January 25, 2016 A Pity Party & An Aborted Snowshoe Trek

The snowshoes that we really need!

Looking out of the shop door.

A view of the mountains
on Sunday.

Friday 1/22. Some of those reading this blog may think that we were unprepared with the appropriate vehicles when we embarked on our off-the-grid/mountain retirement.  Well, we would have had the money for a snowmobile and/or whatever we might have needed if it weren't for that Wall Street debacle of 2008 in which we lost both of our 401K's.  Wasn't a big fortune, but it would have been a nice cushion.  As it is, we are living on Social Security, but actually doing better than I thought we would.

Larry may be able to plow the main canyon road and ours in another week or so, depending upon the filters they ordered for the SnoCat.  That would be wonderful, especially if we can get MAX fixed.

This morning's fog quickly receded and by 9:00 am we could see blue sky.  Snow bombs began falling from the trees in earnest, and then a breeze picked up creating even more snow bombs.  Our high for the day was 40

I really did want to take the day off, but with the sun and warmer temps, I had to get the deck cleared off before it melted.

We binge-watched the last four episodes of Justified this evening, not being able to wait to see the ending.  I thought for sure at least one of the main characters would die in a hail of bullets, but the ending was even better than that.

Saturday 1/23. It was 30 and snowing this morning when I got up at 8:00 am.  Upon seeing those snowflakes, discouragement quickly began to set in.  Not so much from being snowbound, but from JB's sprained wrist, which leaves all the work to me.  Definitely time for a pity party.  That affair lasted about ten minutes, then I put on my big-girl panties and got to shoveling.  We had received 4" by 9:00 am and it was still coming down.  It is what it is.

As much as we prided ourselves in being prepared Up Here, we are finding that in many ways we weren't.  As Elsie said the other night, "This winter is a wake-up call."  So we will have some projects to keep us busy when the snow is gone and the weather is warmer, like rebuilding the hen-house roof to face east and west, rather than north and south.  And an extension on the recycle shed that will shelter the door.  Also, remount the gate to the wood shed so that it opens out instead of in.  Raise the door thresholds to the hen house and recycle shed.  I am also going over our winter supply list, increasing the amounts needed on a few items.

I cut JB's hair today, not that he is going anywhere soon, but he does not like it when his hair gets in his eyes or gets long on his neck.  Personally I think he would look pretty cool in a pony tail.

This evening we watched Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, which Gridder had loaned us.  Very cute.  

Afterwards, at about 9:00 pm, looking out the bathroom window to the Full Wolf Moon lighting up the landscape, I noticed that there was about a 2-ft. overhang on the battery shed that was more than 2 ft high.  It looked very ominous, so I got dressed for outdoors, grabbed the shovel and spent about 30 minutes getting rid of the overhang.  I shoveled it away from the shed so when it melts, it won't run down towards the house.  Don't know how much difference it will make, but it felt good to get it done.

Sunday 1/24. This morning presented us with a beautiful blue sky and a temp of 28.  Such a gorgeous morning!  My hands and wrists really did need a rest from shoveling, so we thought this would be a perfect day to snowshoe down to Miss Kitty to get her started again.  We did the morning chores and started out after lunch at 1:00 pm.  I pulled the sled on which we put the back pack, shovel, and a saw for a small tree that fell and is encroaching on the road.  By the time we got a little past the hair-pin turn, I knew that our trail snowshoes were completely worthless.  It was easier to slog through the snow without them, but it was going to take way too long to do what we wanted.  What we really needed were my Dad's old bear-paw snow shoes, but I am pretty sure the leather bindings will not hold as they are at least 85 years old.  (See photo above.)

So back up we went, with the snowshoes added to the items on the sled.  We stopped at MAX to start him up.  While he was running, I dug out around him.  Looks like I am not going to have a day without any shoveling for a long while.

But all in all, it was an incredibly beautiful day and our high was 39.  I can see where the snow is sinking down a little again.

Monday 1/25. It is another glorious morning with blue sky, sunshine and a temp of 24.

Thought for the day: Attitude is everything!