“What shall you do all your vacation?’, asked Amy. “I shall lie abed and do nothing”, replied Meg.”
Just looking out my front door to watch the progress of the plowing and shoveling gave me snow blindness when I turned back into the house. It is as bright a day as we’ve had in weeks. It is also freezing. The wind is so strong it is blowing the snow with the same ferocity and lack of visibility as in a sand storm, just not with the grit. Though my plow guys keep turning their backs to the snow cloud, their beards were frosted and icy with snow. My walkway is shoveled, the car is free and Gracie’s steps and stairs have also been shoveled. I threw de-icer on all the front and back steps, and it is already working. This morning’s paper is now in my hands. I just brewed a fresh pot of coffee. It is already a good day.
This is school vacation week around here. I never understood why we needed one in February having just had a long Christmas vacation, but I didn’t argue. When I was a kid, we never went anywhere or did anything special as my Dad was working. When I was older, my friends and I would get together. I remember a toboggan party at the Winchester Country Club. My friends Bobby and Jimmy and I fit perfectly on Bobby’s toboggan. We were daredevils who went down the steepest hills. I remember one hill with a slope in the middle. The toboggan flew over the slope and the three of us were airborne. When the toboggan landed, Jimmy ended up half hanging off the back of the sled. He stayed that way until we finally stopped. He wasn’t hurt just snow-covered. We looked at each other without saying a word and as if on cue, we started trudging up that hill to do it again. This time we all stayed on.
When I was teaching, I used to go traveling for the week, mostly to Europe. The weather wasn’t all that bad, it was off-season and cheaper and there were fewer tourists. I’d pick one place for the week. One year it was Rome. Another year it was Vienna. I can’t remember how many times it was London.
Today I have laundry to do. I’m tired of looking at it in the hall. Looks like a big day ahead of me.
Explore posts in the same categories: MusingsTags: cloud of snow, daredevils, de-icer, Europe, freezing day, plowing and shoveling, Rome, sand storm, school vacation, snow blindness, tobaggon, traveling, Vienna
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keepthecoffeecoming.blog 
February 16, 2015 at 12:54 pm
Yesterday the high was 65 and right now it’s 30 degrees. Once again the Canadian Provence of Alberta has come down to Texas like the Keystone pipeline will carry shale oil eventually. 🙂 It rained during the night and the sky is cloudy. There is a slight chance of light snow tomorrow morning. From almost 80 degrees on Saturday to below freezing on Monday. Texas weather, who can predict?
When my kids were younger the Plano School district gave them a Fall break in October. It was the best time to go on vacation. There were no crowds and vacation deals were everywhere. The school year began the first week of August. Of course the lobbyists for Six Flags and the summer camps convinced the legislature to prohibit independant school districts from starting the year earlier than the third week in August. Having a three month summer vacation is a throw back to the time when agriculture ruled the State and air conditioning was not widespread. Educationally it’s better to have more frequent shorter breaks rather than a long summer vacation. However, in Texas ‘bidness’ always trumps education except when it interfere with football. 😦
February 16, 2015 at 1:11 pm
Bob,
My sister in Colorado has similar weather. A few weeks ago it was below freezing. Last week every day was in the 70’s. It too is weird weather. We just have winter, plain, old, ordinary winter.
I think October is a bit early for a vacation. School has only been in session a couple of months. Around here businesses don’t want school starting until after Labor Day because of the need for workers while the tourists are still here. That makes for a late ending to the school year, especially if there are snow days like this year. I think summer vacation is too long as well, and the school day is too short. The whole traditional school calendar needs to be reorganized, but it won’t happen.
February 16, 2015 at 5:17 pm
Unfortunately, money talks and everything else, such as education, walks. It’s the golden rule. “He who has the gold makes the rules”.
February 16, 2015 at 5:19 pm
Bob,
The teachers are the real holdouts. If they voted for it, the school would start earlier but they keep voting against it. Maybe this year and going to school until June 30th will change their minds.
February 16, 2015 at 1:27 pm
I can’t say much about our weather since I haven’t been close to any waindow today but I guess it was cloudy and around 32F and no wind. I think it was slightly colder here at home since the old boys weren’t wet when I came home after work.
They had their week free from school last week here and soon they’ll have a week free from school when easter arrives. Now days they also have one week in late October early November, it feels like they never are at school any longer 🙂
I’ll grill a few sausages and after that I’ll have cocoa and chocolate chip cookies 🙂
Have a great day!
Christer.
February 16, 2015 at 1:42 pm
Christer,
It is freezing outside. I put Gracie’s coat on her when she goes out to go to the bathroom. She comes in panting.
The sun is bright and the sky a lovely blue, but they are just scenery. The sun does no good whatsoever. I have to go out tomorrow but today I’m staying inside warm and cozy.
Those chocolate chip cookies sound delicious!
Have a great evening!
February 16, 2015 at 1:36 pm
Hi Kat,
It’s bright and sunny and cold as cold can be here. Even Piki Dog does not want to go outside until he absolutely must. I open the door and they both turn tail and head for the couch. Can’t say I blame them. It is 16ºF and if it weren’t for the wind, it would be comfy outside. Relatively speaking.
Laundry is partly done. Dried stuff is folded and upstairs. Wet stuff is in the drier where it will probably remain until tomorrow. I have clothes for shoveling so I won’t need those. 🙂
Time for some clam chowdah. Enjoy the day.
February 16, 2015 at 1:46 pm
Hi Cary,
I put Gracie’s coat on her when she goes outside, but she stills hurry. I think she goes on the run.
Laundry still in the hall, but I am determined to get it done today. That’s about my only plan.
Hmmmm, clam chowder!
Have a wonderful day and stay warm.
February 16, 2015 at 2:12 pm
I did put coats on them. Rocky loves his. Piki Dog spends all his time trying to scrape his off and forgets to do what he supposed to do. Now I leave his off. It focuses his mind wonderfully. 🙂
February 16, 2015 at 2:21 pm
Gracie doesn’t care one way or the other. I think I need a second coat for her belly which hasn’t much fur.
Piki Dog makes me laugh.
February 16, 2015 at 6:05 pm
School vacation and Europe and you’re tired of snow… Let’s imagine… I you were here we would visit the neighboring town, it’s just just across the river. This old town is a popular destination for tourists and locals. Before we enter the town we would make a stop on the bridge with a nice view onto town, river, defunct steel plant, corn water mill and surroundings. Sunny blue sky of course. Then a sightseeing walk through the historic part of town with medieval houses and churches. Imagine it’s warm enough to sit outside to drink and eat, perhaps a coffee and waffles with hot cherries and cream in the afternoon and dinner on the deck of the Pancake House.
Ready for the virtual short trip? You can take Gracie along.
Here’s the historic district:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQ2Ckj3FWtE
February 16, 2015 at 6:16 pm
Birgit,
That was the best tour.
The colorful houses and doors were lovely and the narrow streets perfect for our walk. Not a bit of snow marred the view. I’d be happy sitting outside watching the world go by as I have coffee and sweets. Gracie would sniff every post and every corner. She is a good walker, but I imagine she’d strain at her halter so she could sniff everything.
I guess that will have to hold me for a while!
Thanks you!!
February 16, 2015 at 7:21 pm
Hi Kat,
The weather is sunny, which doesn’t match my mood.
I remember my parents took me to London, Amsterdam, and Paris one year; I knew you were well travelled, but I didn’t realize how much. My potato cat is sitting in her lounge, and I am hiding in bed playing word games.
Take Care,
Lori and the Crew
February 16, 2015 at 8:01 pm
Hi Lori,
I had a dream of 50 countries. I have been to 33, but I have no complaints at not hitting my target.
I am doing laundry and watching TV-another big evening!
Have fun!!