Where's the song ~~ "Don't let your daughters grow up to marry a Cowboy" ?

​​​​​​​Life is tough! Requires hard physical work, long, long days of pain, dirt, and broken fingernails.​
​Days of frigid cold & scorching heat; through the dust & mud; daybreak into the darkness of nite~~​
​the heart & body becomes toughened & weathered replicating leather!​
​A forever constant factor for a real Cowboy's Wife is tons of sweat, oceans of tears and a constant 'drought' in the wallet!​
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​​​​​​​​​IF​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ she wants to spend anytime at all with her Cowboy, she must do as he does, you become partners!​
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​​​​​​Kick off your boots, grab a cup of coffee, sit back and envision yourself in my life!​
​... It really isn't that bad! There are many rewards to be had to make it a great lifestyle! ...​ ​​​​​​​


Monday, December 29, 2008

The Big Freeze...

...Brings Big Melts!

In more ways than one!
Melting the old records and setting new ones.
Melting of the mind and wishing to see summer blooms;
Melting the energy of your body just to survive and help others to survive.
Yet there is that melting in your heart when you see a smile from an elderly
person happy to see you, or thankful for your help;
or when clutching a new calf which was frozen to the ground
upon birth, adding warmth and life to it snuggled in your arms.
There is that melting of the heart when you see the gleam in a
grandchilds eye as you sled down a snowcovered hill together!
It's all worth it when your heart melts!
Records were broke around here...and I must admit,
I was not thrilled about being a part of this history process!

First a big 'deep freeze', then deep snow...all uncommon to this part.
Actually, the locals up to 75 years old can't remember anything like what we've had!

Minus 18 degrees were our lows and highs reached up to 5 degrees for an eight day stretch.
We won't calculate in the wind chill.
28 inches of snow fell, not counting the drifts.

This kind of weather calls for too much energy to be spent, daily!
No, not the dollar energy....but the inner energy that one must muster
from the depth of your sluggish brain, your arguing muscles!
Fighting off the screams of your heart begging to curl up
in front of the fire and hibernate until it all passes!

But Oh no…in this weather, that is not possible!
  • Tons of energy is spent just trying to add clothing for the onslaught of what is beyond the warmth of your doors! It can take 10-15 minutes just to get dressed for the elements! It's no wonder I love summer!
  • Fires must be kept dancing to ward off the bone chilling winds that will creep in every chance it gets!
  • Engines need a long warm up time before heading out the drive...IF the battery is still willing to hold a charge! Make sure you have plenty of fuel! (It's a good thing prices have gone down)

This is a time when neighbors help neighbors! Whether it is helping with chopping drinking holes in the creeks for the horses and/or cattle with axes; checking in on the elderly widower living alone along the Snake River and helping with his sick or brand new calves that need to go inside; time for hauling in firewood for someone who can’t safely get outdoors;
or to break the ice dams formed in someones roof because they can't;
and it's a time to sit with someone who is lonely during the holidays,
whether they are stranded by the weather or not.

The Big Freeze that hit with sudden urgency… stymied life, shocked everyone.

  • Travel came to halt.
  • Footings were lost (and my bum is proof!)
  • Electricity came and went without notice or care (luckily, I timed my baking just right!)
  • My camera held with good intentions of ‘capturing’ this history in the making, got left on a bale of hay somewhere when yet another urgent matter showed it’s face (yes…that would be my cheap but still useful trusty camera! Maybe some cow will become computer literate one of these days and post the photos for me!)

Then Snow Fell! Then more Snow! And even more Snow! Falling like there was no end!

  • Thankfully(?), the temperature now warmed up to 13 degrees by day!
  • Roads were closed
  • Mail was delivered or not...depending
  • Driveways impassable
  • Roof lines blended into the hillside
  • Shoveling & plowing seemed like a waste of time and energy

Two solid days were spent on the phone with the kids coming home,
one from the Fargo, ND line, the other from So. Calif!
Approximately 1400 miles for each and one worried Mom!
Thank goodness THEY had cell phones so I could keep up with their scary travels!

Two days ago…the temperatures rose! They climbed to a balmy 48 degrees!
Most of the snow is gone today! Mountains of 'pushed' snow remain!
*


Did I mention... the melt down also meant we would have leaking roofs caused by
the huge ice dams from all the valleys of our roof, running into gutters?
(who ever invented gutters should be shot! They are of no benefit in this kind of weather)

Did I mention...the daily drippings from the roof created by the chimney's heat,
would cause frozen huge ice icicles and large blocks...
disabling and then 'Breaking’ my satellites....Dish TV and Wild Blue Internet!!
(It could be that they are only meant to take so many beatings from humans!!!)

Did I mention... a broken drain pipe under the house?
This old house has ‘tunnels’ for crawl spaces, barely fit for a human body.
This broken pipe will have to wait....


I am now washing dishes in the deep sink in the laundry room that
almost became non-existant because the weight of ice and thawing of snow
tried it's darnest to cave in this part of the house!

Did I mention...I HATE WINTER???
*


But Life is good...Wonderful Memories were made...

Since I've been out of touch here I want to wish you all a belated Merry Christmas!
My old blogging friends and my many new ones!
I hope your Holiday was filled with love, fun, and memories!

Now...Come on Spring!! I'm ready for you!
No more Carharts, scarves & mittens!
Just barefeet, shorts & tank tops!



44 comments:

Sherry Sikstrom said...

I hear you loud and clear !! I spentd my whole winter waiting for spring! Glad to see you survived the onslaught. Hope you had a wonderful visit with your real family, but I have to say your "blog" family has missed you terribly. Heres to a short winter!
Merry Christmas

BloggessJ said...

I hope this winter gets a little bit easier. Glad that things seem to be getting a little bit better in your neck of the woods! Missed you!

Hope everyone at your house had a great holiday season?!

Freak Magnet said...

I kept thinking of you during that nasty deep freeze. I knew on your side of the mountains you had to be way colder than we were even! I can only imagine the energy you guys had to expend to make life as normal as possible. I remember being with my Grandpa on the ranch in South Dakota in the Winter. It was tough - between the bundling all up for 10 minutes before even being able to go outdoors for chores, breaking the ice as you mentioned so that the animals could drink, to even breaking ice off of the poor heifer's noses! I hope we have both seen the end of those temps for awhile! Sending you lots of warm hugs!!

AnneDroid said...

Oh poor you. I feel cold just reading your post!

I'm so not with the "dreaming of a white Christmas" brigade. Like you, I'm dreaming of summer and I'm glad the shortest day is now past.

Caffienated Cowgirl said...

A belated Merry Christmas to you! Here's to a warmer New Year! :)

The Wife said...

Oh my, what an experience you had! I can't wait for barefeet, shorts and tank tops as well. But I have to tell ya, it's suppose to be near 80 degrees here today. But a cold front is coming thru late and we will drop into the 50s for tomorrow. Does it make you feel better that it's in the 30s right now???

Glad y'all made it thru and so glad to see you're back!

Gail said...

Hoping you warm up soon!

Renie Burghardt said...

Hi Barb!

Oh, my stars, you poor woman, and poor cowboy!

Our low got to 8F, and we had two episodes of freezing rain that kept me confined for 4 days. Then things warmed up and we've been in the 50s, 60s and even low 70s, since then!

I have a dear friend in Spokane, and they've had tons of snow, and it's still snowing.

Belated Merry Christmas, dear Barb. Here is hoping the New Year brings an early Spring!

I hate winter as well!

Happy New Year, too!

Hugs and blessings,

Renie

PS. I like your new picture!

wordmama said...

We missed you WOW! Good to know that you and the family are now safe and sound. I think we all had a good go with that snow belt that came through! They were calling it snowmagedon up here! But we canucks are used to that kind of beating. Hopefully it's the last one you'll see for another 75 years!

Sarah said...

There you are! So glad you made it through the snow. Glad the kids made it safe and sound for Christmas too. You paint such a detailed picture of what you experienced...I love to read your posts.

Jenn said...

Dearest Barb-
I am so happy to hear you weathered the "storm" per se! WOW. WOW. WOW. What a horrific last few weeks you've had. I hold up my coffee cup in an offering of a speedy spring toast. Hee Hee. I think you've sent your weather down here. IT has been t-shirt weather (70's) for the last week and we woke up this AM with frost. Darn it!

Merry Christmast sweetie and Happy New Year.
hugs
Jenny

Cactus Jack Splash said...

Soooo glad to see you back and safe! Sorry the winter has been hard and filled with grief.
I will be happy to head up your way on a weekend and help, I could bring along Amanda and "Mush Boy". Just let us know if you need us.

Mrs. Mom said...

We missed you Wow! SO glad that you are back!!!!

I keep telling you... head to the Southland ;) It got down in the 30's last night, but nothing we cant handle.

Happy New Year!!!!!

DesertHen said...

I know just how you feel!! We had our own "doozy" of a storm here as well! It really warmed up yesterday and all of our snow is melting....well it was melting until last night when everything froze again!! Now everything is very slick once again. Hayman left today for a visit with friends in California, so Countrychick and I are left to hold down the fort as they say. I have had to relearn to drive in the snow all over again this winter...see what I get for going back to work!! =) Take care, stay safe and warm! Good to have you =D ((((HUGS))))

Theresa @ Take A Sentimental Journey said...

We haven't had any weather compared to yours ! Holy cow... minus 18 !! Glad you had and not me ! hehehehehe . I have been ready for spring ever since Thanksgiving was over.
Stay warm !

Sarah said...

Amen to that last sentence!!!

Amanda said...

Glad you are back! I missed you terribly. Soon we will all look back on this winter mess and laugh and be proud we were a part of it. I miss my flowers, singing birds and sandals. I am afraid it is going to be a long winter!!

RURAL said...

I am so glad to hear that some of it is over. It has been cold, way tooooo cold for all of us. Much to much snow.

Lets all get together and wish for spring!!

Jen

Paula said...

Wow!!!!!!! I was griping just the other day when we hit 8 degrees in Kansas for two days straight. I will repent of my sour attitude and be thankful for my warmer weather. So thankful that you have pulled through and have found the blessings in disquise!

Blessings~
P.

gtyyup said...

I'd been thinking about you and wondering if all was well...you made it through thank goodness!

We had -16 one morning and a few mornings below 0, but not for 8 days straight...yes, it's amazing how much energy it takes to get the chores done in that kind of weather!

Glad you're back. Happy New Year to you and yours~~

Anonymous said...

YIKES-YIKES-YIKES-YIKES-YIKES...and here I was worried about you haveing nothing to do;) Merry Christmas and lets all hope we can "spring" into a New Year soon!

Far Side of Fifty said...

I am so glad you are back! Sounds like you been drug through a knot hole backwards! But you survived!
Love the gutters part..they are worthless...
Lost your camera..darn.
Sounds like you have a winter storm to remember for years to come:)

Anonymous said...

Yipee! You're back!
Connika in Oz.

Shirley said...

When the going gets tough, the tough get going! Bless you and Cowboy for helping out the neighbours. Glad all those who travelled made it safely.

The Blonde Duck said...

I'm glad to hear everything is ok! I was worried when you were gone for so long.

Anonymous said...

Welcome back...I too had been worried about you. I guess there was need to be. Glad you made it through, that was some storm. Hope you get some warmer weather after all that. Thankful you got to weather the storm with your kids, that had to have made it better.

Paula said...

Thanks for stopping in! Kansas is typically cold during December but we've been blessed with some incredible weather this year! We are wet so that makes the mud stick but other then that . . . it's feelin' pretty good! I have found that I hate winter also!

Looking forward to coming back for more visitin'!

Janice Thomson said...

I'm with you on this one Barb! I love it when we have a white Christmas but my goodness we've had sooo much snow for this rain forest area!
Hope you had a wonderful, wonderful Christmas and that 2009 will be full of peace and joy for you - you sure deserve it my friend!

Glenda, saved by grace said...

Welcome back!

LL said...

Pffft... that's hardly an excuse for not blogging... :ewink:

Glad the chinook hit you too. It was a welcome thing around these parts.

terri said...

Such extreme temperatures! That's crazy! I missed you and am glad to hear that you are ok, if not just a little frozen. I hope spring comes quickly!

Happy New Year my friend!

Theresa @ Take A Sentimental Journey said...

Thank you for the prayers sweet Barb.

Anonymous said...

ROFLMA...I can't believe you forgot your camera on a bale of hay! Your comment about the cow and the computer had me laughing out loud and my kiddos lookin' at me funny!!!

I'm originally from Yakima and wholly smokes its been COLD over there. We've had the snow and temperatures in the teens but it hasn't dipped below zero...thank you very much. My camel is already grumpy enough I can't even imagine how hard he would be to live with if it got that cold...he would insist on coming in the house and warming his arse by the fire, lol!

Keep warm and go find that camera! Kim

Train Wreck said...

All right who was singing Let it snow?! I am so glad to hear you aren't a Wowcicle! I was getting worried! No mail, no tv, no internet? NO bad news, no bills, no spam? Not bad. I am so sorry about your camera. Maybe you will get one for the new year? Pad you rbum, keep the fire going and don't worry it will get better. Just think how green it will be come spring time. LOve you my seester!

Anonymous said...

Hi Barb,
I've missed you so. I feel like we've become fast friends; you've melted into my heart from the first I landed here. Leave it to you to turn a winter blizzard challenge into a melt-our-hearts post!

Your post just goes to show because like you said...Just Monday, I ran into a women about 80 years old from my childhood, a treasure from my past. We hugged and hugged. My daughter didn't think we'd ever stop. (I'm also thinking for 2009 I need to email more... often- people are such precious connections)

Sounds like despite the weather that you had a memorable and special Christmas. I can see you snowsledding with those grandkids! (and we sure know the aftermath here of the great melting-ugh I hope you don't have too many repairs to do)Will be in touch soon.

Hugs (and they're really WARM ones! :)
Gel

Sage said...

Missed you Barb, was thinking about you on Christmas day, we raised a glass to you and Cowboy as we will at midnight our time.

With love and best wishes for a peaceful new year. xx xx

Anonymous said...

Hi Barb
Just checking you got my comment to you on I'VE BEEN THREATENING.
Kindest regards
Connie at
connika.typepad.com

Jeanne Estridge said...

Visiting by way of Connie on the Far Side of 50....

I've been reading lots of posts about weather all over the blogosphere, but you seem to have gotten the worst of it. Hope that's over for you!

Tatersmama said...

I missed you Barb, and it's great to have you back. :o)
YIKES about all the troubles and freezing cold that you've had... Here's hoping that 2009 brings you some much more livable weather and that you get all the repairs and warmth that your heart desires!
(((hugs)))

♥ Braja said...

Hey there lady, what a day to "meet" you, New Years. Thanks for stopping by, and happy 2009!

Jenn said...

Happy New Year!

Hugs
Jenny

That Janie Girl said...

Happy 2009! Thanks for stopping by my crazy blog.

Our Christmas was like 75 degrees in West Texas...yummmmm.

This snow is for the birds!!

Stay warm...I'll be back!

Annie Wicking said...

Happy New Year to you and your family.

Thank you for sharing you wonderful time with us.

I hope 2009 will bring you much peace and happiness too, my dear friend. ((Hugs))

Annie

Maggie said...

Holy Moly woman! what could go wrong did, it sounds like! Im so glad everyone got there safely!

And I hear ya on the weather and traveling. It sucked!