I don’t know about where you are, but I think we’ve hit our limit with the snow and storms out here. We are getting tired. We had the blizzard on Saturday. On Monday they closed schools because we can’t even get cleaned out from it. The large amount of rain before the blizzard left a significant layer of ice for the snow to sink into, and the plows don’t seem to be able to get that layer up. Now it’s super cold, so nothing is melting either.
Yesterday I went to work thinking surely things were ok. But, I quickly rethought that as my antilock brakes engaged regularly. Every intersection was a disaster. Even with a bit of an incline, cars were struggling to get traction enough to make a turn. I passed 18-wheelers unable to get up slick ice hills, then ending up blocking 2 lanes trying to get out of a precarious situation. At the bottom of large hills were car accidents and cops, the debris from the accidents quickly getting smooshed into the ice and snow on the road. Again, this is 2 days after the blizzard.
In our yard, we’ve got at least 2 inches of ice/snow on the back patio that won’t come up. Thankfully it’s snow-covered enough to not be slick. Yet. We’ve got a massive puddle of ice taking up the entirety of the bottom of our driveway, so we have to make absolutely sure no cars are coming before we pull out, as that sheet of ice means we end up slipping out into the other lane before being able to right ourselves. This is something like storm 3 or 4 with very little melt in between, so the snow is quite deep. In fact, it’s now over a good portion of Mr. Ink’s plants and plant indicators or cages. Many of his carefully planned preventative measures for knowing where things are in the snow are now completely covered.
So, he used the snow blower and a shovel to indicate the dog’s regular routes through the yard. This way they stay off the plants because they aren’t going to make things difficult for themselves when the snow is this deep. This’ll work until the paths turn to ice.
The dogs are starting to go stir crazy but walking them is impossible. For real. There’s just nowhere to go. Sidewalks in our area aren’t plowed nicely, there’s just too much snow and ice. Walking in the street is dangerous as it’s too snow covered ice to trust cars going by. Here’s now Rose is feeling about this:
Even I have been feeling completely stir crazy despite my love for being at home and knitting. Seriously. I am sick of knitting right now.
But here’s a work in progress. I’ve begun the Kernel scarf out of Miss Marja’s handspun.
This is the edging, the beaded border, and one repeat. Hard to see since it’s lace. So far I’ve enjoyed the pattern, but I think I am at a point where I am not thrilled with knitty patterns since the charts aren’t easily downloaded. I have come to rely on using my good reader app to track pattern progress, without that, it’s tedious. That’s why this piece made it to work. I can print out the pattern and then use the paper print out for the duration of the project.
It’s the last week of February. I am truly hoping that we are now on the other end of the snow. There’s no accumulation forecasted for the next 10 days. Prior to this, it’s been a storm every 3 days or so. There is snow forecasted, but not significant amounts. Unfortunately, there’s also no pleasantly warm weather forecasted either. 22 looks like the highest temps we’ll get in the next 10 days. Just high enough for an icy mess, but not high enough to help our situation. Mr. Ink is spending time thinking about how to dig a channel to drain the pool of ice from the bottom of our driveway and I continue to get frustrated with the lack of activity in our near future. I love winter and I love snow, but there is always that moment of realization that I am over it. It’s just hitting all the harder this year.
Snow is one thing. Ice is quite another. We don’t have snow but everywhere there are globs of ice. Most of our storms were ice storms. I hear you about the dogs and I feel for Rose. If Yarn Rascal doesn’t get his usual amount of walks his unspent energy goes into over the top rascal behavior. Britain is already into spring time with all the spring flowers blooming. We are usually a month behind them, so there is hope that winter will be losing its grip soon.
Oh, I feel for you! That is how I felt last March. So far this year we have had lots of storms that ended up as wintry mix, followed by a warm few days, so we only have 6 or so inches of snow around, but that has a lovely frosted glaze over it. Luge runs everywhere! Usually our road crews are very good at clearing things up, but like you, now it is cold and staying that way, what is left is going to be here a long time. And like you, no storms ahead. Just relentless cold and howling wind. But it is closer to spring every day, right?
And though you may be sick of knitting, you still are making beautiful things!
I love the little pop of beads. 😉
So very much the same here! ice under new snow then new ice. I don’t know if you have stairs in the house, but playing ball with the dogs on the stairs is a good burn of energy. Also when our Huck was down with a tendon repair, we taught him a few cute tricks. This really tires them out and is mentally good for them too. I put a BIG dictionary on the floor . I opened it. I Hid a dog treat under about 20 pages and told huck to read the book. With great enthusiasm. He of course used his nose to turn the pages till he got the treat. Do your dogs know how to BACK UP? It is such useful command. IF you have a coffee table in front o f the sofa, you can bring the dog through the “tunnel ” of the two pieces. Have pup sit and then command Back u p Back up as you walk into the pup. HE will wiggle his butt back and back up. Soon you can have him back up anytime you need ( when the doorbell rings and you don’t want him /her on the visitor/pizza delivery man /or the like. Make a signal with you hand like SHOO when you say back up. Ok Done now