Dreaming of Spring Gardening in the Middle of a Wisconsin winter part 2

[jvls1942]

Only 3 inches here. the farmers came and plowed the driveway
I sold the dog house yest erday. Had to get Ollie out and push the snow away so I could lift it with the forks on the bucket. it was cold.

 

[Callender Girl]

Congrats on the dog house sale, and friendly farmers with plows!

Fort Dodge, about 12 miles away, officially reported 16.5 inches of snow. I am sure I didn't get that much but still had knee-high drifts.

I always try to look pathetic as I shovel snow out by the road (curses on the snowmobilers who pack it down across my driveway!!), hoping some nice person with a snow blade will stop and finish the job. No one stopped yesterday.

I had a full-face mask on so the snow plow driver who piled more snow at the end of the driveway couldn't see my look of utter contempt, as the snow sprayed from his vehicle also fell on me. And, since I had on mittens, there was no point in doing any hand gestures.

 

[Callender Girl]

Actual temperature is minus 12. But, hey, good news: according to The Weather Channel, it only feels like minus nine. Must be all the insulation the thick layer of snow is providing.

It's going to be a long winter.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Definitely cold out there Barb. It's beneficial for the plants and trees to have a good long cold nap. I try to look at the bright side. Plus winters here haven't been as harsh as they used to. Perhaps this year will be a good old fashioned winter in Wisconsin. I remember the year of -40 degrees with -60 degree wind chills when I was a teen. Plus the snow was way over our heads. Everything froze, and everything broke.

About 10 years back or so we had a lot of -20 days. I remember it well because I couldn't go outside due to multiple surgeries and I felt bad my husband had to take care of all the critters for me.

I'm forever looking for good gloves here. Frost bitten fingers are no joke. I had to come in and warm my hands halfway through critter feeding and watering. I switched my gloves and the second pair worked better. Ordered more of those. Hope they are just as good.

 

[jvls1942]

maybe the temps will moderate after this quick cold snap.
i don't go out unless i absolutely have to.
last night i couldn't fall asleep. finally dozed off at about 7AM, 2 PM and i just finished my morning coffee.
tomorrow bro Dave is bringing us some ground venison.
had a window salesman here to quote ten replacement windows. $20,000.oo . that's way more than it cost me to build this whole house.
i think i will design my own window frames and see if i can build them.
Jan 13 i have an appt for pre ablasion shot. had one a couple of weeks ago. it was probable the worst pain i ever had. i hope the next one isn't as bad.
all due to a neck injury from a long time ago.
a guy wants to buy my old zero turn lawn mower. NOW he calls. I am not about to go out in this cold and snow to drag it out of the leanto. where was he when i listed it back in august ?
Barb there are arm signals you can use instead of a finger.
have i mentioned how glad that i don't have any animals to take care of in this cold ?

 

[Callender Girl]

Jim, thanks for the advice on arm signals. I may get to use them tomorrow; we're predicted to get up to 8 inches of snow between noon and midnight tonight.

While it was a balmy 32 yesterday, I took used the ice breaker and removed packed snow at the end of the ramp -- to reduce, but not eliminate, I'm sure, the chances that I will fall on my behind while out caring for critters.

While you haven't previously mentioned how glad you are not to have outdoor animals, I certainly envy you on frigid and/or icy days.

$20,000 for windows? Sky-high prices of so many things make me wonder if the economy has gone crazy or if I'm just So Old. I see folks paying as much for a shiny, new truck (that depreciates the second it drives off the lot) as I paid for 3.5 acres with a story-and-a-half house and a barn. On the plus side, I guess, is that my purchase is now worth Much More than when I bought it.

BTW, I didn't sleep much last night. Crazy dog Dinah wouldn't come to bed; she was on a mission. Seems the basement cats are failing in their one job -- keeping mice out of my living quarters. Dinah found a dead mouse in a trap in my bedroom and a very live fellow out in the hall, which she harassed for a long time as it scurried from under the armoire to the chest of drawers and back. A newly baited trap, and he is not alive this morning. Still, if I had any hope of sleep at all, I knew I'd have to spend what was left of the night on the couch. My back is not happy.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Been having troubles finding decent head lettuce that isn't already rotting. It's getting frustrating. We have limited choices here. Both Aldi and Wal-Mart are either out or rotten. I decided yesterday to try growing lettuce in the basement again. Be nice to have my own. We eat salads every supper.