Blizzard 2010

For just a moment I thought that maybe this blizzard is all my fault, since I hung this sign outside our door.

But then I realized that I did not hang a sign that said, "Let it blow."

Or a sign that said, "Let the temperatures and wind chill go dangerously below zero."

So I think I'm off the hook.

Today is nasty.

Today is about as nasty as it gets around these parts.

The above picture is looking out toward the grove that surrounds our place to the north and west. This looks nasty enough. However, if you look to the east, you see this...

It is a dangerous day.

Taking a picture from the very same spot, about three months ago, it looked like this...

I shiver.

I quiver.

I slither... Back under my cozy blanket.

Today, my heart just aches for our horses. I watch them out the window, steadfast and enduring, and my heart falls heavy.

In my mind, however, I know there is nothing we can do. We have fed them well all year so that they can be in good condition to handle weather like this, and they have all the hay they want to eat and water to drink, and this is really all there is to do.

Meanwhile, back in the little farm house, Little Blue Eyes and Miss Peaches are running around in a t-shirt / tank top and shorts.

My kids have no idea that we don't live in Boca Raton.

And I'm not about to tell them.

Their innocence must be protected.

Next year, we'll probably send Little Blue Eyes out in the 5-below-zero weather to do the chores and blow out the driveway.

After all, he's a farm boy. He has to 'man up' at some point.

But not this year.

This year, it's all Boca Raton, all the time.

For about the last four days, they have both chosen to wear sports jerseys (Twins or Vikings) and mismatched, very likely backwards shorts.

Sometimes watching them is like watching a Nature show on PBS. They're much like mountain goats, climbing and perching on just about anything, and occassionally butting heads. The latest turn of events in our little drama is that the hunter (me, holding my camera) has become the hunted...

Little Blue Eyes is getting pretty good at taking pictures of us with the camera phone.

I'm going to have to step up my personal hygiene and daily beauty regimen a bit if this continues.

Comments

[Tauna]

That looks like some serious cold. I hve been watching the weather across the country and it looks like you'be been hit hard.
Us...not too bad.

I like your comparison to Mountain Goats........that's funny.

I say get Little Blue Eyes a camera for Christmas and let him compete with a National Geographic photographer!

[Lynell]

Yesterday was really something, wasn't it? I was so glad I did not have to drive anywhere and could just hunker down inside with the family. It looks like you did the same. Stay warm!! Now comes the frigid temps.

[Cate]

Oh my goodness! I can't even imagine that kind of weather! I take it that you just hunker down and sit it out as a family? Do you put any of the animals in a barn or do they tough it out in the paddocks?