Well look what we woke up to this morning…
Living up here life is full of surprises, although the locals would tell you snow at this time of year is not unusual, and the computer has rightly predicted the fall, but I had thought Spring was firmly ensconced. How wrong was I and how right were they.
Still when the ground and trees are covered in snow it always brings a smile to my face, it is so beautiful and today is no exception. It is only a sprinkling, a dusting so I know that I will be able to drive the Jeep up the drive. If the sun shines through the broken clouds I also know that it will not last for long. And I am told that the warmer weather will be back on Thursday.
Yesterday I knew it was going to get cold so I had put the horses blankets back on so they should be nice and snug even though they are outside and I doubt that there has been snow down below. I can see from the landscape a clear snow line where above the trees and land are covered in snow whilst below is still bare and void of colour, other than the earthly brown of Winter.
Even on the work front though it can feel that you are constantly chasing your tail, constantly going round in circles. The other day I had spent a lot of time clearing the drive behind the house, didn’t quite make it to the gate but I had moved the earth and before the rains it was almost as smooth as a billiard table. I was so proud of the work. Then firstly the chickens and dogs were scrabbling about above knocking small stones down onto my work, followed by the rain which slowly moved the soil (not back to the deep potholes that were once there, but certainly a noticeable change).
One of the dog’s favorite games whilst I work on the garden is loosening the stones so that they roll down the hill and then they can chase them all the way to the bottom, or to where they stop. Normally on the drive or on top of the newly dug veggie garden and sometimes, I throw stones over the fence only to find the faithful dogs had retrieved them. I have to be careful if I am working below them, once or twice my swift footwork has saved me from a nasty bump on my head.
And keeping my cotto tiles in my dining room clean is another job that I constantly have to work at, going over and over again. I can’t remember who’s silly idea it was to put them down, oh yes I can “Roy”. Still when they are clean and polished they look so beautiful but in this weather it’s best to wait until the sunshine returns.
Sometimes it can be a little disheartening; it can feel like you are constantly going round and round without actually getting anywhere. Doing the same jobs over and over again, but you have to bend on down and pick those stones up, grab the rake and make smooth again or get on your hands and knees and polish that floor – as my sister would say what’s new, nothing has changed. It is the joy of living so close to Mother Nature herself. It is what it is.
Today providing we don’t get more snow and are forced not to work the plan is to clear the driveway, removing all loose stones, cutting back the thorns and bushes, clearing away the fallen and dead wood. A big task, but right now I look through the window and enjoy the scenery, before wrapping up warm to start the work knowing that it won’t be the first or the last time that I have done this job.
Article by Sensone