CrossRoads Farm

Snowy Morning

03 December, 2004 - 9:45 am

This morning D and I were nestled all snug in our bed. I was sleeping peacefully – dreaming in fact, though I couldn’t tell you what the dream was about now. What woke me was D. He said, “Oh shit.” I opened one eye and peered at the clock. Without my glasses I can barely read it as it is but I was pretty sure it said 7:04. Everyone was late.

I looked out the window. Which is to say that I looked at the big grayish white source of snowy morning light and could make out that it had been snowing for at least an hour. The bus, if it was on time, would be passing by our mailbox in 15 minutes and D should be out the door by this time. We just stayed where we were for a moment. There was an overwhelming desire on my part to just say to hell with it and stay in bed. But no, I got up and went to wake K. In the hall I heard H, sitting up in her bed, remarking on the snow. This brilliant, beautiful child of mine who wakes me up at 6:30 on Saturday mornings because she wants to watch TV slept straight through till seven with the rest of us. I told her to get dressed because we had to drive K to school.

After getting the ‘chickies’ their breakfast I went out to shovel the walk and feed the chickens. D made sure the snow blower would start for me and took me through the process to refresh my memory. I’m not sure if I will use it or not. The ground isn’t frozen yet so it kicks up a lot of stones from the driveway.

Yes, folks I am the chief remover of snow around here. The driveway is just short enough to be manageable. It is, for the most part, the only outside chore I am responsible for. I have to be. If I don’t clear the drive D can get in when he gets home from work. And it is already dark by then. So it’s me. I don’t mind it. It’s fantastic exercise and you don’t stay cold for long. It’s quite pleasant to be out in the quiet, white world. Alone with my thoughts and using my muscles. I usually take two or three breaks to come in and slow down a bit, warm my feet and get a glass of water. And when I’m done – it’s a great sense of accomplishment.

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