Snow Business and Such

 

No shoveling needed. 

The snow quit falling yesterday, eventually turning to drizzle. 

We have mostly clear, blue skies today. 

Still, the trip to the barn this morning served as a reminder:  along with snow comes ice. 

Happily, this morning's ground surface was crispy rather than slippery.  

I groaned anyway at the thought of impending ice.

How soon we forget after six months of bare ground that winter brings more work and and extra danger, often with every step we take. 

I hope Mother Nature will give us a break on the ice supply this year.  No pun intended. 

I don't want any broken bones. Plus, I prefer walking across the ground like a 74-year-old, which, although old,  looks and feels more lively than the gait of a 90-year-old. 

Time will tell.  

For today, however, there's just a suggestion of ice on the ground, enough to foreshadow slippery times ahead. 

As snow fell yesterday, I baked bread, and last night we enjoyed some pieces coated with margarine and homemade jelly.  

Yes, it was yum, yum. 

Later, we watched the ZAGS in their season opener. 

Yes, that was yay, yay.  

Today I go to the dentist.  

Yes, that's ugh, ugh.

But he's a nice dentist and a neighbor, and today he shouldn't be drilling holes in my teeth.  

I think he's just going to assess how many holes he'll need to drill on a future visit. 

I'm following through on the dental work because my case of TMJ (arthritic jaw) has given me fits again, and my dentist suggests that I might need a mouth guard. 

I have figured out that my TMJ results more from extreme intensity than stress. 

It's an inherited trait where doing anything dextrous involves a lot of jaw action. 

I not only chew on my tongue (everybody but yours truly notices that idiosyncrasy) when I do anything with my hands, but I also clench my teeth and jaws big time, especially when raking or pulling weeds or digging in the soil. 

And, since I don't plan to cease doing any of the above very soon, maybe the mouth guard employed while working will help. 

So, once the dental appointment ends this afternoon, I can come home and inflict more damage to the jaw with my outdoor projects.  

It's nice being weird. 

Yes, that's weird in itself. 

Bill and I are a bit sad today because it looks like our friend Vince from Ireland may have finally undergone his heart repair. 

For two weeks, we've laughed ourselves silly reading and rereading Vince's dispatches from Cork Hospital in Ireland.  

Seems once they get you there, they keep you for a long, long time.

We loved it cuz every day Vince supplied us with a sample of thigh-slapping hilarity.  

Unfortunately, Vince wasn't loving it, so he finally sicced his wife Mary on the powers that be.  

Sadly, nothing from Vince this morning, but happily, he's probably going to be doing better soon and released from the hospital. 

Hoping for the best for our friend from Kenmare, and looking forward to his next writing topic. 

Update:  since my posting, Vince has shown up again with an installment this morning.  Can't wait to see what's on his schedule today. 

Also hoping everyone out there has a great day today.

Happy Wednesday.  

I took a picture of what's left of this old wagon wheel and sent it to one of the benefactors who, about 40 years ago, thought I needed to have it. 

She happens to be in town, and we visited briefly yesterday for the first time in at least 20 years. 

During those moments, we both reflected on longtime friendships and what we take with us, thanks to those relationships. 

In my case, I reminded her of the night I was preparing baked potatoes while babysitting (actually teen-sitting) her and her brothers for three weeks many many years ago. 

She sat on the counter watching me as I was about to put the potatoes in the oven.  Then,  from my observant young friend, came a gentle caution:  they need to be cleaned more thoroughly. 

And, so I did just that.  From that moment on, every time I've prepared baked potatoes for the oven, I scrub them religiously, always remembering that moment from so long ago. 

Amazingly, she remembered too. 

She also brought up the wagon wheels. 

Over a two-year period, two old, long-abandoned wagon wheels from the neighbors' woods next to where we lived at the time made their way through wooded areas, wet, mushy swales, barbwire fences and rough pastureland, eventually coming to rest at our house.

I won't go into detail, mainly to protect the guilty, but must say that their Herculean efforts and their apparent need to make their teacher happy were unbelievable. 

Speechless is hardly the word to express my reaction not just once but twice in those two years. 

And, memorable for all concerned?  Definitely so.

The brief visit served as another reminder of how people find their way into our hearts and never leave, no matter how much time passes between visits. 

Every time, I lay eyes on that remnant of the remaining old wheel out in the flower bed, image of those young ladies' faces pop into my mind AND I smile.