SNOW?!?!?!

There is panic in the mountains of Pennsylvania today. News reporters on the radio and television are repeating a certain four-letter word beginning with an “S” with every rotation and before every commercial break. They are doing it in spite of who might be listening. They are saying it in October, before Halloween, in the presence of school children, the elderly, and anyone else who can hear….

* * * *

*  * *  SNOW * *  *

* * * *

Even Mr. Farmer was almost swept into the pre-storm panic. How can your mind help but rush back to the things that should have been done earlier in the week? How many times did Young Master Farmer promise that he would get to splitting that woodpile tomorrow? Why oh why didn’t we move one of the pig huts into the adult section of the enclosure sooner? How did the supply of straw for pig bedding get so low?

After setting all the pre-storm tasks on paper, however, he regained his composure and got to work. We put our heads together as he drove me to work and ran through the plan for the day. He could pick up additional straw right away in the morning. Rather than take the hut to the adult pigs, he could take the adult pigs to the hut. After all, the “babies” are fully weaned and large enough to hold their own against giant-boar Tiffany for a couple days. He split a fair amount of wood, and Little Miss Farmer brought it in the house to dry. A quick trip to the store for the items we had intended to purchase on Saturday, which is now Storm Day, and everything is settled for a long, cold weekend.

After the boy finishes spitting the rest of that firewood, of course….

Here we go again...

Life Is Good: Snowmen

I am a grown woman who loves to make snowmen. There, I said it, and I'm glad.


I make candles that look like them:

Or I put them on candles: 

I make big snowmen all by myself, usually without the help of the children:

I make tiny little snowmen:

I even made one for Mr. Farmer for his birthday:

I remember making a snowman with my father one time many years ago. He taught me little tricks like how to roll the balls big by pushing them down with their own weight. He also showed me that a marshmallow shape works just as well as a ball, and it is easier to make! I grew up 50 miles to the south of here, so deep snow was more of a treat than business as usual, but it did happen from time to time.

 I only started making snowmen a few years ago. As soon as the kids were big enough to help, they were big enough to have interest in other things, like throwing snowballs at each other and sword fighting with sticks. But I was not to be discouraged. I will keep on making them as long as I am able, and, inevitably, I will be sore and satisfied the next day.

Life Is Good: First Full Day of Spring

Ah yes, the first full day of Spring. The air is crisp and fresh. The sky is bright. The morning is... wait! What the .... ?!?!?!?!

March 21, 2011
Deer Frolicking in Spring Snow

Snow in March is not completely uncommon here. Several years back on Mr. Farmer's birthday (the 24th) we had 8 inches of snow. It is fleeting, however. In true March Snowstorm fashion, 4 inches of snow fell in less than 4 hours, followed by an hour of sleet and freezing rain. By the evening, as expected, most of the snow was gone. All that is left now is a little wet slush by the roadsides and the memory of one beautiful, if inconvenient, morning.



PS- I took the camera out with me this morning to try to get a pretty shot for the blog. The deer were a complete surprise. I am altogether pleased!