Mount Snow

The pile is some of the snow that Big Brother has plowed from the driveway this winter.

The Cowboys Game

Daddy was going to be home for the second Cowboys vs. Eagles game and he wanted to curl up with his family, eat chicken wings and watch the game.

Sewing

While in a nearby town I ran into Walmart and picked up some hockey fleece. We had a silent auction coming up to benefit the hockey arena and I thought that some hockey apparel would be a good donation. I made a pair of lounge pants, a pair of mittens and a hat. I heard the pants were a hotly contested item. I haven't sewn much lately, but fleece is so forgiving.

Some of the roads have these signs,

some have what look like RR crossing arms. Our road is off a county highway that has these signs, the sign to the east is about 5 miles from our house, the one to the west is about 11 miles away. Driving on a closed road involves a $1000 fine and paying for your own rescue. I was concerned that I might inadvertently head out onto our closed highway. As we headed into our first winter I asked a friend how I would know if the road was closed, she said if it was, I wouldn't be out. We went through our first two winters with nary a road closure in South Central and South Western Minnesota. This winter however, has been a different story. After we had been home from the driver's test for a couple of hours I checked the DOT website again. This is what they had to say in the mid afternoon, "High winds are causing near zero visibility and heavy drifting. Plows are unable to keep up with the drifting and plows in x, y, and z counties have been pulled off the roads. State and county roads in x, y, and z counties are closed." X was my county, if I could have gotten out the lights would have been flashing. I could barely see the end of the driveway, so I knew what my friend had meant when she told me I wouldn't be out. On January 25th the weather again forced the closure of the state and county roads in 22 counties in South Central and South Western MN.

Got His License!

When I went to bed Wednesday, January 6th, they had already delayed the local schools. When I awoke Thursday morning the delays had changed to cancellations and the MN DOT website said, "driving conditions hazardous, travel not advised, white out, blowing snow." So, I called the DMV to see if they were still holding driving tests. Yep. So we headed out, allowing extra time, in the two wheel drive truck, why you wonder when we have a four wheel drive suburban? Well, a couple of weeks ago I noticed that my rear top brake light was out. And because I am a responsible driver I stopped into the auto parts store and bought a bulb. The sales clerk had a hard time finding the correct bulb, that should have been a clue. But, I promptly forgot to have Daddy change it when he was home. So, the weekend before the test I send Big Brother and Little Brother out to change the bulb. They come in with an LED assembly and say this is why the sales clerk couldn't find the right bulb. It doesn't take a bulb, it needs a new part! Monday morning I call to see if I can get the suburban in the shop to replace the light, no one can fix it until Friday. Called the DMV and sure enough a nonworking brake light is not going to help him get his driver's license. Now, the truck has this other little quirk, sometimes the speedometer stops working. Big Brother and Daddy have figured out how many RPMs equal 30 MPH and 55 MPH, so he's pretty sure if it quits working he can keep it going the correct speed. And if the examiner notices, well it will be the first time THAT ever happened. On the way to the driver's test we get stuck in the driveway, Big Brother shovels us out and starts to put the shovel away. I suggest we take it with us, just in case. After his test the examiner said that was "awesome driving, fantastic!" We get home and I breathe a huge sigh of relief and the weather steadily deteriorates.

I may have to buy eggs!

Hens only lay eggs if they have enough hours of daylight. I turn the chicken coop light on for my ladies, so they think the days are longer than they are. So, my hens are still laying, but it is so cold that most, if not all, of the eggs freeze and crack before I get to the coop.

When I awoke the thermometer read

-36 degrees F. By the way Daddy was in Florida. . .