Whoa! 2 Days in a Row???

Apparently being here yesterday, inspired me to entertain (?) you with more stories about life here on the snowy prairie. So right after I got up I started thinking of things I could share with you.

But then..a crisis. Got some coffee; blew my nose; threw the kleenex in the stool; flushed it and uhhhhhhhhhhhh nada. Plunging action just got my houseshoes wet..thank goodness all that was in there was a kleenex! Think, think. Drink more coffee and think some more. This is a real deal because there is only one bathroom here. But then, 2 ah-has! in a row! First, bring up the tornado potty. Which is a 5 gallon bucket with a plastic liner and partially filled with shredded paper. Because if the storm is so bad that I have to go to the basement, I can dang well promise that I'm going to have to pee as soon as I get under the stairs. And then the 2nd aha! Occasionally I put root killer down the commode and there is still something left. I figure if it can kill roots, it can surely eat up a kleenex and whatever. AND it worked! Oh hooray. However, the tornado potty will stay in the utility room closet until I'm for sure.

So then, filled with confidence, I decided that I really, really need to get my vehicle de-iced. The bread supply is zip (and sloppy joe on a stale English muffin is pretty yucky) and the milk is getting low. So, I worked on that for awhile without a whole lot of success and came in to get warm. Dang it...I need to go to the store!

While warming up, I decided to take a pic of the amarylis I got for Christmas. It's getting ready to bloom!! The bud is just opening and my thought was that I could do a series of flower opening shots. the stalk is now 22 inches tall and I've been rotating it a 1/4 turn every day to keep it as str8 as possible. But um, when I turned on the camera I got a message that said "This card cannot be used" Uh what? Why? Yesterday I had some trouble getting the card reader to read it so maybe the contacts are screwed. But..just think, if I'd got the car uncovered and went to the store and THEN found out I needed a new card I would have been very unhappy!

So, I'll keep working on the car in the hopes that I can travel to the big box store and pick up milk, bread and a camera card! Wish me luck

The New Path is Snowy and Icy

Hello...did you thik I'd wandered off never to reappear? Nope. Did you wonder if I had gotten bored with retirement? Nope.

I've survived the Christmas Blizzard of 2009..truly it was one. And I'm sure there are photos of it somewhere on this computer but I don't think any were spectacular.

Another storm arrived on Thursday. Freezing rain and sleet for much of that day and evening with snow following on Friday. I am grateful beyond belief that we didn't lose power but it's gonna be a long time before I'm able to move my car. I cleared the steps yesterday and it took most of the afternoon. An inch of ice on the top of the vehicle and then that was topped with 6 inches of snow! Although it was cold yesterday, there was sun and 'they' said it would be sunny today in the 40s. Well they forecasted the storm almost perfectly but they missed on this one. It's gray and cold. And last night we had something called 'freezing fog'. Maybe it's still here.

Since I was going to have to put on boots and Yaktrax to go get the paper, I decided to stomp around the neighborhood. It's sooo weird to hear ice cracking somewhere under your feet.

I'm not sure if the following photos are a result of freezing fog, if it's hoarfrost or what. And the icicyles are sooo pretty. But in the cold outside with no people, no vehicles, no sound..it's quite magical.

Update

Good news! I still have my job. I'm happy about that but at the same time feel rather guilty because..

Bad news! A number of my friends don't. And it was done with great drama...even had the cops on hand in case there was some sort of violence? Oh please.

No snow yet. And the total projected amount has been downgraded since it's moving much slower. It's rained off and on all day and we certainly need the moisture. Bad news...since it's cold and wet we are having freezing rain instead. Fortunately it didn't start until 5 pm so coming home wasn't a problem. I just hope the snow gets in a hurry so I don't wake up to no power.

Here's a tiny frozen drop on a brand new leaf.



And now back to the dishrag

ON MY WAY TO WORK

Sunday Sleet

and freezing rain. Fortunately, I think the freezing rain has turned to sleet now. but I know it was freezing rain to begin with because I was out in it. The Sunday paper in it's bright orange wrapper was lying out there enticing me so I got dressed, put on my shoes and my coat and my earmuffs and my gloves and tucked the cell phone in my pocket because that's what us older folks are s'posed to do in case we "fall and can't get up". At the bottom of the driveway, there's a little but rather steep hill that you have to go up to get to my house. And of course that's where the paper was...at the bottom. Feeling quite clever and coordinated I made it down the hill safely; retrieved the paper; and then discovered I couldn't get back up the hill. I'd take a few steps up, and then slide right back down. I thought that I would just sit down, and scoot up on my butt, but that didn't work because my shoes couldn't get enough traction to move me. So, I made my way over to the grass part and came up on my hands and knees, using my knees to sort of pound into the frozen stuff. It's not really very far, but it surely seemed like it took forever. Might have been faster if I hadn't kept looking around to see if anyone was watching this hilarious sight. *G*. At last flat ground was reached and I made my way back inside. My bottom step is just an icy slant, so I am really grateful there is a handrail I can use to pull myself back up.

What was really funny though was that when I got back in, I was taking off earmuffs etc and reached in to get my cell out of my pocket and discovered that I'd also tucked in a tiny ball of yarn (one of those dyed yesterday). I guess maybe if I'd really not been able to get back up, I could have sat there and tried to remember how to make a cat's cradle.

Off now to knit.

Cool Yarn!

So, I dyed 3 baby skeins of yarn (Cascade 220 vanilla colored) with Wilton's using the chip and dip/microwave method. Of course the yarn then needed to be cooled. So, I thought the fastest way would be to take a couple of them outside. Waited a bit and brought one in, then decided I was hungry so made pancakes for lunch. OMG, I forgot the green yarn so when I got to the porch swing this is what I saw.

I let it slowly unthaw in the house and then washed it and now it's drying on the cookie rack over the furnace vent.

Old Friend, New Friend

Meet My Buddy aka Mr. Heater. He puts out good using one of those little propane bottles like you use on a portable grill. He's even made to use inside. I have another bigger one that's really for a patio but it puts out more heat. So it's good to get the chill off, and then I just stay close to My Buddy.

And check this out. Well ok, it's my left hand and some knitting. But what's cool is that it was taken in the dark without a flash, thanks to my new headlite. Victoria (I think) mentioned having one but I was pictureing some big thing like you'd use to explore a cave. I found this sweetie in the flashlight section of W-Mart. It's very comfortable...light. Runs off 3 little AAA batteries and has 4 light levels. Even one that's all red for night sight. And the light part will tilt so it can either be pointed forward to see where you're going or tipped down so you can see your knitting *G* I just am feeling so very techy! And I am also very hopeful that all of the preparations will mean that absolutely nothing happens except cold weather. I was amazed that there was hardly anyone at the store today, but The Girl called me tonight to let me know there is no bread anywhere. I guess everyone hit the stores after work. I'm glad I missed out on that. Time now for bed. See ya!