Today's happy adventures
Last night, I promised ocicat that I would clear the driveway with the tractor today. So, I start on this project around 9:30am. I am mighty! It is an amusing and empowering picture to have a 9 months pregnant lady clearing her 100 yard driveway on her tractor. All went quite well, though it did take quite a long time. By the end, we had a usable driveway, and a tractor that was so nearly out of diesel that I think it was running on fumes.
I return to the house and tell ocicat that he must get me more diesel sometime in the next hour, so I can finish the tasks ahead of me for the day. He agrees with the need and adds that to his day's plan. Within the hour, narfy calls the ranch to say that he is in our town buying chains and is there anything he can bring us or help with. Oh, marvelous man! ocicat eagerly says yes!
About this time, the feed store calls to say that they will be making my feed delivery today and how do the snow conditions look. Oh good! I was getting very worried, since they were due out 2-3 days ago and the horses were very nearly out of food. I tell them that the driveway has been cleared, but there is 4-8 inches on the road between the driveway and the barn, and that could be worrisome. The manly delivery driver say that will be no problem and they'll be on their way. Yeay!!!
So, ocicat, jade_rabbit, and narfy head out to get the diesel.
The feed delivery arrives and is being unloaded when the driver stops by the house saying that he thinks he's stuck and could I help tow him with the tractor once they are done unloading. I tell him that the tractor is out of diesel, but I have folks getting more now and will be back shortly. I also mention that I don't know how much help the tractor will be, since I did a lot of slipping around while clearing the driveway, and am worried that I won't have the traction to be much help, but that I am quite willing to give it a try.
The diesel expedition returns, ocicat refuels the tractor and I drive it back to the barn. The delivery folks have no chain, neither do I, but narfy comes through yet again with a cable from his car that is up to the task. Oh man, that delivery driver has no idea of the tactics needed for snow conditions. No wonder he was having troubles. Much spinning of his tires and sliding sideways later, he gets his truck turned enough to be towed...backwards. With narfy and ocicat's help, I manage to slowly and carefully provide the traction needed to pull the truck all the way from the back of the barn to the front of the house. On the way, the truck nearly hits the barn, the gate, and a tree. Fortunately, narfy was able to give them advice as well has some mighty pushing sideways with ocicat's help to keep disaster from striking. As we say farewell to the delivery guys, I tell the to make sure when they tell the tale back at the feed store to mention that the mighty lady driving the tractor was 9 months pregnant, because that really caps of the tale. :)
ocicat has meanwhile, run back to the house and collected my purse and loaned me his gloves, in preparation for my next adventure. I have run out of my prescription pre-natal vitamins and allergy meds, and the surgery-recovering nbarnes has run out of painkillers and is hurting. So, it is off to the pharmacy...on my tractor. The roads out there are not really what I'm eager to drive out on, even with my mighty Prius, and my mighty snow driving skills. And, I want to finish filling the tractor with diesel anyway. Off I go, 9 months pregnant, on my tractor, through the snow. I am delighted.
A block or two out from the ranch, a very nice, older German lady neighbor is in front of her house trying to figure out how to get her car out of the driveway, through the wall of snow that the plow left. She waves me down and asks if I might help her with my tractor. I tell her I am delighted to assist. In our conversation, she discovers how pregnant I am and tells me to please do not help since she is worried about the baby. I laugh and share the story of my driveway and tell her it is no trouble at all. Just a few minutes later, her driveway is clear. She urges me to please wait and not drive off, she wants to run inside and get me some cookies since I have repeatedly refused her offers of monetary compensation. I happily agree. In her absence, I realize that my pregnant bladder is calling and climb down from my mighty John Deere steed and head to her door. I explain and she warmly invites me in. I get a chance to warm myself by her stove and talk just a bit and make a lovely friend. She cannot wait for me to visit once my baby comes. I make plans to stop by regularly for coffee and chatter and the opportunity to practice my German. Edith is a lovely person and will likely become a neighborly grandmother for my young one. What a lovely visit that was.
I continue onward to the store, with a care package of cookies, homemade jam, and a home knitted dish cloth. I am warmed in body and spirit, having helped a neighbor and made a new friend.
I am cheerily waved to by most of the cars that pass me on my trip. I complete my trip to gas station and pharmacy with no problems. Folks I speak to along the way are highly amused and approving of my mode of transport. I return home cold, exhilarated, and happy.
My home has power and heat. My outdoor critters are all fed and watered. I have had a much needed nap. I and my fox both have the medicines we need. My dragon is off in Seattle getting a much needed break from cabin fever. Life is good.
I really do like the snow. It can be a lot of extra work, but I love it nevertheless.
I return to the house and tell ocicat that he must get me more diesel sometime in the next hour, so I can finish the tasks ahead of me for the day. He agrees with the need and adds that to his day's plan. Within the hour, narfy calls the ranch to say that he is in our town buying chains and is there anything he can bring us or help with. Oh, marvelous man! ocicat eagerly says yes!
About this time, the feed store calls to say that they will be making my feed delivery today and how do the snow conditions look. Oh good! I was getting very worried, since they were due out 2-3 days ago and the horses were very nearly out of food. I tell them that the driveway has been cleared, but there is 4-8 inches on the road between the driveway and the barn, and that could be worrisome. The manly delivery driver say that will be no problem and they'll be on their way. Yeay!!!
So, ocicat, jade_rabbit, and narfy head out to get the diesel.
The feed delivery arrives and is being unloaded when the driver stops by the house saying that he thinks he's stuck and could I help tow him with the tractor once they are done unloading. I tell him that the tractor is out of diesel, but I have folks getting more now and will be back shortly. I also mention that I don't know how much help the tractor will be, since I did a lot of slipping around while clearing the driveway, and am worried that I won't have the traction to be much help, but that I am quite willing to give it a try.
The diesel expedition returns, ocicat refuels the tractor and I drive it back to the barn. The delivery folks have no chain, neither do I, but narfy comes through yet again with a cable from his car that is up to the task. Oh man, that delivery driver has no idea of the tactics needed for snow conditions. No wonder he was having troubles. Much spinning of his tires and sliding sideways later, he gets his truck turned enough to be towed...backwards. With narfy and ocicat's help, I manage to slowly and carefully provide the traction needed to pull the truck all the way from the back of the barn to the front of the house. On the way, the truck nearly hits the barn, the gate, and a tree. Fortunately, narfy was able to give them advice as well has some mighty pushing sideways with ocicat's help to keep disaster from striking. As we say farewell to the delivery guys, I tell the to make sure when they tell the tale back at the feed store to mention that the mighty lady driving the tractor was 9 months pregnant, because that really caps of the tale. :)
ocicat has meanwhile, run back to the house and collected my purse and loaned me his gloves, in preparation for my next adventure. I have run out of my prescription pre-natal vitamins and allergy meds, and the surgery-recovering nbarnes has run out of painkillers and is hurting. So, it is off to the pharmacy...on my tractor. The roads out there are not really what I'm eager to drive out on, even with my mighty Prius, and my mighty snow driving skills. And, I want to finish filling the tractor with diesel anyway. Off I go, 9 months pregnant, on my tractor, through the snow. I am delighted.
A block or two out from the ranch, a very nice, older German lady neighbor is in front of her house trying to figure out how to get her car out of the driveway, through the wall of snow that the plow left. She waves me down and asks if I might help her with my tractor. I tell her I am delighted to assist. In our conversation, she discovers how pregnant I am and tells me to please do not help since she is worried about the baby. I laugh and share the story of my driveway and tell her it is no trouble at all. Just a few minutes later, her driveway is clear. She urges me to please wait and not drive off, she wants to run inside and get me some cookies since I have repeatedly refused her offers of monetary compensation. I happily agree. In her absence, I realize that my pregnant bladder is calling and climb down from my mighty John Deere steed and head to her door. I explain and she warmly invites me in. I get a chance to warm myself by her stove and talk just a bit and make a lovely friend. She cannot wait for me to visit once my baby comes. I make plans to stop by regularly for coffee and chatter and the opportunity to practice my German. Edith is a lovely person and will likely become a neighborly grandmother for my young one. What a lovely visit that was.
I continue onward to the store, with a care package of cookies, homemade jam, and a home knitted dish cloth. I am warmed in body and spirit, having helped a neighbor and made a new friend.
I am cheerily waved to by most of the cars that pass me on my trip. I complete my trip to gas station and pharmacy with no problems. Folks I speak to along the way are highly amused and approving of my mode of transport. I return home cold, exhilarated, and happy.
My home has power and heat. My outdoor critters are all fed and watered. I have had a much needed nap. I and my fox both have the medicines we need. My dragon is off in Seattle getting a much needed break from cabin fever. Life is good.
I really do like the snow. It can be a lot of extra work, but I love it nevertheless.