April 1, 2012

3/31 The lion's last roar as seen from
the loft.

March was still roaring as April swept in snowing and blowing.  We woke up to 1-1/2" of snow  yesterday morning and received almost 2" more during the day.  The temperature was down to 22 so the snow stuck everywhere and we are back up to 100% ground coverage.  The avalanche canons were thundering on Mission Ridge both Friday and Saturday, echoing over the mountains and chasing Jesse into the house.  Several storm cells passed over on Friday but because of the wind, any snow they tried to drop went horizontal and did not land until reaching the next county.  There is a wind advisory in our area for all day today.  Mother Nature is certainly in a snit.

Had to pump water out from under the house both Friday and Saturday, and poor JB had to be out in that weather while we did it.  It takes about 1-1/2 to 2 hours to set up, pump and then clean up, with only 6 to 12 minutes actual pumping.  Now that we are familiar with the pump, we have the whole process pretty much down to a science.  We even have a rope that attaches to both our wrists that I pull on when JB needs to turn off the pump.  And I have made a cap out of screen for the end of the hose to keep small rocks from getting sucked in.  There are two main places in which the water settles and from which we pump.  At this point I am only concerned with getting the water out from them and not all the little indentations as there will be more the next day.  Just trying to keep the support poles as dry as possible.

It may be the end of March, but it is looking like the end of December out there.  Still just a beautiful, but I am getting antsy for more of that warm weather we had this time last week.  This new spate of snow hasn't chased off the birds though.  They can feel Spring weather in the air, too.

Thought for the day:  The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn.  Alvin Toffler