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After being snowed in for most of two weeks, I was encouraged by a brief bout of warmer weather that at least turned the snow-covered road to something more like icy slush. I had gotten my car down to the bottom of the driveway, and I had found one of my sets of car keys. I had lost my “regular” set of car keys and then my spare car key while snowed in. (No. Really. I lost BOTH.) One tends to forget about things like car keys when you can’t go anywhere. I’m sure the cats were involved as I tend to leave my keys on tabletops and they like to knock things off and throw them around until they disappear. I threatened to line all eight cats up and question them, but I could never get them together.
But, one car key found, I set off a couple of days ago TO VISIT THE WORLD. And see if it was still there. First, I had to pick up the children from the old farmhouse where they had gotten off the bus because school was finally back in session after a week’s wintry hiatus. There was no way I was going to traverse our still somewhat snow-covered road, two and a half miles over the hill and through the woods, which would be the shortest route. The 4WD on my car had decided to mysteriously give out IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER. So, instead, I forded the river (which is the long way around to the old farmhouse). First, I walked down there to look at the river because the road was still kinda icy and if the river was too high, I didn’t want to have to back up to our farm. The Ornery Angel‘s husband has a set of rocks he goes by to tell if the river is okay and he had told us about them. I could see his rocks. All right! World, here I come!
Morgan had a basketball game and I was determined to sneak out to Wal-Mart during her game, but I came home first to drop off Weston. And change my clothes because I had forgotten to PUT REAL CLOTHES ON since I had not visited the world in so long and I was wearing long johns, a t-shirt, and a sweatshirt.
Seriously.
Anyway, by the time I came back home and forded the river again, the rush of snow melt in the day’s briefly balmy 50 degrees had caused the river to rise. I forged ahead and made it across, but no sooner did I come up out of the ford than my car died. After a few seconds of panic, I managed to restart the car and get it to the driveway, where it died again. I must have gotten some water in the engine when I went back across the river. I told Morgan, “We can’t go back out for your game.” The balmy temps were predicted to quickly pass and more snow was on the way. My car was going to be all right, but I didn’t want to risk the river again. If I went back across the river and it killed my car, we’d be stuck, across an icy river, with no way to get back to our farm. And it was about to start snowing.
The drama! She was letting down her team! (It was Walton, the little town in the county, playing Spencer, the big town in the county. It was Very Important! If you’re 13 and you live in Walton and you have to DEFEND YOUR TINY TOWN.) I said, “I WAS GOING TO GO TO WAL-MART! YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY ONE IN PAIN!” In the end, we walked up the driveway and called my cousin. He agreed to come as far as he could get his (non-4WD) car down the road (which isn’t far) and take her to her game. She ran two miles in the snow to meet him.
That’s devotion to basketball if I ever saw it. (Walton won!)
The next day, the river down again, I was hopeful to try to get out–only my car was stuck. Without 4WD, it would not move from the driveway. Then yesterday, it snowed. All day. I am snowed in, stuck in, flooded in, iced in. I have heat. I have food. I have internet connection. I have water. I’m a little concerned I might run out of wine.
But don’t be worryin’. There’s a lot of vodka in that homemade vanilla and don’t think I haven’t been thinking about it.
Luckily, I like staying home and I love living on a farm.
P.S. The boys can get to school because The High School Senior has 4WD. If he cared about his mother, really cared, he’d take her to Wal-Mart, but he has a girlfriend and a job, so don’t be expecting to see him between the hours of 7 am and Never.
P.P.S. The basketball fanatic moves in with Georgia whenever she needs to so she can get to school and basketball.
P.P.P.S. I’ll try to stay out of the homemade vanilla. But I’m not making any promises.
Posted by Suzanne McMinn on February 5, 2009
4:10
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Yeah for Morgan and the team!
I’m loving your homemade vanilla. I made some back in Dec. Haven’t bought vanilla since. It’s wonderful.
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Does 52 have 4WD? He could throw on a helmet and be your night in shineing car….
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Way to Go Walton, Hurray!
7:15
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Yay, Princess!! Just think if she hadn’t made it, they might not have won!
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7:48
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For six years I’ve been trying to talk my dh into finding a place on a mountain top where I can get snowed in occasionally. I found one…just up the road. My top 5 reasons for liking it: 1) It is 5 miles from the main road to the driveway (we live ON Hwy 152 right now); 2) It is secluded, with 30 acres dropping away into ravines all around; 3) It has 20 acres of flat or nearly flat land (a total of 50+ acres with plenty of wood for the fireplace); 4) It is at the end of it’s road–just ridge from there to North Carolina!!; 5) It has great spots to put houses/barns/sheds/gardens.
My dh has 6 top reasons for disliking it: 1) It is 5 miles from the main road, at the turn up the mountian it is 15 miles from the big town (Wayne), hence too far from work (he’s a mail carrier–47 miles of snowy ridges 5 days a week); 2) The gas company has mineral rights…the gas well is capped off; 3) It has a private cemetary in the middle; 4) That 1/2 acre spot has to be available to the relatives of the residents; 5) No house/barns/sheds yet; & 6) Most important to him — I want goats to go with my flock of 8 hens and maybe a llama and a couple miniature donkeys (he thinks 8 hens, 3 cats, and a borrowed dog PLUS 3 adult children, 1 grandchild, and a couple significant ‘others’ are plenty of work already).
I may have to sneak a shot or two of that fabulous homemade vanilla into his cocoa to get him in a better negotiating frame of mind!
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9:26
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It is only so funny because we have been cooped up for two solid weeks. I feel your pain. Sadly if I *really* wanted to I could get to Wal-Mart…I did finally shovel out the driveway yesterday (!) but it is so cold outside this morning I just can’t make myself do it!!
*Hugs* Winter will soon be over!
Traci
9:30
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Do Olivia and John, Grandma and Grandpa and the seven kids live nearby?
Please forgive me…the kids and I have been pushing through several seasons of the Walton’s this winter! We love that show! LOL
9:41
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As a professional pajama wearer, I can TOTALLY relate. Yesterday, my sick-at-home son had to remind me to take off my Eeyore pj bottoms and put on jeans so we could go to the pharmacy.
Sorry you’ve been snowed in. REALLY sorry. Hope you get to Wal-Mart, soon.
10:30
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I understand your need for a Wal-Mart fix. Those of us in my office have decided we are victims of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. It may fit your situation too.
We are thinking of filing for Disability as a result of ours. But in the meantime, we’re all having to come to work anyway. Most of our area’s power has been restored, but others aren’t so fortunate.
Stay warm–Go bake something yummy and share it with the rest of us.
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I am going to Walmart this afternoon. What can I pick up for you?? Where would we be w/o Walmart?? Although I love Target as well.
I am going to buy my first Suzanne McMinn book today. I am very excited.
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We are due to get to 60 today and be 70 all weekend and it’s so sunny out!!! But, come summertime, here, I will be wishing I had YOUR weather. I hate the humidity here – it’s HORRID.
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The Waltons and Spencer’s Mountain.
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9:25
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I think I visited the town once in the last 15 years. I really need to go back, if only to go to the Robey.
Glad you like my old stomping grounds!
10:55
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I was searching the web yesterday for a bread recipe and stumbled across your website. I could not stop reading and looking around! I felt like i was there on the farm, such an amazing exsperince you have given to your readers and fellow bakers:) First of all you have an amzing farm, soemthing out of a childrens story book, very beutifull. I also grew up on the farm, in south of Namibia, southern Africa. wide open space, nooby around for miles and miles.Now we live in a city, i am the executive chef for a restaurant group called More. http://www.morecafe.biz, have a look.
I love your recipes, old style cooking. I myself is using a cookbook that use to belong to my Great Grand mother, its almost 3 times older than me!! amazing delights I still find hidden in its pages…lost treasures as always refer to them, braught back to life!! anyway i will keep on reading your blog, and congrats to your daughter for winning the game! greetings Chef Gert
5:30
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It is Friday Feb. 6th. I can not tell you how much I miss your post this morning. If I get up in the night I check for it. Love pictures of the goats and your stories about them. The recipes I’ve made several and they are always family favorites even the birds love the your suet. Thanks again for all that you do to add cheerfulness to our days.