery, the sound does ramp up the stress level when I'm already feeling overwhelmed.
The consolation prizes that I have found in the bottom of today's apparent Pandora's Box - being able to find everything for some upcoming craft projects in a single trip to Michael's and having an appointment for myself at a very inconvenient time this evening - do not make up for the aforementioned defects that I find in this day, largely because there is not alcohol served along with any of it. Should you be unable to send a new Tuesday, you may instead enclose a check for the price of a weekend trip to an all-inclusive resort, including airfare.
Thank you for your consideration.
Signed,
Exhausted Mom
Monday, May 20, 2013
Tornado Watch
One of the hazards of living in Oklahoma... and Tornado Alley in general... is spring weather. Tornadoes aren't, of course, limited to spring, but that is the time we're most prone to them.
We've been lucky this year. Just a few days ago, the news stations were actually talking about the fact that we were in a 'tornado drought,' because there had been so few tornadoes this year.
I think Mother Nature heard them. She's vindictive like that sometimes.
Yesterday, the first round of storms came through. I wasn't particularly worried about them coming here because while it was humid, it was also cloudy and windy all day. The conditions just didn't seem right. Sure enough, all the storms fell apart before they got here, and we only had a small cloudburst, just enough rain to make the gardens happy.
Today, though, things felt... and still feel... different. It was sunnier, more humid, hazier, and just generally more like the weather that I've grown up to know means storms and tornadoes.
I've swept out the closet under the stairs (we're spending our tax refund on a safe room, but it's not here yet), and totally unlike yesterday, I've had the kids pack bug-out bags. Sometimes when you can see a tornado coming your way, the safest thing to do is actually climb in the car and head south or east as fast as you can, then come back when it's over. I've only had to do that once, but hey... it's an option. And when that's an option, it's nice to be able to tell the kids to pack their pajamas and a couple of their favorite things, just in case.
 |
| Hanging out and waiting |
 |
| Radar and knowledge of local geography are your friends |
 |
| More radar |
To someone who isn't used to tornadoes, it probably seems like I'm freaking out, hyper-aware, and just taking far too many precautions. To those who live in Shawnee or Moore this week... well, I think they'd say I'm doing exactly what I need to do. My heart breaks for them and any others affected by these storms.
To help those affected by tornadoes this week, please consider donating to the Red Cross. They aren't paying me to say this, but I'm saying it, anyway. You can donate by visiting their web site or text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10.
Monday, December 24, 2012
The Big Day Cometh
Ever notice how things sound so much more classy if you add 'eth' to the end of it? Except it reminds me of the movie "10 Things I Hate About You" where the nerdy male leads are at the prom and announce that things "hath hitteth the fan... eth." And then the ending loses all sense of classiness whatsoever.
I'm digressing and haven't even started the post yet!
Tomorrow is Christmas. We visited my mom over the weekend and dropped by my sister's cute new house on the way home so we could finally say we've seen it. We visited Oz's grandmother yesterday and exchanged gifts with two of his brothers, his mom/stepdad, and his grandmother/stepgrandfather. The only people we haven't seen yet are my dad and stepmom. We're supposed to see them tomorrow.
HOWEVER... and this is a really excited however... it's supposed to SNOW tomorrow. There's still some debate as to the quantity of snow, but the general consensus seems to be about 3" where we live. That's enough to keep us firmly at home, since we won't be able to get out of our driveway, let alone our neighborhood, because the entrance to our neighborhood is a fairly steep hill and our driveway is equally steep. So we'll see how the day pans out. My dad may be bringing dinner to us since they have a four-wheel drive truck, but even that's up in the air right now. I'm not worried. I'm just excited to see snow. Last year all we had was the most meager of dustings at one point, so I would love it if there was enough on the ground for the kids to go out front and make a snowman.
Today we're just relaxing at home. I'm doing a few mundane chores like laundry and making detergent, and later I'll put together some cinnamon rolls for tomorrow's breakfast, but mostly we're sitting on our backsides and just chilling. It's lovely.
I hope everyone gets to have a great, safe day tomorrow, no matter what your plans!
I'm digressing and haven't even started the post yet!
Tomorrow is Christmas. We visited my mom over the weekend and dropped by my sister's cute new house on the way home so we could finally say we've seen it. We visited Oz's grandmother yesterday and exchanged gifts with two of his brothers, his mom/stepdad, and his grandmother/stepgrandfather. The only people we haven't seen yet are my dad and stepmom. We're supposed to see them tomorrow.
HOWEVER... and this is a really excited however... it's supposed to SNOW tomorrow. There's still some debate as to the quantity of snow, but the general consensus seems to be about 3" where we live. That's enough to keep us firmly at home, since we won't be able to get out of our driveway, let alone our neighborhood, because the entrance to our neighborhood is a fairly steep hill and our driveway is equally steep. So we'll see how the day pans out. My dad may be bringing dinner to us since they have a four-wheel drive truck, but even that's up in the air right now. I'm not worried. I'm just excited to see snow. Last year all we had was the most meager of dustings at one point, so I would love it if there was enough on the ground for the kids to go out front and make a snowman.
Today we're just relaxing at home. I'm doing a few mundane chores like laundry and making detergent, and later I'll put together some cinnamon rolls for tomorrow's breakfast, but mostly we're sitting on our backsides and just chilling. It's lovely.
I hope everyone gets to have a great, safe day tomorrow, no matter what your plans!
Monday, February 13, 2012
Snow Day
Today is a snow day. This seems laughable given the fact that the ground is, at this point, only about 50% covered at ALL and the roads have been fine nearly all day. However, I think the teachers were looking forward to a snow day at least as much as the kids, so quite a few schools took the day off.
I couldn't have been happier to have the house phone ring at 5:45 a.m.
The kids and I rolled out of bed and really got moving around 9. I'm sure Oz will kill me when he reads that since he got up, got dressed, made coffee, and left before the rest of us even considered waking up... but the truth is what it is.
I got things started right by releasing the chickens and making sure they had plenty of food. I started laundry, cleaned litter boxes, and then... then I fixed brunch. I made a recipe that I'd stashed on a board on Pinterest (it's called cinnamon roll pulls, and you can find a link to it on my board here). I served over-medium fried eggs and fresh strawberries with it, and we ate quite happily. I told M1 that he was NOT having a full snow day since the kids got along amazingly well yesterday and I am not about to tempt that sort of fate by allowing the kids two do-nothing days in a row, so I sat him down with some writing and math to keep him busy. He did that, and then the kids scampered outside to make "snow circles" (small circular walls made of snow) while I turned the hallway into another Pinterest creation (see previous link) involving yarn and tape. The kids were ecstatic when they came back inside, snowy wet shoes and all, to discover the hall had been turned into a "laser grid" obstacle course. That killed at least half an hour, at the end of which screaming was about to commence because M1 decided that he needed to rearrange the course to make it harder... so hard, in fact, that he couldn't get out of it and neither could M2, who was the one doing the screaming.
Cue time for school, round 2! M2 participated in this round. I read history while M1 did a corresponding coloring page and M2 signed all her Valentines for her class party tomorrow; they created their own version of a Bayeux Tapestry with memories of their choosing; and they did a science experiment involving one cup of hot water, one cup of cold water, and blue food coloring (M1 was shocked at how much faster the dye spread through the hot than the cold - he had anticipated the results, but not quite so dramatically).
At the moment, M1 is practicing piano while M2 is dusting her room. In a few minutes, M1 will join her in the room-cleaning endeavor. Then we'll all fold laundry. Once those chores are done, it'll be time for hot cocoa and a movie.
By the time that's over, I'll be in the kitchen fixing beef-barley-Brussels sprout stew and rolls, and the day will come to an end. In theory, all shall remain pleasant.
We never really sit still around here, and I didn't even get done some of the things I had planned today (glow-in-the-black-light Jell-O, anyone?), but all in all, I think it's been a very successful snow day!
I couldn't have been happier to have the house phone ring at 5:45 a.m.
The kids and I rolled out of bed and really got moving around 9. I'm sure Oz will kill me when he reads that since he got up, got dressed, made coffee, and left before the rest of us even considered waking up... but the truth is what it is.
I got things started right by releasing the chickens and making sure they had plenty of food. I started laundry, cleaned litter boxes, and then... then I fixed brunch. I made a recipe that I'd stashed on a board on Pinterest (it's called cinnamon roll pulls, and you can find a link to it on my board here). I served over-medium fried eggs and fresh strawberries with it, and we ate quite happily. I told M1 that he was NOT having a full snow day since the kids got along amazingly well yesterday and I am not about to tempt that sort of fate by allowing the kids two do-nothing days in a row, so I sat him down with some writing and math to keep him busy. He did that, and then the kids scampered outside to make "snow circles" (small circular walls made of snow) while I turned the hallway into another Pinterest creation (see previous link) involving yarn and tape. The kids were ecstatic when they came back inside, snowy wet shoes and all, to discover the hall had been turned into a "laser grid" obstacle course. That killed at least half an hour, at the end of which screaming was about to commence because M1 decided that he needed to rearrange the course to make it harder... so hard, in fact, that he couldn't get out of it and neither could M2, who was the one doing the screaming.
Cue time for school, round 2! M2 participated in this round. I read history while M1 did a corresponding coloring page and M2 signed all her Valentines for her class party tomorrow; they created their own version of a Bayeux Tapestry with memories of their choosing; and they did a science experiment involving one cup of hot water, one cup of cold water, and blue food coloring (M1 was shocked at how much faster the dye spread through the hot than the cold - he had anticipated the results, but not quite so dramatically).
At the moment, M1 is practicing piano while M2 is dusting her room. In a few minutes, M1 will join her in the room-cleaning endeavor. Then we'll all fold laundry. Once those chores are done, it'll be time for hot cocoa and a movie.
By the time that's over, I'll be in the kitchen fixing beef-barley-Brussels sprout stew and rolls, and the day will come to an end. In theory, all shall remain pleasant.
We never really sit still around here, and I didn't even get done some of the things I had planned today (glow-in-the-black-light Jell-O, anyone?), but all in all, I think it's been a very successful snow day!
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Time Marches On
As if I needed more ways to prove that each day I am getting older and each day the kids are getting bigger, M2 decided to remind me:
She has four gaps in her mouth now. She already has two adult teeth on the bottom, but now she officially can't eat apples or corn unless they're in pie/applesauce or on the cob because girl can't bite. (In other news, this is fantastic because when she throws her raging fits, she can't bite.)
She's been running around the house singing "ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS MY TWO FRONT TEETH" in her footy pajamas. It's adorable.
The kids decided to ring in fall without me this year:
They raked all the leaves, without me asking, all by themselves, into a pile...
... then called me outside just to take the pictures while they jumped in it.
I have no place in their leaf-pile-jumping tradition any more other than to wield the camera, and I'm willing to bet that my place there is tenuous at best, too. One day they'll just take pictures of each other, I'm sure.
That pile also looks a lot smaller compared to the children than it used to.
*sigh*
Another sign that winter is right around the corner showed up at one of our bird feeders this week:
It's a pretty little woodpecker, and it isn't the pileated type that we normally get. I've enjoyed watching it come to feed. More and more birds have been showing up, which means the colder weather is on the way.
Between all this and the constant pain in my knees (I'm sure I'm 'coming down' with arthritis), winter is definitely on its way. Again. Who said another year could go by so quickly??
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Productivity ROCKS
Today was not the day I had planned, but it was awesome nonetheless.
Here's why:
Here's why:
- The chicken coop is mucked out. Fresh straw is in place. The birds are happy.
- The crape myrtles are no longer 75% dead and 25% living; all the cutaway pieces are in the burn pile.
- The leaf pile the kids made in the front yard yesterday is also part of the burn pile.
- The garage door works... first time, every time. No more fiddling with the button to get the door to close!
- The Halloween gear is finally stowed in the attic.
- My van is parked in the garage.
- The gerbil cage is clean.
- M2 got her weekend reading assignment finished.
- The trim between the carpet and the linoleum in the laundry room is retacked.
- The door frame around the front door no longer has visible scratch marks.
- The kids have made brownies. I can smell them.
M2 and I didn't go to the local youth symphony concert that we had planned to attend; her mood was not amenable to being around people today. However, even though things didn't necessarily go as planned, there are enough positives for me to be completely happy with this weekend. Did I mention it's currently 76 degrees outside? I'm thrilled that winter hasn't officially arrived. If the nasty cold can hold off just until we get the Christmas lights up, I'll be a happy camper.
I hope everyone else had a good weekend, too :)
Saturday, November 5, 2011
We Really Do Get Everything Here
For anyone thinking about moving to Oklahoma, please consider that our state is home to the following:
Horrible allergies.
Wildfires.
Blizzards.
Tropical storms.
Deadly heat waves.
Drought.
Floods.
Tornadoes.
Never-ending construction zones.
And now, earthquakes.
Consider this your public service announcement of the day.
Horrible allergies.
Wildfires.
Blizzards.
Tropical storms.
Deadly heat waves.
Drought.
Floods.
Tornadoes.
Never-ending construction zones.
And now, earthquakes.
Consider this your public service announcement of the day.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Post for a Random Wednesday
1. M1 has mastered the art of writing paragraphs. We've been working through the book Writing Skills, and he enjoys it... as do I. It's simply but very clearly written, and its step-by-step approach touches M1's love of all things methodical. Today he put together all of the concepts we've been talking about - topic sentences, supporting sentences, concluding sentences - and created some masterful paragraphs about given topics. Here's one:
There are many useful inventions. Some useful inventions in your home are your refrigerator, oven and dishwasher. Some useful inventions that you will see outside are cars, roads and power lines. You can see useful inventions like rockets in museums around the world. They all help us in different ways.
I'm really proud of him for working hard to understand how to put a simple paragraph together. I remember when he first came home, at the beginning of first grade, when he hated to hold a pencil, let alone try to write anything. We've come a long way, baby.
2. You know you've been watching a little too much BBC America when you realize that the voice inside your head has developed a British accent.
3. It's cloudy and gray outside today, which I think is beautiful. I love that we're having a fairly quiet day at home in which to enjoy it.
4. Speaking of rain, tomorrow it's supposed to be rainy and stay in the low 60s. This is going to seem frigid to those of us who now think 110 is an average summer temperature. It inspires me to make chili... which begs the question, what do you think proper chili is? Beans or no beans? If beans, what kind? Regular ground beef or coarser meat? How spicy should it be? Is green chili really chili at all? What do you serve with chili? I will warn you, if you answer Fritos, I may vomit on you. I cannot stand Frito chili 'pie.' This may have something to do with the fact that my elementary school served it as part of their regular rotation. Poorly made chili poured over stale (and then soggy) Fritos topped with cheap cheese did not a good meal make.
5. My son is wearing a jean jacket. He stole it from MY CLOSET and it's only marginally too big for him. This appalls me. I don't even want to think about the fact that he could also steal my Vans and/or Converse if he wanted. He's EIGHT, for crying out loud. The fact that there is a jean jacket and Converse together in this paragraph also frightens me a little. Can you tell I'm a child of the '80s? Perhaps I should also buy a crimper.
6. My arms and shoulders hurt. I'm okay with that, though, because my mother-in-law got in my car yesterday and instantly said, "You've lost weight." I haven't so much lost weight as I have lost inches. Inches are what really matter. I can now do push-ups (from my knees... my back will never, ever allow me to do regular push-ups) in sets of 15. My legs haven't looked this good since high school. I can see the ends of my ribs through my abdomen because my spare tire is deflating. This is a happy place.
7. It is Wednesday. This means there are only two more days until the weekend, and next week's schedule is beautifully quiet. The rest of this month looks faboo.
8. Yes, I just typed faboo.
Have a great Hump Day, everyone!
There are many useful inventions. Some useful inventions in your home are your refrigerator, oven and dishwasher. Some useful inventions that you will see outside are cars, roads and power lines. You can see useful inventions like rockets in museums around the world. They all help us in different ways.
I'm really proud of him for working hard to understand how to put a simple paragraph together. I remember when he first came home, at the beginning of first grade, when he hated to hold a pencil, let alone try to write anything. We've come a long way, baby.
2. You know you've been watching a little too much BBC America when you realize that the voice inside your head has developed a British accent.
3. It's cloudy and gray outside today, which I think is beautiful. I love that we're having a fairly quiet day at home in which to enjoy it.
4. Speaking of rain, tomorrow it's supposed to be rainy and stay in the low 60s. This is going to seem frigid to those of us who now think 110 is an average summer temperature. It inspires me to make chili... which begs the question, what do you think proper chili is? Beans or no beans? If beans, what kind? Regular ground beef or coarser meat? How spicy should it be? Is green chili really chili at all? What do you serve with chili? I will warn you, if you answer Fritos, I may vomit on you. I cannot stand Frito chili 'pie.' This may have something to do with the fact that my elementary school served it as part of their regular rotation. Poorly made chili poured over stale (and then soggy) Fritos topped with cheap cheese did not a good meal make.
5. My son is wearing a jean jacket. He stole it from MY CLOSET and it's only marginally too big for him. This appalls me. I don't even want to think about the fact that he could also steal my Vans and/or Converse if he wanted. He's EIGHT, for crying out loud. The fact that there is a jean jacket and Converse together in this paragraph also frightens me a little. Can you tell I'm a child of the '80s? Perhaps I should also buy a crimper.
6. My arms and shoulders hurt. I'm okay with that, though, because my mother-in-law got in my car yesterday and instantly said, "You've lost weight." I haven't so much lost weight as I have lost inches. Inches are what really matter. I can now do push-ups (from my knees... my back will never, ever allow me to do regular push-ups) in sets of 15. My legs haven't looked this good since high school. I can see the ends of my ribs through my abdomen because my spare tire is deflating. This is a happy place.
7. It is Wednesday. This means there are only two more days until the weekend, and next week's schedule is beautifully quiet. The rest of this month looks faboo.
8. Yes, I just typed faboo.
Have a great Hump Day, everyone!
Monday, August 8, 2011
Fighting Fire
Dry. Hot. Dry. Hot. That's been the mantra of our summer here. "Where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain?" Not so much... at least until the last couple of days. Of course, at this point, it's so stinking dry that we don't WANT wind. And as much as we'd love to see the rain come our direction, we'd much prefer if the lightning stayed elsewhere.
As always, though, do we get what we want?
Er... no.
Instead, we get wildfires, big ones, some reportedly caused by lightning and some with causes unknown. Several structures have been destroyed and many families have been evacuated, left to go somewhere safe and wonder which they'll return to - the comforts of home or a charred wreck.
The wildfires have been burning off and on for more than a week now. A few days ago a couple of my friends had to evacuate their homes for fear of the inferno; luckily they were able to return safely. Some of my other friends, not knowing my side of town as well as theirs, called or texted to make sure that we were well out of harm's way, and for that I'm grateful, both for their concern and for the fact that it wasn't necessary.
The incessant heat - today's high was 106 without heat index, which rose to about 112 or 113 - and the wind have hampered the firefighters' efforts. The fire is jumping (and closing) highways, burning power poles along with all the brush and dry trees, and just making an absolute mess of things. The folks who live in the area where the fire currently burns often have wells instead of city water, so when the power goes out, so does the pump... and with it their ability to sprinkle their house. Since the fire is so large, it's hard for anyone to keep track of where the fire is going and whose houses have been hit. Most of the firefighters on the scene are volunteers, and many have been working 18-24 hour shifts without sleep. The National Guard has been sending helicopters out to dump water on the fires, which helps, but it still hasn't been under control.
There are storms on the radar right now. I hope they bring some relief. I just worry that more lightning will strike and there will be another fire to fight... just what we certainly do NOT need.
As always, though, do we get what we want?
Er... no.
Instead, we get wildfires, big ones, some reportedly caused by lightning and some with causes unknown. Several structures have been destroyed and many families have been evacuated, left to go somewhere safe and wonder which they'll return to - the comforts of home or a charred wreck.
The wildfires have been burning off and on for more than a week now. A few days ago a couple of my friends had to evacuate their homes for fear of the inferno; luckily they were able to return safely. Some of my other friends, not knowing my side of town as well as theirs, called or texted to make sure that we were well out of harm's way, and for that I'm grateful, both for their concern and for the fact that it wasn't necessary.
The incessant heat - today's high was 106 without heat index, which rose to about 112 or 113 - and the wind have hampered the firefighters' efforts. The fire is jumping (and closing) highways, burning power poles along with all the brush and dry trees, and just making an absolute mess of things. The folks who live in the area where the fire currently burns often have wells instead of city water, so when the power goes out, so does the pump... and with it their ability to sprinkle their house. Since the fire is so large, it's hard for anyone to keep track of where the fire is going and whose houses have been hit. Most of the firefighters on the scene are volunteers, and many have been working 18-24 hour shifts without sleep. The National Guard has been sending helicopters out to dump water on the fires, which helps, but it still hasn't been under control.
There are storms on the radar right now. I hope they bring some relief. I just worry that more lightning will strike and there will be another fire to fight... just what we certainly do NOT need.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Joplin
I don't usually get caught up in the emotional throes of a tragedy. I feel bad for people and for circumstances, but they don't break my heart.
Till now. The Joplin tornado.
Joplin is a town I've been to many, many times. It was an hour away from where I grew up, so it was the "big city" that we visited when we needed something that the closer towns didn't have. My mother's cousin's daughter (I know, a thin stretch, but I grew up knowing her and her family very well since we went to the same church) works at the hospital that now isn't there. Thankfully she works nights, so she wasn't on shift when it hit. One of my high school classmates lives in Joplin and is currently housing some of her friends who did lose their homes. The amount of devastation is completely overwhelming. I keep staring at pictures, staring deep into them hoping for anything - any small iota - of the town I recognize. It hasn't happened yet. Simply... nothing.
I'm starting to see wish lists ("My sister-in-law's family lost everything. They are in need of 18 month old boys, 5 year old girls, women's 7/8 pants and medium shirts, and mens xl shirts. Of course, all of the other stuff that goes along with losing everything.") pop up on my friend's status messages on Facebook. Charities are pledging money ("Heart of Missouri United Way (Columbia, MO) has stepped up and established the Joplin Tornado Relief Fund. 100% of donations will go directly to Joplin United Way, with ZERO overhead. Follow the link, call 573-443-4523 or text "Joplin" to 864833 to donate $10").
Right now I haven't decided where or how I want to help. All I know is that I have to do SOMETHING. I can't lamely sit here on the sidelines and watch a town that I have known my entire life get wiped off the map. Simply can't do it.
I am not asking that you donate. I am not asking you to feel the pain that I am experiencing, because I know there have been so many disasters over the past few years and that many of you have experienced your own personal tragedies. Joplin is one small town in the middle of America that many people don't have a connection to. I just needed to empty my head and heart of the weight it's been carrying since I saw the news last night.
Thanks for reading. And if anyone more connected to the city than I is reading this, you have my deepest sympathy.
Till now. The Joplin tornado.
Joplin is a town I've been to many, many times. It was an hour away from where I grew up, so it was the "big city" that we visited when we needed something that the closer towns didn't have. My mother's cousin's daughter (I know, a thin stretch, but I grew up knowing her and her family very well since we went to the same church) works at the hospital that now isn't there. Thankfully she works nights, so she wasn't on shift when it hit. One of my high school classmates lives in Joplin and is currently housing some of her friends who did lose their homes. The amount of devastation is completely overwhelming. I keep staring at pictures, staring deep into them hoping for anything - any small iota - of the town I recognize. It hasn't happened yet. Simply... nothing.
I'm starting to see wish lists ("My sister-in-law's family lost everything. They are in need of 18 month old boys, 5 year old girls, women's 7/8 pants and medium shirts, and mens xl shirts. Of course, all of the other stuff that goes along with losing everything.") pop up on my friend's status messages on Facebook. Charities are pledging money ("Heart of Missouri United Way (Columbia, MO) has stepped up and established the Joplin Tornado Relief Fund. 100% of donations will go directly to Joplin United Way, with ZERO overhead. Follow the link, call 573-443-4523 or text "Joplin" to 864833 to donate $10").
Right now I haven't decided where or how I want to help. All I know is that I have to do SOMETHING. I can't lamely sit here on the sidelines and watch a town that I have known my entire life get wiped off the map. Simply can't do it.
I am not asking that you donate. I am not asking you to feel the pain that I am experiencing, because I know there have been so many disasters over the past few years and that many of you have experienced your own personal tragedies. Joplin is one small town in the middle of America that many people don't have a connection to. I just needed to empty my head and heart of the weight it's been carrying since I saw the news last night.
Thanks for reading. And if anyone more connected to the city than I is reading this, you have my deepest sympathy.
Friday, April 15, 2011
Success!
The last 24 hours have been the most successful of my entire week.
Success #1: I didn't freak out during the storm! It was tornadic and came fairly close; trees were apparently downed at an elementary school (the one I attended, actually), and there was a significant wall cloud that hung over town for a while. I kept my cool, watched the radar and TV like a hawk, and stepped outside to check actual conditions once or twice. The kids liked watching the intermittent hail and collected some after the storm passed. We had a second round of less severe storms after the kids went to bed, so we've had plenty of rain! I hope it's the end of the drought so that I can plant a garden. Fingers crossed.
Success #2: M1 had a good day of school. He was motivated enough to get done by 11 a.m., which was about two and a half hours earlier than it's been lately. I felt odd sitting on the couch at noon with nothing to teach! Then... oh, glorious then... he took a nap.
Success #3: I steam-cleaned the carpet in the hall and both kids' bedrooms (my bedroom has a wood floor now) with the steam cleaner that was part of my birthday present from Oz and the kids. The dreamy squishiness of freahly-cleaned carpet was soul-soothing. I still need to do the living room. It will happen soon.
Add to these successes the following surprises: Oz had a gift shipped to me so that it would arrive today, and a (HUGE surprise) gift arrived from an out-of-state friend. Today has been great! Some of my friends are coming over in a bit to hang out and chat. It might be cold and cloudy and rainy and windy and just plain dreary outside, but I've got happiness in my heart!
Success #1: I didn't freak out during the storm! It was tornadic and came fairly close; trees were apparently downed at an elementary school (the one I attended, actually), and there was a significant wall cloud that hung over town for a while. I kept my cool, watched the radar and TV like a hawk, and stepped outside to check actual conditions once or twice. The kids liked watching the intermittent hail and collected some after the storm passed. We had a second round of less severe storms after the kids went to bed, so we've had plenty of rain! I hope it's the end of the drought so that I can plant a garden. Fingers crossed.
Success #2: M1 had a good day of school. He was motivated enough to get done by 11 a.m., which was about two and a half hours earlier than it's been lately. I felt odd sitting on the couch at noon with nothing to teach! Then... oh, glorious then... he took a nap.
Success #3: I steam-cleaned the carpet in the hall and both kids' bedrooms (my bedroom has a wood floor now) with the steam cleaner that was part of my birthday present from Oz and the kids. The dreamy squishiness of freahly-cleaned carpet was soul-soothing. I still need to do the living room. It will happen soon.
Add to these successes the following surprises: Oz had a gift shipped to me so that it would arrive today, and a (HUGE surprise) gift arrived from an out-of-state friend. Today has been great! Some of my friends are coming over in a bit to hang out and chat. It might be cold and cloudy and rainy and windy and just plain dreary outside, but I've got happiness in my heart!
Thursday, April 14, 2011
The Weather Cometh
Oz left to go on his annual 'work' cruise today. If you haven't heard me mention this before, it is an incentive-type cruise that his company pays for. Those who have done well throughout the year are shipped out on a three-day funfest to either Mexico or the Bahamas. All-you-can-drink cards are handed out as they board. There's a company meeting on the ride back to help write off the trip. And did I mention spouses are not allowed to attend?
So Oz left to go on his annual 'work' cruise today.
This means that the spring storms that we haven't had yet are arriving this afternoon.
Most folks around here love storms, and I do, too, as long as they're just thunderstorms and not tornado-spawning supercells. I enjoy a good vertical rain with some thunder and lightning for dramatic effect. It's the horizontal rain that gets me. Guess which kind we're forecast to get today?
The worst part is that this fear has become disabling for me. I'd go so far as to say it's a phobia. I didn't sleep well last night because of worry. I saw the tornado watch come into effect and felt my chest clench. I've already started checking out the locations of all the stormchasers to see where they're headed. Sometimes they congregate in a single location, and I feel better. This time they're spread out. I don't like that. After I go get M2 from school, I'll come home and change into jeans. I'll put on socks and have my tennis shoes handy. When the storms start, I'll have the TV on in the background, something I never, ever do, in case they break in and start a severe weather broadcast. Each kid will pack a 'ready bag' if nasty weather looks like it's heading our way. I'll fix a meal that pretty much cooks itself and which we can easily transport, since these things often hit right at dinnertime.
And I'll do it all while trying to remain calm on the outside and not scare the children. I doubt I succeed very well at this. But when I'm almost paralyzed with fear, it's all I can do.
I just checked the radar again, and the first green and orange blips have popped up. It's starting. Someone pass the Ativan and a margarita. It's gonna be a long evening.
So Oz left to go on his annual 'work' cruise today.
This means that the spring storms that we haven't had yet are arriving this afternoon.
Most folks around here love storms, and I do, too, as long as they're just thunderstorms and not tornado-spawning supercells. I enjoy a good vertical rain with some thunder and lightning for dramatic effect. It's the horizontal rain that gets me. Guess which kind we're forecast to get today?
The worst part is that this fear has become disabling for me. I'd go so far as to say it's a phobia. I didn't sleep well last night because of worry. I saw the tornado watch come into effect and felt my chest clench. I've already started checking out the locations of all the stormchasers to see where they're headed. Sometimes they congregate in a single location, and I feel better. This time they're spread out. I don't like that. After I go get M2 from school, I'll come home and change into jeans. I'll put on socks and have my tennis shoes handy. When the storms start, I'll have the TV on in the background, something I never, ever do, in case they break in and start a severe weather broadcast. Each kid will pack a 'ready bag' if nasty weather looks like it's heading our way. I'll fix a meal that pretty much cooks itself and which we can easily transport, since these things often hit right at dinnertime.
And I'll do it all while trying to remain calm on the outside and not scare the children. I doubt I succeed very well at this. But when I'm almost paralyzed with fear, it's all I can do.
I just checked the radar again, and the first green and orange blips have popped up. It's starting. Someone pass the Ativan and a margarita. It's gonna be a long evening.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Gorgeous Sunday post
Here are some random thoughts for a gorgeous, sunny Sunday.
1. A roll of toilet paper can last an entire week if Oz is gone.
2. I can sleep with four cats and not realize it until I wake up and can't move because the bedspread is pinned down in all directions.
3. One good day in the sun brings my skin color back to the same shade as my foundation. This is good.
4. Geese are remarkably talkative. We had nine of them stop by yesterday after a small thunderstorm. They said hello. And a lot of other things. Some of them are not repeatable. I know they're not repeatable because nobody says polite things while hissing and chasing someone while trying to bite their neck.
5. My husband is the self-proclaimed King of Tacky T-shirts. His latest one is this. At 6'8" tall, nobody has taken the dare yet. Except me. Repeatedly.
6. My baby girl is getting freckles. They're really, really tiny and really, really cute.
7. Watching anything with Charlie Sheen in it is hilarious now that he's such a "winning" person. I highly recommend the original "Wall Street" for a great laugh. It was a good movie, anyway.
8. The second Borders in our town has been added to the hit list. This particular Borders has been a haven for me during lots of crises. I am going to cry. And then I'm going to have to see if I can have one last coffee with friends there before it shuts.
9. Bruises and unwounded skin are fighting a battle for control of my son's limbs. It's a close contest. The best(?) part is that he has no idea how 98% of the bruises happened.
10. The kids have decided they NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED one of these. M2 has volunteered to pay for it. He even factored in shipping. Oz and I are pondering where to hang it.
Enjoy the weather!
1. A roll of toilet paper can last an entire week if Oz is gone.
2. I can sleep with four cats and not realize it until I wake up and can't move because the bedspread is pinned down in all directions.
3. One good day in the sun brings my skin color back to the same shade as my foundation. This is good.
4. Geese are remarkably talkative. We had nine of them stop by yesterday after a small thunderstorm. They said hello. And a lot of other things. Some of them are not repeatable. I know they're not repeatable because nobody says polite things while hissing and chasing someone while trying to bite their neck.
5. My husband is the self-proclaimed King of Tacky T-shirts. His latest one is this. At 6'8" tall, nobody has taken the dare yet. Except me. Repeatedly.
6. My baby girl is getting freckles. They're really, really tiny and really, really cute.
7. Watching anything with Charlie Sheen in it is hilarious now that he's such a "winning" person. I highly recommend the original "Wall Street" for a great laugh. It was a good movie, anyway.
8. The second Borders in our town has been added to the hit list. This particular Borders has been a haven for me during lots of crises. I am going to cry. And then I'm going to have to see if I can have one last coffee with friends there before it shuts.
9. Bruises and unwounded skin are fighting a battle for control of my son's limbs. It's a close contest. The best(?) part is that he has no idea how 98% of the bruises happened.
10. The kids have decided they NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED one of these. M2 has volunteered to pay for it. He even factored in shipping. Oz and I are pondering where to hang it.
Enjoy the weather!
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Back in Hibernation
I am in forced hibernation. If you think this means a lot of sleeping, think again. I have to keep everyone busy, including myself! I plan to make cinnamon rolls tomorrow, just because. They'll do wonderful things for my mentality, if nothing else, because the smell of cinnamon rolls baking is in the Smell-O-Dictionary next to the word 'heavenly.'
We got another, oh, probably 6" of snow today. Who bothers to measure at this point?? All I know is that we've set a local seasonal record for most snow in a single winter. School was out (again) today and will be out (again) tomorrow. Friday is still up for grabs. I'm grateful for the two days of school we did get this week, even if they started late, because most area schools have been out since last Tuesday. Not that M2 *went* to school both days. Oh, no. We got up on Monday and got her ready, and she started complaining of tummy pain. I knew it was nerves and told her that I'd take her in and get her settled before I left, and she whined a little and said she just didn't want to go, but I knew she had been itching to see her friends. Off we went.
No dice.
She went psychosomatic and threw up almost the instant I left the building. I didn't make it more than 2/3 of the way home before I got the call. M1 still had school that day, and M2 happily tagged along (she was fine after we got home, and thankfully the school secretary/nurse believed me when I said it was nerves and told me to try again the next day. She knows I wouldn't bring in a sick kid). M2 did fine on Tuesday after she developed a plan to "be the helper." She marched into the classroom and announced, "What can I do? I'm your helper today." I shrugged and left. Whatever got her through the day was fine by me. M2 and I went home and had a 'normal' day, which seemed completely bizarre.
We're stuck at home again now, though. It's f-f-f-freeeeeezing here again - 17 degrees at current check with a wind chill even lower - and won't get above freezing for a day or two, but it's supposed to get almost to SIXTY DEGREES next week. It'll feel like summer. I might even plant something. Just so I can watch the chickens eat it. They might even get to leave their run. They haven't done more than hover around the coop (or stay inside it on days like today) since all this blizzard business began. I need to muck out their coop something fierce.
Maybe next week I can do it. Maybe this snow will all disappear and we'll get to return to our regularly-scheduled lives and driving patterns.
I can dream, right? This forced hibernation has me on the edge of hallucination.
Must be time for a tropical drink to kickstart my mental paradise. Rum, anyone?
We got another, oh, probably 6" of snow today. Who bothers to measure at this point?? All I know is that we've set a local seasonal record for most snow in a single winter. School was out (again) today and will be out (again) tomorrow. Friday is still up for grabs. I'm grateful for the two days of school we did get this week, even if they started late, because most area schools have been out since last Tuesday. Not that M2 *went* to school both days. Oh, no. We got up on Monday and got her ready, and she started complaining of tummy pain. I knew it was nerves and told her that I'd take her in and get her settled before I left, and she whined a little and said she just didn't want to go, but I knew she had been itching to see her friends. Off we went.
No dice.
She went psychosomatic and threw up almost the instant I left the building. I didn't make it more than 2/3 of the way home before I got the call. M1 still had school that day, and M2 happily tagged along (she was fine after we got home, and thankfully the school secretary/nurse believed me when I said it was nerves and told me to try again the next day. She knows I wouldn't bring in a sick kid). M2 did fine on Tuesday after she developed a plan to "be the helper." She marched into the classroom and announced, "What can I do? I'm your helper today." I shrugged and left. Whatever got her through the day was fine by me. M2 and I went home and had a 'normal' day, which seemed completely bizarre.
We're stuck at home again now, though. It's f-f-f-freeeeeezing here again - 17 degrees at current check with a wind chill even lower - and won't get above freezing for a day or two, but it's supposed to get almost to SIXTY DEGREES next week. It'll feel like summer. I might even plant something. Just so I can watch the chickens eat it. They might even get to leave their run. They haven't done more than hover around the coop (or stay inside it on days like today) since all this blizzard business began. I need to muck out their coop something fierce.
Maybe next week I can do it. Maybe this snow will all disappear and we'll get to return to our regularly-scheduled lives and driving patterns.
I can dream, right? This forced hibernation has me on the edge of hallucination.
Must be time for a tropical drink to kickstart my mental paradise. Rum, anyone?
Monday, February 7, 2011
Snow Fun
I can't deny that the snow wasn't beautiful (at first). Heck, it turned my husband's car into a hatchback, which is kind of an amusing thought.
The little birdie tracks were adorable.
It was so windy that the snow really didn't pile up on the roof much.
And I've always loved snow shadows.
The little birdie tracks were adorable.
It was so windy that the snow really didn't pile up on the roof much.
And I've always loved snow shadows.Of course, the instant it warmed up to more than, say, 10 degrees (which took a couple of days), the kids wanted O-U-T.
So I bundled them up released the hounds.
Snow angels were made properly...
... and any other way the girl could think of.
The boy loved disappearing up to his knees in the snow...
... and the girl tried it and wound up sinking to her waist.
Both of them loved body-slamming themselves into snowdrifts.
Mommy had to put a stop to that after the first half dozen because she was a little worried about broken bones due to packed snow.
She's a worrywart, that Mommy person.
A good ol' horse-nuzzling was on the agenda, too...
... and so was a dog-tossing.
He was less than pleased at this, but watching a 17-lb. Schipperke flounder in the snow is hilarious.
Finally, the man and the boy HAD to have a snowball fight. I have a video exerpt of it below. I couldn't help but laugh when Oz got himself into snowdrift and could barely get through it. You can hear M1 chuckling in the background.
More snow is forecast for tomorrow and Wednesday. I just want to see mail today before the ground gets all covered again!
Saturday, February 5, 2011
During the Storm
All right. Oz has promised me that if the kids haven't committed fratricide by the end of the day (they're currently on hiatus from one another in their respective rooms after a game of Battleship ended in a fistfight... M2 tried to change the rules midgame, which threw M1 into a tizzy, which caused her to sass him, which caused him to whack her... ahhh polar opposites... and yes, they have both apologized to each other, but apparently they need a physical wall between them for a while), we'll be going out to dinner. I don't know where, because I don't know which resturants have actually, um, gotten deliveries (kinda like we haven't had mail or trash service all week), and, ergo, don't know which restaurants actually, um, have... well... FOOD.
However. It's enough to make me unearth the photos of the actual horrific entity known as Blizzard 2011 and share them with you.
How cold was it? The chicken coop had to be kept shut all day because the snow was blowing in. We put water in there, but after a few hours it was frozen. When I went out to replenish it, I had to re-unearth the gate because you couldn't even tell that Oz had been there. I honestly thought he must have climbed over the fence because footprints? None.
I set some birdseed out on the front porch, and we garnered quite a few hungry little mealseekers. They would eat a little, then go sit on the bottom of the glider, all puffed up and hiding their itty-bitty birdy feet, then go back and nibble some more.
The cats were beside themselves. I just watched the snow fly up the stairs (what stairs?) and giggled hysterically every time a cat flung itself at the window in a vain attempt at birdcatching.
The dogs had no interest in going outside. When I made them do it, though, they were good and did their business... in one small area out of snow and wind. I really couldn't blame them. I wouldn't want a snowy backside, either. Speed Bump particularly liked that the snow had created a ramp to get in instead of stairs. Less climbing for a chubby Corgi makes for a happy dog.
See the flag blowing behind the trampoline? See the trampoline net flying (and sinking) in the wind (and snow)? Yes. Blizzards do that.
Unfortunately, come wind or snow or sleet or hail, the mail may not be delivered and trash my not get picked up, but horses still get hungry. There was no way that the horses' owner could come feed, so Oz agreed to go out and get them some hay. I stayed in the warm belly of my home and took pictures of him returning to the homestead.
Note the boot that has disappered into the snow...
Welcome back, m'dear!
It was quite a trail he had created.
Tomorrow (or whenever I get to it): Playtime in the snow!
However. It's enough to make me unearth the photos of the actual horrific entity known as Blizzard 2011 and share them with you.
How cold was it? The chicken coop had to be kept shut all day because the snow was blowing in. We put water in there, but after a few hours it was frozen. When I went out to replenish it, I had to re-unearth the gate because you couldn't even tell that Oz had been there. I honestly thought he must have climbed over the fence because footprints? None.
I set some birdseed out on the front porch, and we garnered quite a few hungry little mealseekers. They would eat a little, then go sit on the bottom of the glider, all puffed up and hiding their itty-bitty birdy feet, then go back and nibble some more.
The cats were beside themselves. I just watched the snow fly up the stairs (what stairs?) and giggled hysterically every time a cat flung itself at the window in a vain attempt at birdcatching.
The dogs had no interest in going outside. When I made them do it, though, they were good and did their business... in one small area out of snow and wind. I really couldn't blame them. I wouldn't want a snowy backside, either. Speed Bump particularly liked that the snow had created a ramp to get in instead of stairs. Less climbing for a chubby Corgi makes for a happy dog.
See the flag blowing behind the trampoline? See the trampoline net flying (and sinking) in the wind (and snow)? Yes. Blizzards do that.Unfortunately, come wind or snow or sleet or hail, the mail may not be delivered and trash my not get picked up, but horses still get hungry. There was no way that the horses' owner could come feed, so Oz agreed to go out and get them some hay. I stayed in the warm belly of my home and took pictures of him returning to the homestead.
Note the boot that has disappered into the snow...
Welcome back, m'dear!
It was quite a trail he had created.Tomorrow (or whenever I get to it): Playtime in the snow!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)