With the arrival of March, the weather has improved. From the first of the month the thermometer has climbed above freezing each day. For the last week, the thermometer has not dipped below freezing. Good news, right? Not necessarily. When you live on a dirt road, winter and freezing temps are good. The ground freezes, and your car tires don’t fling mud onto your vehicle.
We had lot of snow covering the ground until last week. Not only did the temperatures rise, but the rain fell. The result was lots of water — everywhere. The frost deeper in the ground hasn’t melted yet, so the water must move mostly horizontally. It can’t sink into the frozen ground. That leaves a layer of mud.
That’s the way it looked yesterday in front of our house. Hard to believe that last week you could see no green — only white.
Sunday, I drove to the bottom of the drive and turned right (north). I was going to church. What I found in front of our house was the worst mud holes I’ve seen in 10 years of living here. I wasn’t sure I’d get through, but I did.
Like the magi in the Christmas story, I returned home by another way. The road to the south is in much better condition at least as far as the paved road.
Today, the county road crew was out working on our road.
The road truck is approaching one of the worst spots. The driver was grading (scraping) the road and dropping more gravel. There should be no problem getting out now. There will be a problem keeping the car clean. On second thought, forget about that. It’s impossible to keep you car clean if you live here.
Here the truck is going back south as it passes in front of our driveway. When I feel frustrated by our road, I think about how much better it is than if we lived on the paved road. That’s where most of the cars go. And they fly by. Here they go at a more leisurely pace, and that’s the way I prefer to live. How about you?
I live in town (yik) and it's a 3-mile drive to the nearest store… but it's through the concrete jungle. I dislike it, but it's where God wants us right now. I spent a few years in the Catskills, up on a mountain where the spring winds would blow through the raspy pines… it was so lovely. I miss it dearly. So mud is a fine swap for the concrete jungle to me!
Rebecca @ FreakyFrugalite
I am happy with my 30 mile commute to the "typical" stores. I have no desire to visit them every day, and I love looking out across my (yup "my") field every morning.
I don't mind a dirt road, but am beginning to think I would like part of the farm drive paved – the part we had to shovel in winter to get the truck out. Dirt, grass, gravel under snow was not fun.
(Have been saying that for half my life.)
Enjoy the muddy season! A sure sign of Spring.
Meghan, On Tuesday it was still kind of bad.
Vanilla, Right. It's very nice now, but that is going to change.
Shutterbug, Aren't the botanical gardens great? You have your nature retreat right there in your city.
Pricilla, I've got a small chip in my windshield.
Princess, It is indeed very nice here.
Sharkbytes, Right and right! I do enjoy living on a gravel road, and mud pits are . . . uh, the pits.
Lin, Right again. We have nature and solitude out here, but it's a seven-mile drive to the nearest store. Closer to 20 miles to the good one.
Who cares what the road is like when you have such a lovely place to live? You have to sacrifice something–I guess a muddy road isn't too bad, right??
Horray for the gravel truck! I know that you like the dirt road best. But total mud pits are difficult.
Loving what I am seeing. Sure life back there is simple and quiet. Just the way I like it.
Montana is the land of the broken windshield. I think we have had ours replaced three times already and the current one has a great big crack in it.
*sigh*
I really like the photos. I know we talked about this briefly and I have to say again that as I get older I crave the outdoors and slower pace as well. I've lived in the city all my life and though I love it here, being surrounded by nature is when I am truly me.
At my age, I choose the slower pace, for no other option exists anymore.
Wishing you warmth.
I was starting to get attached to the sink hole on Bliss! I need to find a dirty car contest to enter. Have a great day, neighbor!