We’ve been kind of busy here lately.  So much is going on.  And it seems we are in a swirl. :stars:

I tried to contact our garage door opener repair person.  Turns out he left the business a couple of years ago.  ❓    Oh well, we’ll keep looking.  I’ve tried a couple of things and am mostly out of ideas.

I called a friend for help with my new computer build.  He showed up today, and when he left, the computer was running and I soon had Windows 7 installed.  I’m super happy about that. :frolic:   Thanks Brian!

I’ll be trying some new software on the new computer.  I’m going to try Open Office on this one.  We’ve been using MS Office 2003, but support for that ends in a couple of months.  It’s time to move on.

Tomorrow (Friday) looks like another busy day.  Buckle my seat belt and hang on–tight! :uh:

Sunday, as evening approached, I detected some movement on the lawn.  I looked up from the computer monitor and saw a deer.  This is a common experience, so I thought nothing of it.  A second passed by.  There are two does that frequent this area.  It was nothing special.  Two more passed, and I remembered the group of four that I’ve seen on several occasions.

And then . . . I stood to look there were more to be seen.  I counted at least twelve.  I went to the dining room area and snapped a picture in the failing light.

How many deer do you see?

I removed a section from the middle of the photo as I recomposed it.  That’s why you see the obvious break near the center of the image.

I watched the deer for a long time.  I didn’t attempt any more photos.  Lighting conditions were rapidly deteriorating.  Eventually they wandered off in twos and threes.

Monday morning I looked out the dining room window and saw this.

Overnight the deer had been all around the house and the trees.

I panned the camera up and to the right, where I saw:

Deer have been scraping back snow to get to grass. They’ve done this in several places around our house.

Remember: Beauty is where you find it.  The same can be said for joy and contentment.

Posting in cooperation with:

According to one account that I heard some years ago, PhD means Piled higher and Deeper.  I’m not saying that the account is true, but around here snow is PhD.

Beside the driveway near the house

It’s not to bad near the house, but out toward the barn it’s a different story.  If you know what I mean. :beam:

Piles of snow to water the land come spring

Perhaps with all this cold weather fewer pesky bugs will survive to bother us come spring and summer.  I hope the good guys make it through okay–especially the honey bees. 😎

I was going to post this some time ago, but then I managed to distract myself.  I was checking satellite images online looking at land usage patterns in Barcelona, Spain.  Street View gave me a different vision of how it is that city.

From there I started looking for a Blimpie’s restaurant in Madrid.  Sylvia and I ate there 16 years ago.  It appears to have given way to a tobacco shop.  Perhaps that’s progress? :dontknow:

I have my next computer assembled and I’ll soon connect a keyboard, mouse and monitor to begin loading operating system, software and configuring them.  It’s been another good day. :up:

Sub-zero temps worked their magic on the landscape overnight.  This morning we woke to a sugar-frosted world.  (Winter really is beautiful when you don’t have to shovel it out of drive and walk ways.)

This morning’s view north from our home

I had my annual physical exam with my primary care physician this morning.  On the 4 mile drive to his office I saw even more beautiful displays of rime icing.  Unfortunately, the camera was at home.

Good news all the way round from the medic.  That certainly helps a fellow’s outlook.

With a heaping helping of assistance from Sylvia, I managed to repair my recliner.  One of the four zig-zag spring that support the seat had broken.  :stars:   I’m hoping our repair holds.  I should go test that chair . . . and I feel a nap coming on. 😉

Yesterday ended with Sylvia’s car stuck in the driveway.  Yes, it was my fault.  :beam:   This morning started for me when I looked out the office window and saw this:

Next-door neighbor brings snow blower to the rescue

Our neighbor came calling with his snow blower.  Sylvia ran out with shovel in hand to pitch in.  They cleared a path to get Sylvia’s car back on the driveway.  As they were doing that, I was clearing the upper part of the drive with the tractor’s front-end loader.

Soon, we were able to back the car to the bottom of the drive.  I continued to work at scraping off packed snow and carving back on the intruding snow banks and drifts.

The drive is clear again, but for how long?

Sylvia needed to run some errands in town, which she did as I completed my work.  Before long she returned and easily drove up the newly cleared drive.

Errand complete, Sylvia returns home

In answer to yesterday’s question, a day can make a big difference.  The beat goes on . . .

For tomorrow, the weather prophets are saying eight inches of snow should be falling on us.  :surrender:   And here I sit thinking about how pleasant life was in San José, Costa Rica.  But family is here in Michigan and family is much more important than a few minor inconveniences–such as weather.

I’ll let you decide on the verity of this post’s title.  It may prove to be another one of those myths that we keep telling ourselves, or that singers keep sending our way.  Here’s the full story.  Read it and tell me what you think.  Please.  I really would like to know.

Wednesday late afternoon.

We’ve been snowed in since Sunday.  The tracks are from our USPS postal carrier.  Sally has a good truck and lots of experience.  I was surprised when she delivered some of the components for the computer that I’m assembling.  We laughed and agreed that we’re both ready for spring.

Monday, UPS decided to not try delivering my expedited package, which held two optical drives.  On Tuesday, their tracking app showed that it was out for delivery.  It was too cold for my tractor to start.  I was not able to clear the drive.  When the delivery man (yes, it was a man) arrived, he couldn’t get his truck up our driveway.  He left his truck and walked up the hill to deliver the drives to my door. :tiphat:   A big tip of the hat to UPS for such excellent service.

Wednesday arrived with the same cold temps.  I didn’t even try to start the tractor.  I did step outside long enough to survey the situation and take the picture above.  Doesn’t look like much snow, does it?  It is not passable.  If UPS couldn’t get up, we weren’t going anywhere until it was cleared.

Then today, Thursday, temperatures rose into the upper 20s.  The tractor would start.  I went out shortly after a late breakfast and began the clearing process.  At noon, I took a break and then resumed the work.  The wind grew stronger in the afternoon, and snow filled the air.  Nevertheless.  I completed the job.

Sylvia wanted to go shopping and went out.  Road conditions and crowds in the supermarket delayed her return.  By then, there was more snow in the driveway.  She returned safely home, but not as far as the garage.

Another shot of the drive 26 hours later.

Yes, those white streaks are snow flakes racing across the scene.  If it weren’t for Sylvia’s car stuck in the snow, I’d say it was a good picture.  Under the circumstances, I’m not all that sure. :badmood:

At least for tomorrow, we should get a respite from the snow.  I’ll appreciate that while we’re out there rescuing the stranded and abandoned vehicle.

This picture was not taken today.  I posted it to bring us all hope, which is what we’ll need to get through this winter.  For it looks like it will be a winter to remember.

I’m sure our propane supplier is scrambling to find additional supplies to meet the heavy demand of this season.  Fortunately, we entered an agreement with the company that limits the price we pay this year.  😀

Snow removal has also been a problem.  I use a landscape grader blade behind the tractor for light snow.  This year I’ve had to use the front-end loader–a lot.  It takes longer, but works quite well.

Yesterday, I got stuck in a snow drift on the way to church.  I managed to work my way out and then returned home.  I might have made it through, but it was snowing heavily and there were strong winds.  That’s not exactly what I’d call a recipe for a happy ending.

More snow and wind overnight left roads impassable.  We may see a snow plow.  Perhaps as early as tomorrow?  I’m not holding my breath. :surrender:

This morning I cancelled an appointment with my primary care provider and rescheduled it for next week.  We’ll spend another day at home.  Fortunately, there’s good company (Sylvia and Nellie), plenty of propane in the tank (just refilled before this storm) and Netflix.

Meanwhile, I am in the process of building my next computer.  I only lack a couple of optical drives, which are on order.  I’ll have to see when UPS can make it to my door.