North Idaho Payback Time

It's all in the perspective.  Skiers are overjoyed.  People who like pretty winter scenes are thrilled.  

One foot of new snow in the past couple of days and more coming.

Those who have to push it, shovel it, slip on ice beneath it----maybe they're/we're not so enthusiastic.

We have had a very easy winter.  Now, we pay. 

Too much time off from shoveling.  That's not good.  

Completing those chores with ease.  Spoiled.  Not good. 

Dogs have been able to enter the house virtually every day without the necessary "towel off."  Not now. 

We have definitely hit turnaround time, and the long lay-off from hard work has come to an end.  

Yesterday it was difficult to do hard work cuz it was SO SLIPPERY---everywhere.

Yak Tracks?  Forget 'em.  Yesterday you were still gonna slide anyway. 

Try pushing a shovelful of snow forward while you're feet slide backward or maybe even off to the side so you can pull something inside your knee that's gonna have you moaning and groaning for months.

That's how it was with virtually every step yesterday WITH YAK TRACKS.  

Hate to think of how much time I'd have spent picking myself up without 'em.   

I did find one place that was walkable yesterday, way out in the hay field where snow was deep,  and that dang slippery ice was not lurking beneath, waiting to kill me.

Well, this morning, we don't need Yak Tracks.  We need about a month's worth of weight training for upper-arm strength.  

More snow fell overnight, topped off by rain. 

Every shovelful of snow weighs at least 100 pounds-----well, it felt like that anyway as I shoveled a path through the barnyard and around the barn doors so I could feed the horses.  

This morning Bill spent the same amount of time plowing just the driveway which he spent yesterday clearing out the driveway, barn area and the long lane leading to our wood and hay piles. 

I'll probably do lane duty later this morning, but I'll have to hurry.

They DID have school today.  I feel sorry for my sisters who must have a mess over at their place with their three driveways.   Maybe a bunch of it will melt by late afternoon. 

Anyway, today is my day to volunteer at Farmin, so I'll be heading off to Laurie's class later this morning. 

We are paying the price for an easy go of it with winter.  

A few days ago, Jack Filipowski, a neighbor down the road,  and I predicted we would make up for our slacking off cuz in North Idaho "you always pay," especially when you think you're getting away with something. 

Folks now have something else to grouse and moan about----those same folks who were worried that we were not getting enough moisture when the sun was shining. 

Off to shovel snow and plow snow and, thankfully, to stay upright while doing it.  There are silver linings in snow clouds. 

Happy Thursday.  GO ZAGS!