I didn't have my first fire until mid-January this year. Later than usual, because I was trying to replace the tiles under the stove and also raise the entire stove to reduce the degree of leaning required to feed the fire several times throughout the day and night. My best attempts to make that project happen were unsuccessful, and when we had several very cold nights in a row and the parlor floor felt cold even through my shoes, it seemed like a good idea to have a fire since the parlor is directly over the little cellar which houses the water pump and other key plumbing elements. So I shelved the plans for the stove area until later this year, made the first fire, and have kept it fed every minute since.
Until last Monday, when it was quite warm out - nearly 30F - and I took the opportunity to let the fire burn out so I could clean the ash layer from the stove and start again. So there was no fire for a few hours, but then a fire again and ever since.
We have had a few days when the peak temperature reached the mid-twenties to 30F, resulting in some shifting on the substantial ice dams on the house roof. The above snap was taken after morning chores, and when I went back out for afternoon chores, that entire section was on the ground. I wish I had seen and heard it slide and drop, but even though I was in the house and right under that roof, I neither heard nor saw it. Oh well, there's plenty more to come.
So much snow. This snap was taken January 29th:
And this one on February 20th:
Even though some of the snow has softened and settled, it's still up to my kneecaps.
And this was yesterday afternoon:
It snowed all afternoon, all evening, and all night.
We had several fresh inches this morning, and this time it was wet and heavy.
I know this because I re-shoveled the path connecting the portico to the top of the driveway.
Shoveling is not my strong suit, but I was expecting guests and did not want
anyone to have to wade through the previous path which had filled in quite a bit.
Apparently, we are to expect another snowstorm tomorrow. All day tomorrow.
Like Mr. Mallow, I will be trying to stay in the shallows.
Unlike Mallow, I will be thinking:
"It's snow, not ice! Huzzah!"
I hope you are having pleasant weather -
whatever that looks like to you -
wherever you are today.
~~~~~
That's some impressive ice there. We're about to get a large snowstorm tomorrow. So all bets are off for Monday. Judging by our last storm, we're unlikely to be plowed out quickly. Nice not to have a car, again. It's much prettier when I don't have to get out and shovel it about.
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