From what I've heard, the best of the snow is yet to come later today.
From what I know about plowing snow, that's not an exciting prospect.
Yesterday Bill used the snowblower on the lane, figuring that it would distribute snow away from the lane rather than adding to the plowed piles from the last storm.
While he finished up snow blowing, I finished up the plowing he had started in the morning.
Not a lot of room left to push that snow away from the driveway or other routes near the barn.
And, that's even after we have made an effort to push previous snow as far back as possible.
Yup, yesterday involved a lot of shoveling, blowing, plowing and resting in between work cycles.
Later today, with a bunch more snow predicted, we'll probably be back at it.
Some of yesterday's rest periods involved watching sporting events and enjoying homemade chicken soup and cinnamon rolls.
Bill also took a trip to town for snowblower gas and a new microwave.
Back when I was teaching school, I tended to be dramatic sometimes in teaching a concept.
Cause and effect.
Just push a pile of books from your teacher's desk on to the floor and watch the effect.
Some people will get up and help you pick them up.
Others will just stare at you like you've lost your mind.
Still others may just start laughing.
There's the cause and there's the effect, a sequence which I'm fairly sure has occurred a time or two in history.
Well, yesterday, here at the Lovestead kitchen, there were two causes.
The first cause involved a latch on the microwave which of late has turned into a projectile every time we close the microwave door.
I've even had to warn visitors on ZAGfest nights when they heat up a bun or something. After all, I don't know if our liability insurance pays for people incurring bodily harm from flying microwave latches.
The other cause of yesterday's kitchen effect involved Bill's tea kettle.
He always turns the kettle on and then heads off somewhere---where he can't hear the whistle when the water is hot and starts burbling and cascading all over the burner.
So, I usually remove the kettle and turn off the burner, as I did yesterday, along with announcing that his tea water was hot.
During yesterday's boil-over, I happened to also be heating up a small piece of cinnamon roll in the microwave.
Of course, when I closed the door, the projectile launched off from the oven, this time crash landing on the hot burner.
On impact, flames rose as the plastic latch started curling up into an amorphous blog.
I yelled a few bad words while trying to remove the plastic conflagration from the burner with a tablespoon.
By this time, Bill entered the kitchen.
"Take it to the sink and run water on it," he said.
So, I did, and the fire went out.
No more projectiles coming from that microwave.
We now have a new microwave with a door that opens with a handle rather than a latch on a spring.
Bill suggested we put the old one somewhere in the house, since the clock on it still works.
I suggested he get it out of the house and maybe haul it off to the Colburn Mall. Maybe someone there can figure out how to get the door open without the latch cuz it still works.
The new microwave kept pretty busy during the rest of the day, as did we.
I doubt that will change much today, and the nice part: lots of good chicken noodle soup left for warming up after cleaning up the snow.
January is here in full force! And, we'll soon have additional aches and pains to prove it.
We'll eat and take breaks watching games again today. I'm not saying who I'm rooting for in one game cuz I'm from Sandpoint, and I know that whoever wins the Green Bay-Seattle game today, we'll all be winners.
Happy Sunday and, wherever you are, if you're in need of an escape, be sure to check out the information below the snow pictures.
Hey, while you're watching all this white stuff pile up, you could spend time thinking of the green.
And, you could even turn those thoughts into action.
My friend Marcia, a local travel and food columnist, is taking a group of women to Ireland in mid-April, and she's thought of everything to make this trip something special.
Marcia says she's has some more openings, so check the information below.
AND, even though many of the women are from Sandpoint, you could fly into Dublin and meet up with the group from any ol' place in the world.
What a perfect way to enjoy Ireland, especially if you've never been before!
As Marcia states in her itinerary:
Join your favorite Irish Lasses on an 8-Day, Women’s Adventure to Ireland. Marcia will show you her favorite haunts and highlights of the homeland!
After reading the information below, you can learn more by contacting via email Marcia through her Capers Travel website.
"It’s going to be a great mix, and we’re going to see
lots of great highlights," Marcia says.
"I am super excited for the food elements,
which include a tour of the gardens at Ballymaloe Cookery School and
lunch at world-renowned Ballymaloe House," she adds.
Ladies include a baker, retired nurses, someone
restoring an antique carousel, retired teachers, CEO of local chamber.
"A
real mix of great ladies, led by Kate McAlister, Peggy O’Sullivan and
me!," Marcia notes. "Between us, there’s over a dozen past trips
under our belts and lots of pub crawl expertise."
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| Dublin in spring. Taken on a Love family trip in 2015. |
APRIL 17-25, 2020
$2199.00 PER PERSON
SHARING LAND ONLY
Clans, Cliffs and Castles
Day 1
April 17
Friday
USA-IRELAND. (Flights Additional)
Day 2
April 18
Saturday
Dublin Arrival-Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour. Morning arrival at Dublin Airport where after clearing customs we meet our professional group transfer driver and are delivered to our city centered hotel.
Today we will enjoy our Hop On Hop Off Dublin Bus Pass. Favorites include St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Trinity College, Book of Kells, Guinness Brewery, Jameson Distillery, St. Stephens Green- and many more! Overnight Camden Court Hotel Dublin A Welcome Dinner, hosted by Kate, Marcia & Peggy
Day 3
April 19
Sunday
Dublin-Glendalough-Cashel-Cork. After breakfast we meet our driver guide in the lobby of the hotel to depart Dublin and travel south.
We continue on through the Wicklow Mountains to visit Glendalough the Monastic Settlement of St. Kevin in the 6th century. It is onto the impressive Rock of Cashel. We then make our way to Cork.
Plenty of time to visit the Old English Markets. Overnight at The Imperial Hotel Cork.
Day 4
April 20
Monday
Cork-Ballymaloe-Blarney-Killarney. After breakfast we depart Dublin and travel south. We then make our way to Ballymaloe where we visit, have a tour, and have lunch.
Our next stop, Blarney Castle, is home to the blarney stone, which legend has it bequeaths the “gift of eloquence” to all who kisses it.
Time to shop at the woolen mills or stop in Christy’s Pub for a Pint! We arrive in Killarney where we stop and tour the famed Muckross House. Overnight Killarney Plaza Hotel.
Day 5
April 21
Tuesday
Killarney-Ring of Kerry-Kenmare-Killarney. We then start on a full day tour of “The Ring.”
There is an unspoiled nature to Ireland's most beautiful region and the Ring of Kerry provides many unforgettable memories as it passes through the many picturesque villages such as Glenbeigh, Waterville and Sneem and returns via Ladies View and the famous Lakes of Killarney.
We then make our way to beautiful Kenmare. Plenty of time for shopping and a bite to eat. Return to Killarney. Overnight Killarney Plaza Hotel.
Day 6
April 22
Wednesday
Killarney-Cliffs of Moher-Galway. Today after breakfast we depart Ashford. We may take a tour of Ireland’s stony place - the Burren (Bhoireann). The Burren contains dozens of megalithic tombs, Celtic crosses and a ruined Cistercian Abbey dating from the 12th century, Corcomroe. Continue on and gaze at the majestic awe of the breathtaking Cliffs of Moher.
The cliffs, a spectacular natural phenomenon, rise 660 feet above the Atlantic. O'Brien's Tower is the best location from which to view the Cliffs. We continue through Ireland’s rugged Burren Landscape to youthful bustling Galway City. Overnight Hotel Meyrick.
Day 7
April 23
Thursday
Connemara Peninsula After enjoying a gourmet breakfast, we depart Galway and begin our journey along the northern edge of Lough Corrib and on to Connemara National Park. Heading north along the coast, Kylemore Abbey may be next.
This extraordinary neo-gothic abbey looms at the base of the hill at Kylemore Lake. The highlight is the recently restored Gothic chapel, a cathedral in miniature with a plain, simple cemetery on one side and a lavish Victorian garden on the other.
This is another often photographed vista from Ireland. Ireland’s only fjord looms next at Killary Harbor. Overnight Hotel Meyrick Galway.
Day 8
April 24
Friday
Galway-Dublin After a hearty breakfast, we travel via the Irish midlands to Clonmacnoise. The ancient monastic site of Clonmacnoise is situated at the crossroads of Ireland in County Offaly and dates back almost 1,500 years.
St. Ciaran, the son of an Ulsterman who had settled in Connaught, chose the site in 545 AD because of its ideal location at the junction of river and road travel in Celtic Ireland.
We arrive in Dublin where we bid farewell to our Driver Guide who has become like a member of our family. Overnight at The Camden Court Hotel Dublin. A Farewell Appreciation Dinner, hosted by Marcia
Day 9
April 25
Saturday
Dublin-Dublin Airport. After breakfast we meet our professional group transfer driver in the lobby of the hotel. and make our way to Dublin Airport for our flight home.
Your Tour Includes:
• Private Transfer (One Group) on April 18 from Dublin Airport to hotel
• Professional Irish Driver Guide with deluxe Midi Coach from April 19 depart Dublin until end of April 24 arrive Dublin
• Private Transfer (One Group) on April 25 from Dublin Hotel to Dublin Airport
• Accommodations for 7 Nights as follows or similar
Location Hotel – for Single room, Add $ 500.
Dublin-The Camden Court Hotel - 1 Night **** www.camdencourthotel.com
Cork-The Imperial Hotel Cork- 1 Night **** www.flynnhotels.com
Killarney-The Killarney Plaza Hotel – 2 Nights **** www.killarneyplaza.com
Galway-The Hotel Meyrick- 2 Nights **** www.hotelmeyrick.ie
Dublin-The Camden Court Hotel - 1 Night **** www.camdencourthotel.com
• Admissions Included (listed below:)
Hop On Hop Off Tour Bus Pass, Glendalough, Rock of Cashel, Blarney Castle & Stone, Muckross House, Kylemore Abbey, Cliffs of Moher
• Full Irish Breakfast Daily (except day of arrival)
• Lunch & Tour @ Ballymaloe Cookery School (included lunch)
• Fully escorted sightseeing as per itinerary
• All Driver’s Expenses
• Hotel tips and taxes (Except to Driver/Guide)
Not Included:
• Any items of a personal nature.
• Any admissions or dinners not
• Tip to Driver Guide
Cancellation Penalties: (LAND) if written cancellation is received by Hammond Tour more than 120 days prior to departure, a processing fee of $250.00 per person will apply.
From 119 days to 90 days prior to departure, a cancellation penalty of $250.00 per person will apply. 90 Days or less prior to departure- a 100% cancellation penalty fee applies. We strongly recommend Travel Cancellation & Interruption Insurance.
Please contact www.travelguard.com to purchase insurance. Any circumstances of a personal nature other than the are not covered. Please note, Hammond Tours and Emish are not responsible for any loss, damages or injuries that may happen while on the tour.
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| Some folks I know and love, enjoying Ireland in 2015 |
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