Pages


Monday, December 13, 2010

And It Snowed, And It Snowed!

Did someone say snow?


At nine o’clock on Friday night the snow began to fall, twenty-two inches of it. As you might imagine our weekend was spent drinking tea, hugging the fire and shoveling. Well I wasn’t shoveling. Thank God for small mercies. That task was left to Husband and the snow blower. Thankfully the children had the foresight to give their father a snow blower for his birthday two years ago. But even with the snow blower it was arduous work. Pushing that snow blower through the first five inches of snow wasn’t too bad. I even braved the elements to take a photo. Once the driveway and paths were cleared a bowl of porridge, toast and a pot of piping hot tea seemed in proper order. A quick look out the window, when breakfast was over produced a groan from Husband. So much snow had fallen it looked like the driveway and the path had never been cleared. Husband donned his partially dried coat, boots and gloves and headed out to battle the snow accumulation with his new best and constant friend the snow blower. Pushing the snow blower through the next five inches proved a bit more difficult and took longer. This became the routine of our day with two more forays outdoors. Son telephoned to inquire if he could use Husband’s snow blower. A short time later Son arrived and Husband helped load the snow blower into Son’s truck.  At some point during this effort Father and Son bonded resulting in Husband offering to help dig out Son’s driveway and path. En route they stopped to pull people out of ditches and help others dig their cars out from under the snow. Husband arrived home three or four hours later red faced and breathless. Hot whiskeys by the fire were the next order of business.

It snowed throughout the night. In the early hours of Sunday morning, the city plows made their way down our road. This meant all the snow from the road was pushed into the entrance of our driveway. Packed heavy ton weight snow. With a sigh of resignation, Husband once again donned the winter gear hanging over chairs to dry in front of the kitchen and mudroom heat registers. An hour later I turned on the 24/7 weather channel to learn the temperatures were dangerously low. Getting Husband’s attention over the roar of the snow blower to warn him was a chore in itself. When he finally looked in my direction I gestured for him to come in. I did not relish the thought of trying to navigate snow laden roads on the way to an emergency room due to frostbitten digits. I related the warnings and asked that he not stay out for long intervals. Clearing the paths and driveway took up the rest of the day. There was nothing for it but to make a hot chili and some homemade New Zealand beer bread for dinner. I made it extra hot. Lip throbbing hot according to Husband, which didn’t deter him from refilling his bowl! So that was our weekend. Everyone I have spoken to has a similar tale. A weekend revolving around keeping up with clearing the snow. Thankfully neither we nor any of our family or friends lost power, there is always a silver lining. But I can’t end this tale on the silver lining, because in the early hours of this (Monday) morning the plows came down our road again. Pushing more snow into the entrance of our driveway and every other driveway on the street. Guess what Husband was doing at 4:30 this morning!





27 comments:

Jules said...

Poor guy. We got our meager 4" over night but the cold and wind was awful! Now they say we will get ice come Wednesday.

It's not even winter yet, right? :D
Jules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow

Liza said...

You live in Wisconsin part-time, right? I'm guessing you are there now? Hope you get shoveled out and that your husband gets some rest!

walk2write said...

If we had any moisture in the atmosphere, we'd probably have snow down here in Florida right now. Cold and dry as a proper martini but not nearly as much fun. I hope you all get some relief up there!

Brigid O'Connor said...

Poor hubbie, Ann. The only consolation you have is that if you were here in Ireland, you would be doing the same thing, without the wonderful sounding snow blower machine. Keep warm!

Susannah said...

Wow, that's a lot of snow!! Keep warm. :-)

Unknown said...

Perhaps if the carol'Let it snow' is not played, maybe the snow will not fall so thick!! LOL. A really busy time.

Joanna St. James said...

oh my goodness Ann! poor hubs! I dont envy him at all.22inches? crikey! at least he has you there to make him warm yummy food, he sounds like a keeper

Old Kitty said...

Brrrrrr!! My goodness!!! Yay for your valiant Husband, his Snow Blower and snow ploughs!! But, but, but, but!!!! You reign supreme with your whiskies, hot toddies, beer bread and all manner of hot yumminess that only you can whip up despite such weather!! Yay for you! Merry christmas!! Take care, please!!!!
x

Paul C said...

That's a lot of snow and snow cleaning campaigns!

Val B said...

Receipe for New Zealand beer bread please.That's new to me

Karen Jones Gowen said...

That sounds like us the week of Thanksgiving. It was wonderful, now looking back, but at the time of course we all complained. I'm wishing for some of this on Christmas Eve.

Talli Roland said...

This I don't miss about winters in America!

(Should I tell you that in London, the grass is green? I thought not...)

Ellie Garratt said...

Oh, my. And I think we have it bad when a couple of inches fall on maybe one or two days a year!

Anonymous said...

Oh, that gives some perspective to our measly few inches of snow!

I'm fascinated by the New Zealand beer bread; I've never heard of it. Maybe you could tell us what it is????

Stay safe and warm.

Theresa Milstein said...

Your poor husband! 22"!

Those plow make mountains of snow. We have to park in the street, so our car gets buried alive. You're reminding me what I hate about winter.

I hope you don't get anymore big snows for awhile.

Stay warm!

Lola Sharp said...

I have seen nary a flake so far this season! We've usually had a few clippers at least by now, a coating. And, the last few days we haven't got out of the 20's (F). If it's gonna be THIS darn cold, I'd love to have some snow...it's festive and pretty for the holidays. (of course by end of January I'll be whining like the fickle girl I am, about wanting warm sunshine and green grass.)

That's nice your son and husband worked together and helped people. :)

So, aside from me having snow envy (please send some to southern NJ) you've also made me HUNGRY! :)

Love,
Lola

Al said...

Don't get buried!

Ann said...

Husband would be chuffed with all the sympathy expressed on his behalf if I were inclined to tell him. Can't have him getting overly delighted with himself, don't you know....
We didn't get the promised snow yesterday or today. So nature has given these parts time to regroup. Better to have the storm last week though and not when people are trying to get home for Christmas next week. Fingers and toes crossed! Have a wonderful weekend all.

Lydia Kang said...

I love snow, except when it falls on the driveway and street. Anywhere else, it's a wonderful thing.
LOL!

Ann said...

Hi Lydia, I am with you on that one!

Chris Phillips said...

I hate using my snow blower, but I hate shoveling more.

Manzanita said...

Oh Ann, I hate that when you've just finished shoveling and the plow comes and adds a windrow of iced snow against the driveway. I just shoveled out my garbage can. (Montana snow). People tell me I shouldn't be shoveling (at my age) phooey..... my son would do it but I usually get to it first. Your husband has a good heart. Take care of him.
have a blessed and peaceful Holiday...
Manzanita

Anonymous said...

It snowed here too and is snowing again now. Looks like your hubby is having fun. My hubby strained his back last year clearing snow off the road and now stays inside at the very sight of it LOL!:O)

Shannon O'Donnell said...

What a good hubby! We've had quite a bit of snow in Montana, but nothing like what you've experienced! :-)

Patricia Stoltey said...

Hopefully your car wasn't parked on the street or close to the end of your drive. This sounds like it was quite a vicious storm. Maybe that will be all you get for a while...we'll keep our fingers crossed.

Unknown said...

Stay warm!!!! I'm actually chilly right now but I'm in the house and it's Houston (doesn't get very cold) but my husband likes to keep it cold. Thank god for hot cocoa!

Just a reminder! Be Jolly By Golly Blog fest is this Monday! Melissa and I look forward to reading your entry!

Jen/Jules
Unedited & Jules and the Stars

Beth Fred said...

I like your Christmas village. Though, I'm not such a fan of all that snow, but I love the ink pot!
beth-project52.blogspot.com