Winter Storm Blair

I don't know when, or why, the weather guessers began to name winter storms. What's wrong with The Blizzard of '77? It works. We remember it. 

The forecast is for Winter Storm Blair to reach us around 10 PM tonight. I've made sure I have plenty of dog food and doggie treats, cat food, KC food, firewood, and water for coffee. The snow shovel and snow melt are on the patio, under roof. So is a gasoline can and the transfer pump. My cousin came up and made sure my generator would start. It's a pull cord and my hip is bothering me and I couldn't pull it hard enough today. And lastly, the snow pusher is on the John Deere 1023. I'm as ready for this weather event as is humanly possible. 

My grandparents used to say that Ohio's weather today is our weather tomorrow. It's surprisingly true, most days. Now we have the Weather Channel and the Internet and a lot of confusion. I took a photo of the sky just before dark. Yep. It's coming. 

Ron and I used to like to watch it snow. We'd cuddle-up on the couch with a cup of coffee and gaze out the living room window. I'll probably sit and watch the snow fall for a little while, but I will need to go out in the storm and run the tractor if it starts to get deep. And who knows how much we'll get? The predictions are never dependable. My location is protected by a very tall hill (a mountain), and the worst of many a storm goes south of us. 

I moved the table on the sunroom porch close to the door so I can stick a ruler in the snow and measure without walking outside. Foresight. Amazing. 

There's nothing left to do tonight except put my jammies on, snuggle with Deuce and Loki, and watch a little TV. I may even fix myself a little something-something to knock the chill off. 

The Lady of Holly Tree Manor/The Hideaway

Holly Tree Manor, The Hideaway, Winter Storm Blair, rural living, snowfall, Weather Channel, preparedness, generators, a writer's life, black Lab dog, John Deere 1023

The 2024 garden - ready, set, go!

The clock is ticking. One by one, it's time to plant the 2024 garden. The cabbage is already in and the strawberries are next, maybe even today if our fifty percent chance of showers proves to be no showers. 

All the buckets and grow bags have been filled with amended soil. It was a huge job, but worth it. Next year, I won't need to dump each of them and remix. I'll need to add a few nutrients to each container and use that nice auger bit Ron got me to loosen the soil and mix in the feed. 

Refilling all the containers was hard work. I got a scoop of garden mix soil from the local nursery to refresh the dirt and got to work. I worked across several days so I didn't wear myself out and it was time well spent. I'm determined to pace myself. Ron's passing has left me with a lot of hours to fill. I don't need to hurry through my tasks so that I can return to being his caregiver. I didn't realize how many hours a day I spent caring for him, not that I regret or resent any of them. 

I'm eager to get a plant in each container, but I must have patience. I must wait on the weather. Always before, Ron was my "weatherman," advising me of frost warnings and overnight low temps, and the possibility of afternoon storms. Now I have to remember to check the weather apps every day. Taking a daily screenshot is easier than opening the app multiple times a day, at least for me. 

I will miss Ron's company as I spend time in my little garden. He would pick a sunny spot and talk to me while I worked. When I finished, I'd sit in my garden chair and we'd talk of idle things while sharing memories or wistful thoughts. Deuce is good company, but he's a quiet sort. 

I suspect this next year will be full of bittersweet moments. I just hope they don't overwhelm me and make 2024 my last garden.

The Lady of Holly Tree Manor/The Hideaway

Holly Tree Manor, The Hideaway, weather apps, country lifestyle, rural living, bittersweet, black Lab dog, frost warnings, life after loss, container gardening, cabbage, strawberries