Our Turn

 After hearing about these lake effect snows for the last week, we got our own taste of it today. Tim wanted to hunt for an hour. He said the main roads were bare. I figured if he was going to the new build, I'd go too, and spend some time with the cats. 

I rethought that about 1/2 way there. It was snowing pretty heavily, and the roads were not bare. I said, "You know, I'm not sure this is a good idea..." but he said, in a very practical voice, "Well, we're half way there, so we might as well keep on going." I was not convinced of this. 

In any case, we did get there. I had a bowl of turkey for the kittens, the fatty stuff, the junk meat that you don't put in your soup, I'd set it aside for them, and ladled out a couple scoops of rich hot broth to pour over their kibble. 

We got to the driveway, and there was a mound of snow across it from the plows keeping the road open. Tim just drove the car straight through it. We started going sideways, but he simply backed up a little and straightened it out. It the first real test of the Suburu's 4WD, and it climbed right up the hill to the house with no problem. 

There was easily a foot of snow there. Tim gave me a pair of his taller muckboots, and for once, I was glad that for whatever reason, that man has a stash of boots no matter where we are. I slipped off my short boots, and headed out to the garage with a hot meal for the cats. Tim headed off to the hemlocks with his gun, assuring me that unless he saw a buck, he was not going to shoot. It was snowing like crazy, and the wind was gusting. I would have hated for him to get something and then have to field dress and drag in home in heavy snow like that. 

In any case, I opened the man door on the garage, calling for the cats. They all came tumbling down the ladder, one right after the other. They have a cozy nest down stairs with heat, but they really do seem to spend a lot of time upstairs. 

So I fed them and we played for a while. As usual, Minnie watched. She did come when I called. I swept the garage out while waiting for Tim to return. After a while, I headed back to the house. The snow was really coming down heavily. I can't tell you the last time that I saw snow like that. On top of everything, it was getting dark. I hadn't heard a shot, but....

In the end, he came in looking like the abominable snowman. I said, "We need to go," and he did not disagree. We drove home in a virtual white out. 

So...I will take pictures here, tomorrow, but it's been quite a day. The lake effect snow is supposed to last until 8 PM tomorrow. 

Erie is in the midst of an actual blizzard right now, so by comparison, we're still getting off pretty lightly, and the winds are gusting off of Lake Erie and coating their snow with a hard crust of ice. 

But...it could always be worse...California and Oregon had an 7.0 earthquake off shore, and had tsunami warnings. 

Has anyone seen a handbasket? It just feels like there ought to be a handbasket. (That's a joke, by the way. Monday and Tuesday will be in the 50s. Hopefully that doesn't lead to flooding.)

My daughter called. Covid has hit her house hard once again. She's tested positive and sounds awful. William is sick too. 

Here's my question of the day: 

A plant based broth that tastes like chicken but contains no artificial flavors. I did not notice this when I grabbed it. So my question is this: why don't they call it vegetable broth? 

And I keep thinking of things I meant to say. Tim went today to the hearing for the young man who pitched a rock through our window. He's a big hulking young man, freshly 18, an 11th grader. I found myself feeling sorry for him when I strolled around his facebook page. The part where his father hadn't called on his birthday hurt my heart. The young man has been in trouble since the night of the broken windows. He got caught with a vape pen at school and then got into a physical fight with the school officials. The judge asked him about that. He said something about 'losing it'. He was asked how long it had been since he used drugs. 'Two days,' he answered. The judge asked where his parents were. No one was there with him.

How freakin' sad is that? 

Just for giggles, the narcissist's love song. 

He's one of those guys that left her. He's in town for a couple days and wants to hook up, and he's already telling her that he is going to leave again. I hope she said no.