Greetings. It’s early in the morning, the lights are on, the blanket on the loveseat is a bit mussy, confirming the fact that Scout considers it her bed.
Over the past several days, the many inches of snow that were on the ground melted away until there was just the odd pile here and there. Even the snow you see in the photo above had disappeared.
I was happy. Frankly, it makes things so much easier around here – for me, for Scout, for our driveway. I can appreciate the beauty of snow but after many, many years of dealing with it, the bloom is off the rose, so to speak. Especially when I am handling this all by myself for a couple of months.
This is what I woke up to this morning. Pretty? Yes. Annoying? Yes, yes and yes.
Because now I’ve got to shovel everything. And we have a lot of driveway. That goes uphill. Then I have to salt. My back is already complaining at just the thought of it.
And, though I know it is with the best of intentions, please don’t tell me we should buy a snow blower. I know we should. But it’s not in the budget right now. I am the snow blower.
That doesn’t sound right, does it?
So as I sit here, listening to Ravel’s Bolero on the radio, I am girding my loins for the job ahead. It’s not a huge amount of snow, thank goodness. But it’s enough.
One more cup of coffee. Then it’s go time.
Oh drat. The plow just went by.
What’s the weather like in your neck of the woods?
Several of you mentioned that you were disappointed that the scarf I listed yesterday sold so quickly. If you are interested in one in that color, send me an email. I’d be happy to make one for you, providing I know just how much of that particular color to order.
Happy Wednesday.
Claudia, Take breaks while shoveling snow. I always go in and have a drink of water, after shoveling a 1/3 of my drive. I like shoveling, but I have to make myself do it the wise way. With your Don not there, you sure do not want to get down. xo,Susie
All done. Now I’m resting and then I will go out and salt.
Good Morning Claudia and Scout,
The weather here is 20 degrees and sunny. We could use some of your snow here really. Our water table is still down form last summer. I am very thankful that Roger has the construction equipment to clear our driveway when it does snow. This cold weather does not make the puppies happy, Doxies are very cold adverse. Rusty is ok with it because he has a lot of hair.
Be careful with the snow shovel, take lots of breaks, and dream about spring.
Suzan
Ladybug cottage
We had virtually no snow last year and our water table was down. This year is a different story!
Oh Claudia! I’m so sorry you have to deal with the shoveling all on your own! Please be careful as others advised, that looks like a big job. If you lived in St Louis I could send my cousins husband over to you – they have a landscaping business and do snow blowing in the winter months.
Sending you and Scout lots of hugs! xo
(It was 34 in downtown L.A. yesterday morning, whoa! We’re such wusses and unused to weather.)
Don says it’s been cold out there!
Haven’t heard the word drat in a long, long time. Make the snow shoveling a whole day project. Shovel a little, go inside for a cup of java, shovel a little, go inside for lunch etc. etc. I know it’s hard especially when your back is hurting but the fresh air will take your mind of it. The photo of your red storage shed is stunning. Love it! I like your blue mason jars on the windowsill. You have your nice camara and beautiful photos to look forward too but, drat, it stull sucks to have to shovel all that snow!
Ours melted in Michigan. We had a couple of 40 and 50 degree days on the weekend and now it’s in the 20’s. I hate to complain but I hope we don’t get an unseasonablly warm spring folllowed by a freeze this year. It confused the trees and flowers and ruined a lot of stuff. Take the snow shoveling nice and easy my friend!
XXOO Sandy
Ours had melted from the same kind of temps. But unfortunately, it didn’t last long!
I hate to tell you this, but the Chicago area has been strangely blessed with a mild winter so far (knock wood!!). We have a LONG driveway and no “blower” too! Love “Bolero.” Take it slow and ez!
I’ve heard that – that is so strange for Chicago!
Dead shredder and now pesky snow! UNFAIR! Hang in there Claudia, and be as kind to your back as possible. I promise not to share my mom’s saying with you, because it always drove all of us nuts. Okay, I’ll share, but don’t blame me, it’s my mom’s phrase, not mine! THIS TOO SHALL PASS. xxoo, martha
I’ve heard that particular saying from others in my life. It drives me nuts, too!!
I live a few miles from Seattle and we are used to rain, but the last week it has been dry but very, very cold. If it was raining, it would be snow. We on Puget Sound don’t do snow. Last year it was taking people 10 hrs. to get home on the freeways which is 10 times longer than usual. But this year dry and cold. The furnace is going a lot and I am not looking forward to the bill next month.
And dogs on the furniture. I read somewhere once, at it is so true, you let people you don’t like sit on your couch. Why wouldn’t you let the dog sit on the couch? I had no good answer. Our dogs have always been on the furniture.
That’s a great way to look at it. Why not let your dog on the couch? Our dogs use the furniture. Not our bed, but everywhere else is fair game.
Dear Claudia, We in Salt Lake City have been extremely Blessed this last weekend The final tally in my front yard, Monday morning was 20″! Temps in single digits, I am doing my best just to stay upright. I agree by the time we get to our age we are supposed to be comfortable.With a retired husband to take care of these things.ha ha ha . But wait that’s the old american dream. Claudia I am wondering if you start at the top of your drive and shovel down hill, would that work? not that it will make the snow any lighter. How ever you do it , BE SAFE! LOVE to Scoutie!!! She gave me such nice kisses on my reply to her post!
This time I did start at the top of the drive, but I had to stop to shovel all the wet stuff piled up at the end of the driveway by the plow. You guys really have cold temps and a lot of snow! We’re due for some really cold temps next week.
The worst is the plow snow…always the deepest and the heaviest! Be careful out there and take your time!
All done!
Sounds like a good day to stay in and Quilt on your Scrappy Quilt or Sew on your Featherweight or read a good book or just about anything that will keep you warm and pain free. Afterall, it is WIP Wednesday. I’m gonna Sew today and there isn’t even a flake of snow on the ground here in Texas, but, ‘Baby, It’s Cold Outside’.
I did a bit of quilting last night and will probably do some more this afternoon after I finish salting the driveway.
We’ve got snow as well, but also a snow day, which is a bit like a holiday. And that is just what my over committed daughter needed.
When I was a kid, I loved snow days!
Oh Claudia I forgot to mention, I went surfing yesterday for people working on their dollhouses. Because I have SOO enjoyed your work, in your dollhouse. I was bitterly disappointed, I just didn’t find anything like the care and talent you are putting into yours. I am SURE there are some good ones out there,I didn’t find them this time. -Judy –
There are a lot of wonderful miniaturists out there. Try searching for ‘miniature blogs’ or ‘dollhouse miniature blogs.”
My loins are girded, too., here in CT. Got new snow boots on sale last week and was sure it would NOT snow again this winter, but that didn’t work out too well. Our apartment maintenance folk do well for us, but we have to clear and move our own cars. Only occasionally much of a challenge and I am grateful.
Wish I could help you out, Lucia ( Well, better if my grandsons could!)
Thanks, Lucia, for the kind thoughts. I’m ready for winter to be over!
We woke up to a thin coating of ice this morning. I tried to convince me mother not to go to the hairdressers, but that is like committing a cardinal sin. I’m just praying she doesn’t fall. Please take it easy while shoveling. I worry about you overdoing.
Hugs,
Laura
Ice is scary for anyone, but especially for the elderly. But getting one’s hair done is important!
My back aches for you. A lot of our big snowfall has melted…going to be hovering around 0 degrees or below by Monday. Hope the snow plow didn’t block you in too much. It’s time to stock up on groceries and hunker down…how long til Spring? It can’t get here soon enough! ;)
I agree, Donnamae!
I am always amused at the ladies who live in the south or south west who are tickled pink (or tickled white?) at the thought of snow. Sure, it’s pretty, but looks can (and are) deceiving. I am with you, living in NYC for 58 years, I have had it with snow, ice, slush, and having to shovel. Now I live in a place where they send people to do the sidewalks, they don’t do such a great job, though, so we need to still get out and do our share. xo
Yep. I’m over it, Barbara!
Pretty snow unless you have to shovel. Take care and rest like everyone is saying!
hugs, Linda
All done, Linda. Except for salting.
Good luck with the shoveling! I did that the other day and then it melted the next day :) We have a long driveway and we bought a snow plow that attaches to the front of our lawn tractor. But hubby was watching football and I wanted it done asap. I’m also not interested in learning how to drive the tractor…so I did it the hard way. Which seems to be how I operate most of the time!
Oh, Lisa Lynn, Don would tell you I’m the same way!
Oh… shovelling by yourself is no fun. Perhaps you could borrow the snowblower from the neighbour who did them for you before? Wouldn’t hurt to ask. :) It is positively scorching here already! +2C (35F) Melting. It will get cold again and then everything will be icy. Treacherous, but warm now. Good luck my dear!
Have to go out and salt for that very reason, Tracy.
I think the gals are right advising you to shovel just a bit at a time. I’m hoping you have a warm up soon and it all melts again. Love that word Drat!! Haven’t heard it in a long time! lol!
XO,
Jane
I love that word. I like to use old-fashioned words every once in a while!
Ah Claudia I hear your pain, take the shoveling slowly, and warm up first. Our neighbour has a new baby, and a husband that works out of town, so my husband shovels her driveways for her. I can only hope that one day a kind neighbour will give you a hand also….
Soon it will be spring, let’s look forward to that day…sigh.
We have over a foot and a half, and it’s cold baby cold….but they say it’s going to warm up to above zero…
Jen
Yikes. I won’t complain! And how nice of your husband to help your neighbor out! What a good guy!
WE had that good old thing called “Wintry Mix” this morning. Which means icy rain, snow, and more icy rain.
Yes, it does.
We are in the 20’s but no snow – thank goodness! Take it easy Snow Blower!!
Judy
Sort of like a Horse Whisperer!
Ooh, I would be saying drat, too. Sorry I’m not able to help. Be careful, and take lots of breaks.
I’m all done. I’ve even salted. Took a hot shower and now I’m sipping tea and getting ready to quilt a bit.
I am spoiled, I’ve been away from snow country for way too many years. I’m about 45 mins NW of L.A., and the weather is supposed to hit 70 today, 75 over the wknd! I know Don must be enjoying it now, although it’s been so cold at night these past few weeks. Just take it slow, and don’t forget a hot bath with epsom salts later to help easy those muscles! Does Scout stay out there w/you the whole time you are shoveling?
Scout stays out there a while, but not the whole time. The last time I let her do that, she was sore because she runs around a lot, plus a lot of jumping. And today she had to go in because she was eating snow!
We never shovel much.. your snow must be deeper than ours. We just drive over the snow.. but we haven’t had much more than a dusting a few times this winter. I’m heading off to lunch and a movie with my 2 sisters and best friend. We’re going to see Silver Linings Playbook. Don’t hurt your back! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
It definitely is deeper than yours, Teresa! I have Silver Linings Playbook right here but I’ve not watched it yet. Have fun!
Double drat! But from the comments, I can see you got the job done. You’ve earned a well-deserved break. Have a great day. Tammy
Thank you, Tammy. I’m drinking hot chocolate right now.
Here’s to you girding your loins! I’m visiting the chiropractor today, myself. The black ice has melted. I’ve been so housebound that even the chiropractor sounds like a clandestine meeting!
It’s sad when we’re so excited to get out that a trip to the chiropractor sounds great – I hope you’re feeling better, Dewena!
ok…what happens if you don’t shovel the driveway? So, you plow through snow…
Sometimes we get ours shoveled and sometimes not. Yes, it is crunchy and somewhat
slippery, but we make it up ok. Take very good care of your back!!! When it is gone,
you will be so angry. Too many years of nursing, lifting, pushing, and standing on my feet
have now appeared in my lumbar region. Severe Spinal Stenosis. Now I baby my back,
no vacuuming, or lifting anything over 5 lbs. This is not the way I wanted my senior years
to be.
hugs to you
Well, we have an older car and we don’t have 4-wheel drive- our driveway is very steep, so the odds are I might not make it up that easily. I hope to get someone to plow for the rest of the winter.
Hi Claudia, I hear you. Despite the fact we forever lack snow I have a similar situation with pine straw. I raked It for six hours this weekend. All our neighbors have a lawn service. I am our lawn service because we are frugal. It was sunny and in the 70’s but I fear we shall pay for it in mosquitoes later. xo, olive
I hope you’re not feeling any aches and pains, Olive!
Oh, I remember all those years of snow shoveling! Then we moved to California for 8 years, but now we are back in the tundra. We solved the snow problem when we bought our little townhouse. Our small association hires someone to plow our driveways and shovel our walks. I cannot tell you how cozy and comfy that sounds at 4:30 AM on a workday, and I hear that snow plow! For your sake, I hope it doesn’t snow too much more this winter in your neck of the woods.
I bet it’s wonderful hearing that snow plow and knowing you don’t have to deal with the snow!
My first thought was……if you didn’t have to go anywhere could you jut wait and see if it melted…..hah…..do I sound lazy or what.Glad you are done and still alive.
All of our snow melted over the week-end. We didn’t get any last night…..just missing it. Not sure for how long. It is weird how everyone is getting something unusual this year.
Stay safe and warm.
(((((HUGS)))))
Can’t wait for possible melting or everything will ice over and then it really will be impossible!
Couldn’t agree with you more. Snow is pretty but what a nuisance it is to clean up and I hate driving in snow. If I never experienced it again in my lifetime, I truly don’t think I would miss it.
Me too, Jeanette!
Yuck on that snow. Here in northern IL it’s been quite cold (20’s, but today finally in the 30’s) and no snow. Just that sleet mixture a few days ago.
Double yuck on the snow!
I felt the same way when I awoke to 3 inches of snow in the morning. The good news here is that it changed over to rain and by nightfall the pavement was entirely cleared of snow. And now today we are back to that “nearly melted and gone” look we had two days ago. I hope you were careful and didn’t strain your back too much.
The weather? One day warm. One day cool. Colder today. Very windy last night.
I don’t envy you shoveling that driveway. I pray it melts to help you out. I would be lost. It’s snowing in Virginia. A cousin just sent pictures.
Typing with one finger. The iPad is stuck. Argh.
Still no computer. Mr. Magpie has been sick, and he needs to be there to help. He’s good w/ technology which I am not.
Stay warm. Oh, and Mu MIL just loves her scarf. She said again that the colors remind her of a peacock’s feathers and are so pretty. Thank you so much for making her so happy.
xo,
Sheila
“my”… Not Mu. Argh!
You should move south! I miss snow some times but not too often! We just got our first snow storm of the season yesterday and it is already melting away.