Snowmageddon on the books for 2026

 

1/29/26, take 2

So I had already written the majority of this blog before leaving the computer to make a quick trip outside. Lesson learned, save, save, save…. So some of the original sarcasm might be missing, but the gist is there.

After watching the snow fall and dealing with the frigid temperatures from inside the house, I decided it was time to venture outside. I have dripped the faucets, rolled towels at thresholds, and hung blankets over the doors to prevent drafts seeping in when there were negative wind chills.  Anyone who knows me, knows I have to have to make a plan prior to any big undertaking, and this falls into that category.  

Let the winter clothing layers begin. I started off with a thick hoodie, heavy leggings, and thick wool socks. Next was the insulated overalls, which did not want to cover the thick hoodie and still zip up. So, off with the overalls and thick hoodie. Light weight shirt found and let the process start again. This time the overalls zipped up and then it was time for the snow boots. Let’s say that wasn’t as easy as it should have been. Bending over in this winter get up did not happen. So, unzip the overalls to even be able to bend over to pull on the snow boots, re-zip the overalls, added a hat with earflaps and an attached mouth nose cover, then leather gloves. Now I was ready to face the snow. But not before I was reeducated, unnecessarily, on how to start a cold diesel engine by my husband.

Out the door, with the plan to use the hoe I never put in the shed, as a walking stick, warm breath fogging my glasses, I used the hoe end to scrape off the steps and it worked quite nicely. My car won’t leave the driveway till the foot of snow behind it is cleared, so till then, my husband is the shopper plowing through the deep snow with his old dually. Then I made the trek through the foot deep snow to the garden tractor sitting in the yard near the chicken coop. We don’t have a garage or an open shed to be able to park machinery in, so as my ancestors said “poor people have poor ways”. The foot or more of snow which my husband has trampled a fair path on the way to the chicken coop, used the glow plug correctly, and started it right up. Moved the snow off the deck of the tractor, hood, and started beating down a path around the tractor with my footsteps. It only had one bar in the temperature gauge, so this could take a while. Granted it’s only 26 degrees out right now, but we will see how it goes.

Next was the trek the final few yards with my trusty hoe, to the snow banked chicken coop, trying really hard not to fall and wallow in the snow like a beached whale. Hard telling how long I would lay there before someone found me if it should happen. The “girls” looked good, feeder still has plenty in it, and the heated waterer had plenty of water in it. We haven’t gathered the eggs since the snow storm, because I didn’t want to disturb the drift covering the coop where the girls roost for the night. I can see around 6 or so eggs from the outside, but it’s not worth messing with the igloo the coop has become, to keep the girls cozy. My pullets have grown to young hens, and are due to start laying any day. So excited with the promise of dark brown eggs to come.

Then to shuffling to the shed for the scratch grain, which is that the girls really want. One scoop to the yard for the birds to find, then one carried back and scattered in the chicken run. All is good with the world and the pecking has commenced.

Back to the tractor. Thought it would be a good idea to call my husband and see how long he thought it would take for things to warm up enough. Forgot I had left my phone in the pocket down my right outer thigh, which ends close to my knee. Under the overalls. Geeze, how am I going to get to that now? So sitting on the tractor, the mission became to unzip the overalls from the bottom of the leg, fail, still couldn’t reach. Couldn’t maneuver enough to get a good grip on the zipper tab and only got it a few inches unzipped. Damp leather gloves off, coat undone, better grip, unzipped higher, fail, not enough. Tried to re-zip, not as easy as it should have been and fail. Had to try the snaps to hold it closed so my leggings didn’t get too snowy. So from the top, snaked a hand down enough to work the phone up enough to get ahold of it. Whew. So after a few phone calls and getting grouchier by the moment with them going to voicemail, the thought occurred maybe he forgot his phone when he left to run errands before work.  And sure enough, a short time later his truck pulled up to the end of the drive, and he had forgotten to take his phone with him. Later I would feel a bit vindicated with always asking him if he had his phone, wallet, and lunch before he left the house. I didn’t do that today….

So after an hour of the tractor running and not being able to raise the bucket, or even turn the steering wheel or move the wheels, I gave up. Not that I was cold, was very comfortable, even with the damp leather gloves, but I knew if I went inside, I would most likely not go back out. So me and my trusty hoe trudged back to the front porch to clean the extra snow off my boots and clothing. The broom did a decent job with the outside, but had to open the right leg snap to try to sweep out the extra snow that had accumulated between my boot and the inside of the overalls. After crossing the threshold, it all had to be reversed with fogged up glasses. Remove the hat, with the static cling hair making that a sight to behold, the gloves laid out to dry, jacket off, coveralls unzipped and time tug off the snow boots. The left one came off without too much difficulty, but the right one refused to release its grip without causing pain in my right knee. It slid out of the pant leg of the overalls without difficulty. So necessity is the mother of invention, standing in my leggings, shirt, wild hair, I opened the door and caught the heel of the show boot on the threshold of the door and scuffed the boot off, crisis averted.

Now in my inside clothing, that left great toenail I had cut a bit too short was protesting with every step, like being tortured by sticking a needle in the end of my toe. It was time to drink some water and take some ibuprofen, since I was starting to walk like a 70 year old who had spent the last hour throwing square bales of straw. Muscles started hurting that I had forgotten about. Who knew walking in deep snow was such hard work. 

I did take the time to throw out a solo cup of bird seed out onto the semi cleared spot where my husband parks. I do love to bird watch when I wash dishes, and feeding the free loaders is the perfect time. Cardinals tend to be my favorite, and the occasional woodpecker graces me with its presence. But they are all welcome to graze on the seed buffet, even the fat squirrel who wanders over occasionally.

Now it’s time to relax a bit, put some thoughts on “paper” while appreciating the warm wool lap blanket I crocheted last year and waiting on my tea to seep. Till next time….

What have you accomplished today that took even a small bit of everyday courage? Even if it was simple as venturing out in the snow.