Friday, December 28, 2007

I told you so....

We have long ago established the "stupid things rule" concerning me. Now my hubby is finally a believer (I think). We got the estimate on the car on Wednesday.....tah dah......$2500.00. How many people do you know that can get run over by the snow plow? Poor guy. He felt so bad and it really was not a big deal. You see he didn't know anything about the rule. It wasn't so much that he hit us as it was that I was in the car.....that stupid things stuff.
Now we are wondering what to do about the whole situation. Some of the electronics in the car were shaken up and need help. Now we are on alert watching to make sure other electronics don't go whacky. Just what I need..a car trying to have a brain freeze.
They are calling for more snow today. Oh joy.. At least the total is down to 1-3 inches instead of the 12 they predicted would come. I am going to try to go in a little early to the office today. I think I'd better get a head start SINCE the stupid things rule applied to my "jeep" yesterday and it died a very dramatic death at the gas station. My water pump went out, so I had to go through the whole engine dancing and banging and then spewing green antifreeze all over everywhere. Thankfully, our maintenance man came and took over. He handled the clean up and I went on my way in the piece of junk extra jeep. Bad breaks, no horn and no heater.....Yuck. Just what I need in the snow.
Jessalyn got a sewing machine for Christmas. Gramma came out yesterday and they started learning about the machine. Then she helped Jessa make 4 or 5 pillows for her bed. Talk about an excited girl. When she opened that present, she screamed. You see she is always designing clothes and loves to watch the style channel. She loves clothes. Now she can start to learn how to make her own clothes and design her own clothes. She is really excited. Add to that the portable DVD player that we bought along with Will's parents and you have a happy kid.
Now Jacob....he's floored with his present and I mean floored. He sits on the floor and plays his new XBOX 360. He worked with my Dad all summer to help earn the money for the game, an extra controller and a special game that he wanted. Will and I along with both sets of grandparents picked up the rest and he got it for Christmas. He thought he was going to have to wait until he earned the remainder of the money. Happy kid. He is thrilled beyond belief and knows that his hard work earned part of it.
As we mentioned before Will got a compressor and some other odds and ends that I found during the year.
My sneaky husband, saw me admire an eagle statue that lights up at the mall. He told me he had to go to the bathroom and went back and bought it. He then hid it under his coat that he had thrown back over his shoulder. He hid it the whole rest of the trip and gave it to me on Christmas morning. See why I love him? He wasn't supposed to get me anything.... my gift was supposed to be the trip to my Aunt's funeral. I'm telling you , you have to watch him.... he's sneaky.
We only had about 28 people here for Christmas Eve. It was kind of quiet. It made it very homey and even intimate if you want to call it that. It was nice. Lots of food and we are still working on some of the leftovers. Anyone want some buffalo chicken dip or some green olive tapenade? What about some mushroom bruschetta?
Well, time to get busy. Have a wonderful day.
Happy New Year!
dea

Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Merry Christmas!!!

...And Thank You For Your Prayers!!!

Our Christmas eve party went very well (I think... but then again, what do I know? ;-) We had about 28 people including a very nice couple and their daughters who live down the road from us. The husband works with Peggy and Amanda. It was very nice to meet them!

I am just SO proud of my kids! They have worked so hard to help us get ready, that it just might have been worth the financial stress of their Christmas presents after all!

It's 5:43am and after that long day, Dea and I "crashed" about 11pm. I realized yesterday morning that I was in the beginning stages of a "cold" and that was certainly confirmed this morning. I've been up since 4:30am.

The usual stuff. My head hurts and my nose is "stopped".
You know what?
I don't care!
It's Christmas !
The party last night went great!
I've got medicine!
So again, thank you for all your prayers! Now you might need to pray for everyone that came...I would really rather that none of them came down with "my" cold; if you know what I mean.

Well, I have to get back to bed. I told the kids we weren't getting up til we had our coffee served to us in bed - and No Peeking at the Presents til we get up!! So I probably ought to make sure I'm in bed before they get up.

Either Dea or I will get you an update on our endeavors for today, but I didn't want to put off giving you this thank you. Besides what else am I going to do while I'm waiting for my cold medicine to kick in?

I pray that your Christmas Day is Better than mine, and I pray that my Christmas Day is GREAT!

God Bless us everyone!

Will

Sunday, December 23, 2007

YOU. HAVE. GOT .TO. BE. KIDDING!

Ya know, as the song says: Momma told me there would be days like this..

You have heard how far behind we are in trying to get ready for Christmas. It seems like every thing has been working against us. Deanna and I started (mostly Dea) sorting and cleaning back during Thanksgiving to start getting ready for our annual Christmas Eve Party. Evidently we didn't start getting ready soon enough.

For those that don't know or don't remember; Deanna started these parties before she even met me. It was just a way for her to take care of the people who, otherwise; wouldn't have anyone to share Christmas with. Since then it has blossomed and taken on a life of it's own. We still have a few people who attend these that this little "shin-dig" is all the Christmas they have. But there are also a lot of other people who attend for the food, fun, and felloship; and we are very grateful for the opportunity to give to them a little of what God has given to us. Some years we have as many as 50 people or more. Other years only 10 or 15. It doesn't matter how many show up, Dea always seems to cook enough for us to have left-overs for the next week...At least! Yum!

Well, I don't want to go into too much of the details of all the little things that have gotten in our way this year but today was no exception. I am serious in this: Please pray for us. We have two weeks of work to try to accomplish in one afternoon.

God is good. God is Faithful.

Anyway, Dea and I wake up early today and she gets busy baking cinnamon rolls. I start sorting and cleaning but then realize that we did indeed get 12 inches of snow in the night. On top of the 6 we already had. The wind is blowing at about 20 to 30 mph. Can you say a beautiful day in the neighborhood? Poor Amanda (her and her mom live with us) has been out shoveling the driveway since six am in hopes of getting to work by nine. I joined her about 7am and we shoveled til 8. As we were getting ready to go inside, the snowplow came. Back out we went to shovel off what he covered (we knew it was coming and intentionally didn't shovel the last little bit. So after the plow it was all we had left to do). I didn't need to be shoveling. I needed to be getting ready for the party; but you do what you have to.

A little side note here. We have a new guy plowing the roads for the county where we live. I used to complain non-stop about the last guy. He wouldn't get here till late and he really did the very bare minimum. In truth he really didn't even do that. It was terrible. This new guy is an absolute Blessing From God and I pray that He stays and Continues the fantastic Job he did. He plowed by us at 8am the other guy would be closer to 10am. This new guy was taking his time too, making sure he got it right. Interesting that he was here sooner. Better. He made several passes instead of one and half. (the old guy would plow one way and only use half his blade on the way back) Then, I couldn't believe my eyes. On one of his passes back He backed up and plowed the huge embankment in front of my mail box. I would have been hours shoveling, and he took care of it in seconds! I quick-grabbed a box of Christmas candy we had as a spare present (it's good to have those!) and ran out to hand it to the guy. He was surprised at my very "merry" Merry Christmas! So I explained: "you have no idea how much that means to me!" He smiled and told me I didn't have to give him a present, He had just thought that looked like a lot of snow. Then he smiled and said he would get the other side of my (currently very narrow) driveway entrance when he came back in that direction. He did too! It was a very big Blessing for me in the middle of a delay in my day I didn't need. God is Good. All the Time.

I came back in and collapsed in a chair to call my Mom. She loves snow. So I blame her whenever we get too much. She laughed and told me to make snow angels. I told her that probably wasn't a good idea. I have a dog who has left some pretty good sized...um...landmines(?) buried in that snow. She laughed more. It's good to make your mom laugh.

When I finished with the call, I was still tired from the shoveling but I got back to work sorting and moving furniture. Then Dea asks if I can spare a few minutes to take her delivering gift baskets of fresh baked cinnamon rolls. What am I going to say? No? I don't think so. So off we went. After some considerable amount of time scraping and brushing the snow off the car. You might want to note that I was being very careful while I was trying to get the snow and ice mixture off the hood. You want it off or it will refreeze your windshield but you don't want to hurt your hood getting it off. Don't forget while you are doing this the wind and snow are blowing at you at 20 mph. The temps in the teens. You figure out the wind chill.

So we get going while trying to decide who we will actually be able to deliver to. Her Aunt Gayle and Uncle Lloyd hadn't had their driveway plowed yet so they were out of the question. Still their were others we could get. As we were delivering in Warrens, the town snow plow (Different from the "county" plow) was heading our way from the other direction. We know the guy so I jump out and wave him down. He was quite pleased with the pan of rolls I handed him! Surprised too. He's a great guy and has helped Dea out quite a bit with Cranfest.

Remember him.

We stopped for gas and then headed to our next stop and the little village had three vehicles plowing snow. The big dump truck driven by our friend. A big flatbed utility pickup truck and a regular pickup.

The Dump truck and the flatbed were working a corner together nearby our next stop. I waited TWO BLOCKS AWAY. Till I could see they were going the other way. Then I went down the street toward our friend
Merlin's (Sp?) house. At this point the flatbed was stopped 30 or 40 feet from Merlins drive way. Facing away from us, in our lane. Situation normal. It looked like he was waiting for the dump truck to drive by the intersection they were working and then the flatbed would drive forward. My mistake.

Dea was getting ready to get out when I looked up and saw the flatbeds backup lights come on. Really? I politely gave him two quick beeps of my horn. To remind this guy I was here. He's still coming.
Hmmm. Didn't hear me. Better back up and Hit the horn some more.
I am now laying one hand hard on the horn while the other hand is trying to find reverse. This is not my truck . This is Dea's car. Don't pull so far down Will. This car's tranny isn't as sloppy as mine. I'm in neutral!
ARRRGh! Up! into Reverse! I can't hit the horn any harder! NOOO! I'm Back in Park!

You. Have. Got. To. Be. Kidding. Me!

Whap!

Cinnamon Rolls with icing...now in the floor boards. I had a cola that landed who knows where. Neither Dea or I were hurt. You know, he really hit us hard! He wasn't going that fast when he hit us but it really felt like he hit us hard! I was surprised by how minor the damage really was.

I bent over and picked up a couple of pieces off the ground as Dea finally climbs out and walks over.
I hold out her hood ornament. "here you go, Merry Christmas!" She giggled.

I love her.

The poor guy in the flat bed is the newest town employee I guess, and he is very, very polite and very very apologetic. He never heard the horn. I laughed. "Then you never stood a chance seeing a white car in your rear view mirror in a snow storm!

Really, there was no reason to be mad and none of us were. There is a hole in my hood where his receiver hitch hit us. The bumper is dented and my license plate is twisted like my sense of humor.

That appears to be it.
It drives fine and the radiator isn't hurt. We will have to get it officially looked at after the Holidays. They assured me the township would take care of it. Everyone knows everyone here. Still, the biggest damage was the time wasted dealing with that instead of getting ready for the party. Sigh.

Do you see the trend though?
Too much snow; Snow plow that helps out.
(by the way Seth if you read this, I still desperately need you to plow BOTH my driveways early! PLEASE!)

Car accident; no one hurt and the car still drives.

So, the purpose of this post is many:
First. God is good! You need to know that! I certainly believe it. He has continually shown me His presence in spite of the situations that have arisen.

Second to get you to pray for our Christmas eve party because we really want it to be a pleasant blessing for everyone who attends. We want them to see Jesus and we wouldn't mind getting blessed as well.

Lastly, I hoped to give you a smile! Deanna has been sleeping for a while now and I need to go to bed too!

God is Real

God is Good
God is Real Good!!
Merry Christmas!!!!
Will
( Note from Dea "I TOLD YOU STUPID THINGS HAPPEN TO ME". Who in the world gets hit by a snow plow? ( Sorry Will.)

Saturday, December 22, 2007

On with the snow (again)!

Well, yesterday it was almost 40 degrees. I delivered mail in a sweat shirt. Of course that can only mean one thing....blizzard. It seems that if we get warm weather one day we have to have the opposite the next. So today it's rain until late afternoon and then the snow starts with probability of getting 12 inches by tomorrow night. I am soooooo thrilled (not). It will be nice to have clean snow for Christmas for the effect. Right now it's pretty dirty stuff with all the salt, sand and plowing. The blizzard is supposed to last until early Monday morning.
With me running to Florida/Alabama for the funeral things are way behind here. I have been putting in too many hours at the post office and to top it off the foot is worse. It had been better for a week or so and then somehow got messed up again. Now the Doctor is thinking stress fracture or something like it. Nothing showed up on the x-ray, but I have it taped again and then 2 braces to wear once I can unwrap it. I'm sure that standing on the cement floor at work and walking on the ice is not helping it at all.
I have found out through this that I make a terrible patient. I cannot get the stuff that I normally do done and that is very, very frustrating. By the time I get home from work, I am exhausted and in so much pain, I just sit there and I HATE IT. I'm sure there is a lesson in here from God. Just when I am the most miserable he steps in to let me know the "moral of the story". Everyone is telling me that maybe God is telling me not to do so much for other people and just take it easy. How do you do that when you don't feel like you do enough for other people? I do not like this thinking about me garbage. It's taking too much time. I need to be out there doing.
So.......
We're still having our Christmas Eve Open House. I have toned down the menu to about 18-20 things including about 4 dips so, it's not so much work. Lots of easy stuff that I can throw together in the morning and then serve at night. We've thought about cancelling because of my foot, but I just don't have it in me. Too many people are looking forward to it. For some around here, it is the only Christmas that they get. I just could not deal with the guilt of letting my foot get in the way.
Today, Will and the kids are going to get a Christmas tree. It's really late to be doing that for us. We usually have it up way early in December. Schedules and funerals have messed it up. They are all panicking because I'm the one that usually has the final say. It's got to be the tree that "speaks to me". I know silly, but I go with my gut. Anyway, they all think that they will pick the wrong tree, but I know better. Because it could be a Charlie Brown Christmas tree and I would still love it. Besides now I don't have to feel guilty about not taking it down until the end of January. I can just say I'm enjoying it the proper amount of time. Right?
Then hopefully, after they get the tree, they can come and meet me for their last minute shopping stuff and we can get this show on the road.
We never baked cookies so tomorrow morning I will be baking at least 12 dozen cinnamon rolls and we will deliver them at church for Christmas Gifts and then spread them around to the rest of the folks that we need to deliver them to. Much easier than baking all those cookies. Sure I'll still bake some cookies but not 100 dozen.
Believe it or not, I actually have almost all of the gifts wrapped. Strange feeling that one, I don't know that there has ever been a Christmas Eve that Will and I have not been up throwing and I mean throwing wrapping paper on gifts. One year I even had to use masking tape. Of course we found the scotch tape the day after Christmas. Four rolls if I remember right.
Last night my hubby took me out shopping. It's our yearly event. We get to walk around the mall holding hands. It's one of the things we enjoy the most each year. Although it somehow ruins the mood when your husband keeps calling you gimpy. Romantic dear, very romantic. He made up for it though and fed me Japanese. Sesame chicken. One of my favorites.
Well, this house will not get cleaned by itself. I've loads of stuff to do before work and then off I go to deliver Christmas.
Ho, Ho, Ho and all that.
Happy Christmas everyone. Please remember the reason for the season.
dea

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Some meaningful words...

No I'm not talking about anything that I write. These are the words to the song that my father (the best voice in the world in my opinion) sang at my Aunt Ruth's funeral. She had picked it out years ago and some friends scrambled to find it. Pop learned it in a day and sang it. BEAUTIFUL!!
I have no idea how he did it. Everyone was crying.

Finally Home by L.E. Singer

When engulfed by the terror of the tempestuous sea,
Unknown waves before you roll;
At the end of doubt and peril is eternity,
Though fear and conflict seize your soul.

But just think of stepping on shore-And finding it Heaven!
Of touching a hand-And finding it God's!
Of breathing new air-And finding it celestial!
Of waking up in glory-And finding it home!

When surrounded by the blackness of the darkest night,
O how lonely death can be;
At the end of this long tunnel is a shining light,
For death is swallowed up in victory!

But just think of stepping on shore-And finding it Heaven!
Of touching a hand-And finding it God's!
Of breathing new air-And finding it celestial!
Of waking up in glory-And finding it home!
Finally home.

What a message. The music is very simple, so you really hear the words. What a blessing at a funeral. It puts joy right into your heart, because it puts things in the proper perspective.
Well, that's it in a nut shell. I'm home today, cleaning and baking before I head for the Doc's to have him tell me my foot is still messed up. I think I can figure that out all by myself without the $80 bill.

Yahoo! Onto the next chapter of a week in the life of us.....
dea

Sunday, December 16, 2007

Na, na, na, na, hey, hey, hey, goodbye..

This title is not about what I'm first going to write about, it is about one of the stupid things that I will tell you in a little bit. OK?
It's been another one of those crazy weeks around here. Last week on Monday my Aunt was in the hospital. She had this very rare blood cancer that caused her blood to clot too much. Then she would have to go in and have it run through a machine kind of like a dialysis machine that took the sticky stuff out and ran the cleaned blood back in. She had been doing this for a couple of years now. They seemed to think she would be going home soon and then her heart stopped Monday night suddenly. Now everything was different.
She had a living will, so the family was dealing with a very difficult decision, but the Dr. held out hope that she might live after the respirator, because she was showing signs of trying to breath on her own. God took the decision out of their hands and called Aunt Ruth home at 1:15 am Wednesday morning.
Needless to say this had already caused flurries of phone calls back and forth. My parents were in Tennesse and Mom kept the phone lines burning with the family at the hospital and then would call around. She was great! Now with Aunt Ruth gone it was everyone for themselves to get ready to go down there.
Now if you know me, you will know that family means the world to me. I just love my "old people" as I call them. All of my older family members are incredibly special to me. I write them as often as I can or call to keep in touch. I also have the Oakes Family Gathering just to make sure that we all stick together. Now, one of them had died and I just could not see getting away for the funeral in Alabama and it hurt.
Step in one incredible husband. Will came home and told me I was going. It was my Christmas present from him because he knew how much Aunt Ruth meant to me and knew I would regret it, if I did not go. So, I called a couple of people and low and behold I had a ride.
Here's how the trip went. Saturday-Auction with Will in the morning until he bought the last item they sold.(His Christmas present from me-an air compresser). Run home, shower, pack and jump back in the car to get to my Aunt Gale's by 4:00 pm. (this after making sure that everything for the family was done for the next three days.)
Saturday 7:30 pm..Listen to the Christmas Cantata at Aunt Glenda and Aunt Judy's church. They were singing and could not leave until it was done. It was great.
Leave Rockford at 9:00 pm. Drive in snow. Snow turns to freezing rain. Freezing rain turns to pure ice. Ice turns to sleet. Sleet turns to heavy rain. Rain turns to huge electrical storm with lots of thunder and lightening. Storm turns to fog and lasts until we get to Northern Alabama.
What a trip. God was good. We just kept going. Stopped at every rest area because one uncle had hip replacement 3 weeks ago and had to walk every hour. Some of the rest areas we all got a chance to ice skate. Not fun.
Sunday arrived at Perdito Key to 80 degree weather and the beach. What a change after all that junk we just drove through. Spent time with family and funeral Sunday evening and Monday. Left Tuesday morning to pick up trailer in Knoxville, Tn with parents.
Left Knoxville at 2:00 am Wednesday morning for home. Arrived home Wednesday 7:15 pm.
Went to work on Thursday and ended up doing my mail route and almost the whole route for another carrier. Friday too.
Exhausted but thrilled by the experience. I am so glad that I went. My Aunt Ruth was a beautiful Christian and went home for her first Christmas in glory and I am so happy for her. I even was asked to sing at the funeral and that was a blessing. I will write more about that soon when I get the words to that song.
Now for my funny story....
I went south prepared with T*de pens galore. They really do work and knowing me I will always spill on myself and then wear whatever the menu is on my shirt. I had a pen in my purse and one in each suit case. Never needed it.
Last night, I went to Will's Christmas party for work. Brand new suede jacket on. Did not take the pen with me. Second bite of food.......plop. Right there on my right lapel. Tried to wipe it off. Guess what happens when you wipe suede. Smear!.. That's right it spread. So now I don't have just a spot, I have a skid mark running down my jacket. Then of course I try to make it better by wiping again. Note to self....DON'T DO THAT! Now I have two smears. It looks like a car pealed away and left tire tracks down my shirt. Where are my pens? In the car 2 blocks away and at home 4 miles away. Figures. I'm thinking I might need to get one of those disposable plastic bibs and keep it in my pocket.
Now I'm playing catch up trying to get ready for Christmas Eve open house here and also to complete the now risen total of 28 gift baskets that I need to get done.
Yesterday was Jacob's 15th birthday. What a kid! He had a special birthday dinner at my parents because we could not get out of Will's party. So we will have another dinner for Jake this next week when everyone can be here.
Well, time to start working before I run into church and then get ready for the rest of the week. I need another 12 hours in a day and then I might get done. Oh well, it won't get done with my just sitting here.
Have a blessed day.

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Sorry! I know! I know!

It's getting to be way too long between posts. I do apologize for that. Dea is on her way back from Pensacola. Her Aunt Ruth passed and Dea went to attend the services. Ruth was a very fine Lady and she will be missed, but we look forward to seeing her with Jesus. As always, knowing your loved ones are saved is a great comfort.

With Dea gone, that leaves me alone with the kids.
Poor kids.

See, Daddy's a meanie. He's not nice like their Momma.
I have no problem with making them help me with whatever I'm doing. Worse, I actually EXPECT them to clean up after themselves!
Oh the Humanity!
Do you know there have actually been many occasions where I have sat in "my chair" watching TV while simultaneously issuing orders to the two children? You! pick that up! You put that stuff away! When you are done with that, sort that stuff out! etc etc etc.

It's quite enjoyable really. You should try it.

I've actually cleaned the whole house that way. Now I sort the kids by rooms: Jacob you clean the dining room. Jessa you get the family room. Go!

See, I told you Daddy's a meanie. Ironically, the kids haven't died. in fact they appear to be happy (when I'm not giving them orders).

Who would have thought?

In fact, I have to be honest. They have really been quite good at "stepping up" to help out while Mom is gone. I might have to take them to the doctors though, They haven't even fought with each other in the last two days. Of course, they could be hiding that fact from me. Either way, I haven't been bothered with it, which is really all I want. (insert cruel chuckle here) Truthfully I'm quite proud of them. For the most part they have taken care of themselves for two days and not trashed the house while doing it. See, being mean isn't just fun, it's effective! (yeah, I know. They are just good kids but I can't help trying to take the credit)

All of this is just a way of trying to say that we have been really busy and to hopefully offer a slightly entertaining apology.

Also, because I'm not just a mean ol daddy, I'm also a mean ol' husband; I will inform Dea to post about this week when she gets back (hopefully this evening -depending on the weather.) She had a few real heart warming moments while she was gone and I hope she will tell you the words to the song her Dad sang. Bring tissues.

May you remember the reason for the season...All year long.

The Big Meanie,
Will

Wednesday, December 05, 2007

Snow, ice and did I mention snow?

I snowed 8 inches on Saturday, and then rained on top of the snow on Saturday night. Guess what that made? Yep you guessed it ICE. Almost 2 inches in some places. Now that people were finally chopping their way out of the ice, it decided to snow again last night to the tune of 6 inches. Ok. We shoveled. It was really light snow, so it wasn't hard. I will finish up today in the daylight.

Guess what they are forcasting for Thursday? Another 4 inches. Then come Saturday and Sunday, we're supposed to start all over again with another 6 inches or more. I guess that we can count on a white Christmas.

Our friends Seth and Claire plow snow for cellular phone towers as a winter enterprise. I bet they are racking up the miles now. So at least the snow is good for their part of it. After this weekend's snow gets cleared, I hope to get Seth to come and plow our driveway. He usually piles all the snow in the middle of our field for the kids to use as a sled run. They just love to see him coming.

Our dog Sam is having some trouble with the ice. He loves the snow and wants to run and play in it, but he has a previous injury from before we got him. It causes him some pain in his leg/hip area. We usually watch the jumping etc with him. Now he is doing that run over the ice and then fall through with one leg or two then plunge on ahead. It really messed up his leg the first night. I went out with Will's big boots on and crunched down a large area of snow for him to run in. The things I won't do for my family or my dog..... or anyone else for that matter.

Now that I am back in regular shoes without all of the tape, I am able to get around. Now if the ice will get better so my foot doesn't hurt at night, I should be able to get my life back in order. Christmas is coming and we have lots and lots to do.

For those interested parties, Will did sort his 3 boxes of stuff. I am very proud of him. He was quite industrious on Monday and Tuesday. Now if we could all get ambitious at the same time, we could really accomplish something.

Jessalyn has a skating birthday party on Friday night. Will has an auction to go to on Saturday for a friend of ours who is moving. I will have to give him my list of stuff to bid on. I hope to start baking this next Friday or Saturday.

Well have a good day. I need to go and shovel some more. Oh joy.....
dea

Sunday, December 02, 2007

Yesterday we had our first snow storm of the year. I say first because they are predicting that we get much more snow this year than we have in the last couple of years. I'm sure that will be good for the winter tourism market, but for the rest of us. Yuck!

Being a mail carrier stinks this time of year. Especially now that they have given me this "jeep". You never know what way it will go in the snow. The front tires are a different axle width than the back ones, so each tire makes a new track in the snow. Fun stuff.

Yesterday morning was fine. I went into work a little early because the snow was not supposed to start until after noon. Well, someone forgot to tell the snow that. It started at 9:00 and did not let up until it started raining (yes raining) at about 10:00pm. We ended up with about 8 inches which now has a 1/2 inch layer of ice over the top. The rain compacted the snow down to about 5 inches and it has a hard shell. Not fun at all for the animals to walk on. It makes life miserable for the deer and other wildlife because they have a hard time getting through it.

Will left for work about 1/2 hour ago, driving on this mess that the trucks have not had time to salt. I have been waiting here at the desk for a phone call saying that he is there or that he is in the ditch. I haven't heard anything yet, so that could be good or bad. The kids and I shoveled yesterday for a couple of hours and it was a losing battle. We shoveled enough that Will could get into the driveway and park the truck. Then the snow plow came through and you could not tell.

The only one that really enjoys this weather is the dog. Sam thinks this is wonderful. He runs around throwing snow in the air, jumping and in general running like crazy for no reason. I wish I had his energy. He and Jessa were so tired yesterday that they hit the hay before all the rest of us with no arguments.

We were supposed to go Christmas caroling today for the village. I had borrowed Cranfest's people mover shuttle and we were going to use that to ride around on. I cancelled. For some reason riding everyone around town on a "float" in 30 mph winds, on ice does not sound like a fun time. I'm not even sure that we are going to have church. The pastor is also the township snow plow driver. I think he will be busy. I know I don't want to go out in this.

As I mentioned before Will put the Christmas lights up. They are beautiful and now with the snow they really, really look great. He does such a good job on those things.

The foot is still there. It seemed to be getting better and then I stepped wrong on the snow on Saturday and it is sore again. I guess it will just take time. At least I don't hurt quite as much when I walk, so that's progress right?

I started a new blog for a test run. It will have different stuff on it, so who knows. Right now it has one of my family's favorite recipes on it, so check it out at deascorneroftheworld.blogspot.com and let me know what you think of the recipe. I will try to post one every couple of days. Most will be designed for the busy person with no time. It probably won't just be recipes though. I manage to find little bits of pieces of "stuff" around that I just might put on there.

Well, Will has not called and my foot hurts, so I'm back to bed to read.

Have a great day!
dea