Winter weather is winning~

Where art thou?

Sorry for my lack of posting and or lack of any focus the past few days.

We were ushered in on Monday evening anywhere from 12 - 16 inches of snow. That in itself was incredible, but on top of that I was down with the fever and a nasty cough and congested head.In all my years of living on the plains, this was the first major storm that even stopped my Northern born hubby from making the daily commute.Yet after some shoveling and driving around the neighborhood that evening, plans were made and a trip route planned for the mornings commute.

On a lark, we went to the store, hunkered down and are bearing the blunt of this blow. It has been a very strange start to winter and it now looks like we may get another dusting on Sun or Monday. School is out, this city is really shut down. Many people are taking to the streets and walking to their neighborhood store or convienant store. Leaving the cars in the drive or in the garage as many drives are snow packed.

Intestingly, enough when you reside in the city and have land and livestock in the country there comes a point when you must replentish the feed supply. Though stocked up before the weather hit, yeaterday proved to be a bit sketchy for my hubby and dad. After working, it was apparent a trip to the country was in order. After several attempts at getting down one way roads where snow banks had drifted into two feet, rescuing a stalled car or two, there was a point where everything was once again fed and warm and safe from the cold.

I asked how do they all stay warm, there was a circle around the hay bales where they huddle and use the body heat to keep warm, almost no flecks of snow around the bales, but enough space to keep together and keep warm.

The daughter of a rancher, a fourth generation rancher my skills at riding and driving the tractor are limited.

I cannot imagine, as I myself was still reeling from a state of in and out, and fever or not.

 A 5 -6 hour tractor ride in minus 2 degree weather with no heat or shelter of an enclosed cab. Moving 1 ton bales of hay, one by one and what appears to be a bunch of straw is life to the livestock. A little baby was born in the storm and lying in what was left of a haystack yesterday, nestled down into the warm of the straw. When my hubby finally arrived home, after stopping by the pharmacy for me after his long and grueling day I have to ask myself, " Is there anything this man cannot do"? I don't know, but it has been (almost) 19 years of marriage coming up and stormy weather or sunshine he is there for me and always the first to lend a helping hand to someone in need.

Today, is in fact a new day, fourth day of school being out, chili is in the crock pot and the slow aroma is filling up the house. A few more days and feeding will need to be done again, these ranchers have a challenging life and a love for the land and me too! I thought this pic below was a bit fitting.....granted the state of things here!



A horse drawn wagon pulling out a government car out of a snow bank in South Dakota.