Brrrrr!!

As I write this on Saturday, December 7th (Pearl Harbor Day) it is snowing gently outside and the temperature is a whopping 9 degrees above zero. Like much of the country we have had an interesting weather week, setting several cold-for-the-date records, all well below zero, and snow-for-the-date records with parts of Garfield County receiving upwards of 18 inches of snow. We didn’t get that much, more in the 8 – 10 inch range, but with the wind we had more snow drifts on the decks than we can remember for a single event.

Snow cap above window

The starter on my Gilson tractor died, forcing me to get out the Toro snowblower (which had not been run for several years). After cleaning the carburetor  and some coaxing the blower came to life and I used it to finish clearing the driveway and sidewalks. Since it had been warm when the snow started, a layer of slush had been created on the paved surfaces. This layer gave the blower grief. It took me a while to get everything done and I quickly ordered a new starter in hopes it gets here before the next big storm. The tractor is far more useful and gets the job done quicker than using the blower.

Following the snow it got really cold, record-setting cold. I thought we had left most of this behind when we left Wisconsin. Due to an inversion that is keeping the cold air trapped in valleys, the period of unusual cold is lasting far longer than normal for this time of year. The extended forecast included below-zero temps for several of the next 7 days. While we got to -9 degrees parts of western Colorado dropped into the double-digit below zero range.

One side effect of the snow is the roads are lousy. It took me an extra 40 minutes to get home last night as an accident in West Glenwood Canyon virtually shut down the interstate for a time. There is a lack of alternate routes so not much one can do except keep the heater running and wait. I always keep the gas tank above half-full just for events like this.  (Pam works from home on Fridays so was not in the car.)

This weekend, a second storm is expected to drop from 2 – 5 inches of fresh power snow on us. Bright side is we may climb to near 20 degrees for daytime highs! I’ll be out to do the weekly shopping and get fuel. Pam is packing the last box of Christmas goodies (if it fits, it ships) and hopes to get it mailed today. Then there are the every-day chores to be done, but it’s not a weekend for any major activities. I’ll be out shoveling snow from time to time. ‘Tis the season….

Pam working on the last box to ship

Reminder: You can view our 2013 Christmas card at  Christmas Cottage.

That’s it for now. Thanks for looking in!

Pam’s Two Cents Worth:

There seems to be no joy to living in the high desert.  The scenery is sparse, the summers are desiccating, and the winters (lately) are frigid and windy.  One begins to think that, except for the lower oxygen level, life would be more scenic and winters not much worse at 9,000 feet.  One positive – this dumpy town actually looks cleaner under a blanket of snow, although it would take more than snow to actually improve De Beque.

Jer was really steamin’ when the Gilson [snow] tractor broke down.  That poor machine is 1970s vintage, maybe it will soon be time to let it go to wherever machines have their eternal rest.  (The junk yard?)

Happy Trails.