SNOW FLOOR AND SNOWING

Wednesday (Dec. 30), we drove to the farm as planned to clean out the fridge/freezer, winterize, get the 4-wheeler and blade, and retrieve Mike’s wallet. Unfortunately, the weather forecast had changed, bringing snow to the region earlier than anticipated. We went anyway. The Gilbert Grade was snow floor from bottom to top, but we were in the big old truck in 4-wheel drive and had no problems with the grade or the lane. As we arrived at the farm, it began to snow in earnest, which is the reason that all the photos here were taken from porches.

Straightaway, we were at work. I helped Mike heave the 4-wheeler blade into the bed of the truck and then turned to my own list for direction. I loaded the condiments into a box and the contents of the freezer into a cooler. I then packed up cereals and crackers, and other boxed products that get stale. I also took liquid soaps because they seem not to be the same once they freeze. After that, it was just a matter of packing the things left behind on the dining room table.

We finished by turning off the water and draining the pipes – always easier said than done.

“Just let me check my list,” said Mike as we walked out the door. “OH! MY WALLET!” – one of the main reasons for the trip at this time!

I guess we were at the farm about two hours, and then we started for home, this time trailering the 4-wheeler. It snowed all the way down the grade and at Hwy 12 the road was snow and slush. As we drove down the Clearwater, the snow became wetter and wetter until at Arrow, we drove out of the storm.

Today, it’s warmer – 46 degrees – and Mike is heading out for the last bike ride of 2020. He has surpassed his annual goal of 2000 miles. KW

NOT QUITE TIME TO MOVE ON

Well, we had a great Christmas, and it helps to pass the winter. People can do things like this if they want to. No use to let everything go because of hard times. -- Ina Dobson, January 1, 1933

I enjoy the week between Christmas and New Year’s as a time for quiet contemplation. I sit now in the darkness of the morning with the Christmas tree glowing in its corner. A new beginning is coming. I’m already making lists.

In real time, members of our family met at the farmhouse for a country Christmas. Yes, I know. Health authorities asked not to gather, but we did anyway. Milo, Clint, and Hallie and Nick were with us for lunch on Christmas Eve, and Ken and Ginny joined us, too. Milo, Hallie, and Nick stayed through Christmas Day. Gifts, games, and food were the order of the day. We took a lot of walks, but more on that another day.

And then they left. Hallie and Nick encountered some patchy fog on the way back to Seattle on Saturday but reported that traffic was light. Milo said the roads were slick as he traveled south on 95 Sunday morning. He said it was slow-going but not much traffic. Travel at Christmastime is worrisome.

Mike and I were up early Sunday morning to see Milo off, and then we stayed up and got to work. I had taken the ornaments off the Christmas tree Saturday evening, so Mike helped me remove the lights and dismantle the tree. It’s all put away now, and sad as it was to take it down, I kept reminding myself that I would be so glad not to have to do it in the spring. Besides, the tree in town is there for as long as I need it.

We then packed food, laundry, gifts, and last but not least, the garbage, and Mike loaded as much as we could into the Jeep for the trip to town. We were here by noon, and then it was time to unpack. As Aunt Ethel said in 1937, we had another of those awful “skimpy” affairs, which leaves us all wondering “where to put the new things, when we barely had room enough for the old!”

We didn’t winterize the house, though. We have to go back for the rest of the food and laundry – and to get Mike’s wallet. We both have to-do lists. KW

 

ANOTHER SKIMPY CHRISTMAS -- DAY 25

 

It was Christmas night. Ina sat in the rocking chair before the glowing embers of the fireplace. Everyone else was in bed, but she wanted a quiet hour to herself just to reflect on the Christmas now past.

Of course, the main event was over, but they would have a week of merrymaking, clear until New Year’s weekend. She would leave it to Shirley to decide when to take the tree down. No need to think of that now.

I just wish I could show you a picture of little Sadie as she discovered the cuddly homemade baby doll under the tree. And Jack had fashioned a rough but sturdy cradle for the doll as a surprise for Ina as well as Sadie. In order to pull it off, he had enlisted Shirley’s assistance. She was the one who, in the name of Santa Claus, had sneaked downstairs after everyone else was asleep to take the cradle from its hiding place and stage doll and cradle appealingly under the tree. It was truly a “Santa” moment.

Nothing much is lost on a child at Christmas, and Sadie guessed that Ina was the “Mrs. Claus” who made the doll, and if she was disappointed that the doll was not store bought, she didn’t let on. “Cuddles” was cuddly and fun to dress and put to bed, and she could even pretend to feed the doll with the little bottle that Santa had left in her stocking.

Before bedtime, Sadie and Cuddles had cuddled with Ina in the big rocking chair “before the blazing fire,” and Sadie had whispered a shy “thank you for Cuddles” in Ina’s ear as she began to doze in warmth and comfort. “But where did the cradle come from,” Sadie asked, and Ina simply said, “Santa brought it.” But Sadie said, “Santa Gramps.” And Santa Gramps lifted Sadie from Ina’s lap and carried her to bed.

“It was another skimpy Christmas with everyone well remembered,” thought Ina to herself. 

ANOTHER SKIMPY CHRISTMAS -- DAY 24

It seemed to Sadie this day would never come, but here it was – Christmas Eve. She was bundled into her snow suit once again and now she was trudging across the north field with Gramps to the draw where he thought they could find just THE tree for the library table in the front room. It was hard for the little legs to walk through the snow, but Sadie did it uncomplainingly, chattering all the while about Santa and how he might bring the baby doll she wanted, etc., etc., etc. Gramps didn’t say much. He didn’t need to. But he was grinning broadly.

When they arrived at the draw, Gramps led Sadie to a pretty young fir tree. He had already chosen it, but he didn’t let on. What did she think, he asked. Yes, Sadie thought that tree would be perfect. So, Gramps quickly sawed it down and they started back to the house.

Ina, Ethel, and Shirley stood at the kitchen window, watching Sadie and Jack return – Jack carrying the tree with Sadie trudging along at his side.

Back at the house, Ethel removed Sadie’s snow suit and sat her down near the stove with a cup of hot chocolate. After his coffee and cookie, Jack set the tree in the stand while Sadie watched through the window. It was just too cold for her to go out again right then. And anyway, the tree was soon in the house on the library table. Jack went back to the barn, leaving the women to fuss over the Christmas decorating.

At noon, Ina happened to look out the window to see Myrtle approaching the house with her suitcase. “Myrtle! Oh no! We forgot about about Myrtle! Don’t let on!” Fortunately, Ed had remembered that he was to pick up Myrtle at the train station on Christmas Eve, so it all worked out.

Shirley, Myrtle, and Ethel decorated the tree, allowing Sadie to hang ornaments on the lower branches. Then Shirley placed fir boughs and holly over door casings and pictures and red candles on the mantel. It all looked so nice.

And then, everything was just a blur of busy-ness, and just as the appointed hour arrived – 4:00 p.m. – Ina pronounced that everything was ready. The table was set with a grand dinner, and afterwards, Shirley and Jack made the big oak table round again, and Ina and Bertha filled it with all sorts of desserts and treats.

Then it was time to light the candles on the tree, and with the bright halfmoon shining through the window and bathing the tree in light, it was a beautiful, memorable sight. The candles were allowed to burn for ten minutes, while everyone enjoyed the peaceful scene.

The guests began to leave at 8:00 – this is the country, remember, and folks retire early. Each guest was given a box of candy and nuts and some of the pie that was left.

 

And now, it was time to get ready for Santa’s visit.