Yep, I’m now a wimp compared to what I used to live through in the winters in Minnesota and upstate New York. I’ve about had it with these ice storms. We’ve had two in less than a week. Picture this… I had to crawl out of the rig backwards last Friday on my hands and knees to get down the stairs. It wasn’t a pretty sight. I couldn’t take a chance on breaking a bone or ruining my new hip if I tried to walk down them.
I needed to get the extend-a-stay tank to the propane place for a refill, but it was frozen solid to the ground and the hose and its hook-up was coated with a half inch of ice. I couldn’t get it loose until Saturday.
I thought this ice storm was just a freak occurrence, but today, I awoke to the same thing! However, I fooled the ice god and draped the stairs in a big towel last night before the latest onslaught began. It worked like a charm, and I was able to walk out almost normally to take Emma out. If it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t have gone outside at all today.
There was a nice warm up here yesterday, and my friend Bugman Jack stopped by briefly on his way back down to where his rig is somewhere around Corpus Christi, I think. He had been attending a pine needle basket weaving workshop near Houston.
We went out for a late lunch before he continued on his way, and I finally solved the mystery of who sent me the bottle of Tweed perfume a bit ago. I had initially thought it came from him, but the Missouri postmark didn’t jive. Last November, Jack and his long time friend Carol stopped by for a brief tour of the refuge. She’s not from Missouri either, but her father was. Turns out she was down in Missouri helping her father during his final days on this earth. She found the Tweed at the Vermont Country Store, ordered a bottle, and sent it to me anonymously. Thanks, Carol! I would never have guessed.
As happened last week, we have been cautioned not to try to do any volunteer work during this ice storm. That’s fine with me. Temps are supposed to rise into the 40’s tomorrow after lows in the 20’s tonight. I’m hoping to be able to get out for some ice pictures in the morning before it melts. It’s been several days since I’ve taken any pictures, and I’m missing it.
Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later, Judy
Best to stay inside. It started here this AM. We have not left the house all day. Likely no tommorrow either.
ReplyDeleteYou could be in the beautiful northern plains and get this kind of weather! I don't mind snow at all but I'd probably break my neck on the ice. Please be careful.
ReplyDeleteWOW such weather you hit there this time around. sure hope it warms up soon. be carefully out there.
ReplyDeleteNow aren't you glad you had all those Minnesota years to gain all that valuable knowledge about ice storms!!! Stay safe and keep warm. Are propane prices going crazy there too?
ReplyDeleteWow! Be careful and keep warm! Good idea to put a towel on the steps. I thought of you yesterday when I saw some ducks on lake Mohave (bullhead city, az) - I'm told that one particularly handsome fellow was a wood duck.
ReplyDeleteIt was supposed to be bad all day today, but didn't start sleeting till after noon. There was a nice dusting of sleet by dark. The refuge was closed and will likely be closed tomorrow. We're snug in the RV. Tom set the steps to close up whenever the door closes (travel mode). They'll stay ice free that way.
ReplyDeleteJudy, I remember when our dog , Gypsy, was getting lame and in the winter ice we had to put throw rugs down on our deck steps to help her get down to go potty....Keep a throw rug handy.
ReplyDeleteWe've got about 2 inches of snow here a J. Strom Thurmond COE, SC (10:20 PM) and it's still coming down hard. That snow is on top of 1/4-1/2 inch of ice. Supposed to get 4-6 inches. We're snug and warm in the Journey and enjoying additional time off.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see the panic of the locals that are not used to winter snow and ice. :cD
Ice..wonderful, maybe you need a towel on that propane tank too. Stay warm:)
ReplyDeleteWhat crazy weather!
ReplyDeleteI so know what you mean about missing the opportunity to take pictures. We have been so. Use in the RV that it's been days since I've had a camera in my hand! I miss it too!
Stay warm...and be careful!
Dang iPad.....we have been so busy in the RV.....sorry!
DeleteHang in there. Bet within six weeks we'll be fussing about the heat and humidity.:-)
ReplyDeleteI could handle snow much better than ice but I don't want either. Ice really scares me ever since I broke my ankle. Sure hope you thaw out tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteStay safe and warm! It's been crazy weather this year down in the States. Pretty much the only places that haven't been "hit" are Palm Springs, Florida and of course, Vancouver (where I am!).
ReplyDeleteHope the weather gets better soon!!!
Would like to add AZ to your list. We are having high 70's to 80*, even out kayaking a few times. Becki
DeleteBelieve it or not we're getting ice tonight down here in the Valley. The highway department has closed all elevated overpasses, I guess because they know what will happen if they let the locals drive on ice. Won't be surprised if school is closed tomorrow. That's tonights report from tropical Texas.
ReplyDeleteOh Gee, Judy, I hate to think of you getting nasty weather since you drove so far to be AWAY from it.. Get yourself a pair of Yak Traks to slip over your shoes on these bad days.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Jo
Wow, I'm beginning to appreciate Oregon more and more. We had our little snowstorm in early December but no real ice storm this year. I think ice is the worst. Do be careful and don't let Emma pull you down the steps.
ReplyDeleteGlad you got the mystery sorted out.... what a nice thing to do. Sorry your weather is so atrocious.... even Chris, in Mexico, reports snow on the ground.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking of you yesterday. We were in the Big Cypress Swamp which is basically the Florida Everglades. We met a volunteer couple at the Oasis visitor center and I asked them about their volunteer job. They love it and have been volunteering there for several winters. Others have volunteered many years as well. We met another lady who volunteered their 14 years!
ReplyDeleteThey have 10 FHU sites which they said are plenty big enough for even bigger rigs (there is a Prevost in one site now). They work 3 days a week. I told them about your and your skills and they said they often do bird counts. People from the geological service often work out of the center. This visitor center is along highway 41 in a spot where the gators congregate. I posted pictures in my blog if you might be interested in volunteering there. If you are, and want me to take some pictures of the sites I'll try to do that on the way back. I think you might like the area. There are thousands of birds, gators and some very elusive and endangered Florida panthers. It's in the middle of nowhere though the closest cities is Naples.
Oh, and there was no ice! It was about 82 degrees there yesterday, with bright blue skies. We had a few bugs in the evening, mostly gnats, but a few mosquitoes. They weren't taking you away, and a fan would have blown them away. Not a big problem at all.
From your description, we've had it easier down here ... no ice. Be careful out there.
ReplyDeleteHow well I remember all the ice, the snow, the snowstorms, & the freezing cold temperatures for over 60 years in southwestern Ontario. We all dealt with it then but know what you mean by wimping out on it now. I feel the same way. Maybe if we had never spent a winter in the south we would not know the difference but for many of us who do know the wonderful difference there is no going back to the way it once was. Warm sunny winter days in the south change us forever.............
ReplyDeleteNasty cold weather! Good idea to stay inside as much as possible until someone or something turns the heaters back on.
ReplyDeleteyep... it's the ice! I've said soooo many times about we folks in the south when people pooh pooh us on our inability to get out and about in the winter! it's the ice! ... dangerous nasty evil stuff... I tell those who pooh pooh ... if it looks wet? .... it's ice and act accordingly... do they listen? ... they do after the first time of not ! listening
ReplyDelete16 right now ... but ... no moisture and that's a good thing... glad you play it safe ... I hate reading my blog roll blogs and someone has fallen or gotten sick ... doesn't make for a nice day ... which I hope you have one of... ;)
The weather here at camp driveway has been pretty darn nice. I rarely have had to put on a jacket or sweater. The big weather concern is drought. I just hope we get out of here soon. But where to go?
ReplyDeleteEgads, that weather is just awful. I guess I'm done saying, yes, but it's so beautiful. Beauty doesn't matter at this point, right? I've been in snow, but not ice like that, sticking things to the ground. Stay warm and cozy with Emma in the rig. I hope your storms pass soon and you get some warm sunshine. :)
ReplyDeleteThat's what we've been saying, pretty much since November - first in Fredericksburg, TX, and now in Terlingua - we didn't sign up for this weather! Of course, we expect a little bit of cold, but doggone it, this is TEXAS after all! Tomorrow I hear it's supposed to edge toward 80, and it does that I'll be wearing my happy camper smile again!
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ReplyDeleteI asked John if we were having fun yot. His reply was, as always, "yes, it is the handbook". Sooo are you having fun with the ice? Do you have the same handbook?
ReplyDeleteWe sure have had some winter, haven't we. Teri and i didn't return to the Valley this winter because we were a little tired of 80's in January and February. We certainly accomplished our goal of finding cooler weather in the Texas Hill Country.
ReplyDeleteTowels on the steps is a good idea. Anything to prevent having to descend icy steps!
The two winters we spent in northern MN were mild for up there. We have remarked a few times that we are experiencing a Minnesota winter here in New Jersey this year. This morning it was -5. Ugh.
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