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Digging Out

January 18, 2022 at 9:42 am by Claudia

We’re still digging out. The snowblower is not working correctly. We think it’s a dirty carburetor, but we’re not sure. At any rate that will have to be dealt with next week. So Don had to shovel, and I, with my bad back, couldn’t help him. He got the driveway done and enough shoveled at the top of the drive so we would be able to get out if we needed to. But he was pretty darn tired and didn’t finish. And then it froze over night, as the temperatures plummeted. So he salted everything this morning and will go back out later. It’s pretty out there, but it’s a pain in the tush.

My back is getting better. It seems to be at its worst at the end of the day. I’m being very careful. I did do a bit of work on the puzzle, but only for brief periods of time.

Another tricky one, but then again, they all are.

I’m deep into Cloud Cuckoo Land now and am loving it. Anthony Doerr is such an amazing writer. The words, the ideas, the imagery – my heavens, he’s good. He won the Pulitzer Prize for All the Light We Cannot See. I’m back to reading again and it feels so good.

Pippa pointing out the fact that this dollhouse is too small for the girls.

I know, sweet Pip, I know.

Stay safe.

Happy Tuesday.

A Good Snow for a Snowman

January 17, 2022 at 10:16 am by Claudia

As I sat in my chair drinking my first cup of coffee, this happened. Turns out the snow was perfect for making a big old snowball, which led to this:

Don thinks this is the first time he’s made a snowman. Remember, he grew up in San Diego. I had to give him a few tips about rolling a small ball in the snow to make it bigger, rather than the way he was doing it. Then I got him a carrot.

What it looked like this morning:

I think we got about 5 or 6 inches and it’s part snow, part ice and sleet, hence the snowball. There were supposed to be high winds last night, but if there were, I didn’t hear any. I think we got off fairly well compared to the predicted 8 or more inches. The power is on, we’re doing fine, Don made some soup yesterday, which we’re going to have for lunch, and my sweetheart got to play in the snow.

Don’s outside now, getting ready to use the snowblower.

My back is a wee bit better and I’m being very careful with it. I didn’t work on the puzzle yesterday, instead, I read a nice, healthy chunk of Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr, which is exactly what I need to do to get fully invested in the story. I’m happy about that. I’ll read some more today.

And I made sure that Mei has her very own little friend.

She looks happy.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

Before the Storm

January 16, 2022 at 9:53 am by Claudia

9:30 am and the blinds and shades are still closed because it’s so frigging cold out there. We’ve been up three and a half hours and the house still hasn’t warmed up completely.

And, as I hit myself upside the head, I was reading the forecast for Monday when I said it had changed to rain and sleet, with no snow predicted. Don kept saying that several inches of snow were forecast, and I couldn’t figure out why there was such a huge discrepancy.

I forgot to check Sunday night. Starting this evening, and all night long, we’re getting snow and sleet and ice, with 5 – 8 inches predicted. Plus high winds.

Crap.

And just one more complaint and then I’ll shut up. I threw my back out yesterday, so yours truly is in pain.

This, too, shall pass.

Don is warming up the car so he can make a run to the grocery store. He’s almost out of his coffee. We added about ten other things to that list. We don’t want to have to go anywhere for the next three days.

But it’s sunny right now, so there’s that.

Working on the puzzle would not be the best thing for my back, so I’m going to use this opportunity to get back into my book.

One little thing to share with you:

These boots arrived yesterday. There’s a whole story about the substitute mail person who left a slip of paper saying he tried to deliver the package – I was watching. He didn’t. Don got in the car and somehow found him and he handed it over. This guy has pulled this before. He doesn’t want to drive up our driveway for some reason, even though it’s no big deal and really rather modest in incline. People – including big old oil delivery trucks – do it all the time. The last time he did this, I told him to honk and we’d be happy to come down to the mailbox and get the package.

Whoops. I complained again.

Anyway, I’d been waiting for this package a long time – it came from Russia – and I was so happy to see the excellent workmanship. They’re really beautiful – they were made by Hope Shoes on Etsy. And the maker keeps track of the shipment! She is the one who tipped me off that it was out for delivery.

Aren’t they cute?

Okay, my friends. I’m going to sign off. Say a little prayer that our power stays on! And all of you who are in the path of this storm, please take care! Stay home, stay inside.

And stay safe.

Happy Sunday.

Digging Out

A Good Snow for a Snowman

Before the Storm

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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