A big snowstorm hit us on Sunday, dropping 8 inches of heavy snow. It knocked down a few smaller trees on our driveway and covered our solar panels and internet satellite dish on the roof. We had to run our generator during and just after the snowfall, when we needed to, but we had no internet as it involves someone climbing out the upstairs bedroom window and walking across the porch roof to sweep off the dish. Not something you want to do when it’s snowing heavily!
Will got the old plow truck running, as it hadn’t even been started since early last spring. He took off, plowing the mile and a half driveway while I finished washing off the pints of hominy I had canned. He didn’t come back. But I figured he was just making several passes in and out from David’s driveway to the road. Finally, here he comes, walking! Oh oh. Yep, the truck had died, shoving up a bank of heavy, wet snow. And the battery was not strong enough to restart the truck. Hey, his doctor said to get more exercise, right?
We drove the car out and he jumped the battery. The plowing went fine after that. Now it’s just making paths to the chicken coop etc. He got the satellite dish swept off this morning, so I could do my blog. I got the chickens fed and watered and we’re pretty much back to normal.
It’s lucky we got the cows and horses all hayed as we knew we were about to get a storm. Now it’s supposed to get cold, with a high of below zero, with wind. You don’t even want to know the windchill temperatures. Getting in lots of firewood today, for sure! — Jackie
Gorgeous picture of your home in the snow!!! I love it!!!
You and Will are just the bestest!!!
I respect and admire you two so much. I used to think I wanted to be your next door neighbor, but I oould not hanndle that much snow!!
That’s a beautiful scene, Jackie! I can almost hear ‘”Walking in a winter wonderland” playing in the background. Your seasons change so fast. It doesn’t seem that long ago at all that y’all were rushing to bring in the last squash and pumpkins, trying to beat the first snow.
I’m glad the truck problem was just electrical and not having to haul the truck out of a deep ditch! I’m just amazed it started right up after sitting so long. Good truck! They don’t make them like that any more.
Those are pretty jars of hominy! And good eatin’ too. Some chopped onion, a little bacon grease and hominy all running around in a skillet until the onions are browned make a tasty side dish indeed. :)
Beautiful winter pictures! Much nicer looking at them from the warmth and comfort of my house instead of hiking the mile and a half driveway with snow up to your knees. The hominy looks great! I have never seen a recipe for that but I will. Our Starlink internet receiver has electric in it of course and it warms the panel. I saw a large red tailed hawk sitting out there last winter, keeping it’s feet warm, and looking pretty proud of himself.
Take care and have a Merry Christmas.
Dear Jackie,
I really enjoy hearing and seeing about your lifestyle. And I especially love the snow pictures. I grew up spending time with my grandparents on their farm. Plowing fields with mules, everything by hand & I remember having outside toilets, chamber pots, chicken coops, and a smoke house. Of course, there was no electricity, but we had a hand pump in the kitchen for water. That was classified as indoor water at the time! I think that most folks would do well without a lot of modern facilities. If you’re a teen and have a lot of chores, just to make do, I doubt you would have time being bored or robbing folks. Plus, you get a lot of self-esteem and purpose when you are working with the adults to make a home/farm. However, its all in your own perspective, when I brought my grandfather to my house in the city, he thought it was “plumb nasty” that we had a bathroom off from the kitchen. He said toilets should not be near where you cook your food.
Stay warm!
Basically, *your* “grid” was down, but you were prepared! Having grown up in SW Colorado, I miss seeing the snow in many ways. Here where I am (TX) I have seen only 1-2 “real” snows in 28 years…… Most of the time it is just an inch or so of “white snot” (that I refuse to drive in!) that makes all the store shelves get empty.
Your hominy looks so good. Is it hard to do? I’ve never tried to do it.