The Calm
It seems as if this week has lasted forever.
I realize the wind may be raising havoc on the roads even if the falling snow has stopped. Being on the outskirts of town, we are sheltered.
I have no idea how much snow we had.
Having shot down Dennis’ plea to use his snowblower, his retreat to the patio porch can be respected. Dennis wants to do the things as he always has. I admire that about him. He is able to run errands in his little red pickup as he hops in and he hops out without too much waking in his Velcro boot. Walking behind a snowblower requires digging in the legs and feet to turn the bulky and heavy thing round. Best to farm that out.
Next-door-Randy was here at 7:30 and our drive was cleared. Randy also cleared Stauffer Avenue that runs along the overhead door of the garage for the little red pickup. All was well until the city came by a bit later and plowed Stauffer Avenue. No way would the little red pickup leave the garage after that.
I bundled up and worked the bins for garbage and recycling out of the snow at the corner of the garage. I pulled them into the drive as I knew grandson Ryan would be by later. I cleaned up the snow next to the overhead door of the car garage. Randy had pulled or blown away what he safely could. He can get only so close. When I cleared the back door, the snow, when pushed off, showed clear concrete. It felt good to have gotten the snow moved that I could. The wind was whipping snow and soon I was covered in a light covering of the wet. When I came in the house the aroma of so much freshness was if I had brought in clothes off of the clothesline that had been hung out wet and froze dry.
By two this afternoon Ryan had been here with a skid loader and made short work of the snow next to the garages. The little red pickup could venture out at will. Ryan also went into the backyard. With the bucket of the skid loader down, he scrapped away the snow next to the patio porch and pulled it into the backyard. Dennis will have a flat surface to put his pans out for feeding the deer.
No corn was put out last night. It was mixture of snow, sleet and rain. Of course there were tracks all over the backyard checking to see if corn had been put out. I am sure one disappointment will not keep them away.
I hope everyone made it safe through these last days. This year’s winter is like a bad houseguest. It doesn’t know enough to realize it is no longer welcome. Today’s calm is sweet indeed.