Back to yesterday (Friday) morning.

I was up a bit after 4:00 a.m. It had snowed and was still snowing, but the forecast was for minimal accumulation and a changeover to a rain/sleet mess. I emailed my neighbor (with the backhoe) that if he did driveways to skip mine as in addition to thinking it was going to change to rain, I had neglected to set markers along the drive for several obstacles and the drive edges – something I usually do mid-October before the ground freezes.

It kept snowing and when I went out about 8:30 to shovel, it was a bit over 6 settled inches of snow. Huh. THAT would make a horrible mess if it rained. At that time, the snow was light and powdery.

Three or more years ago when I finally gave up on my original snow thrower, I looked at a Honda 928…my DREAM machine. I just couldn’t do it then and one thing and another.

But, now. I felt like I could not keep relying on my neighbor – my driveway is 175 yards long and the turn around…wear and tear on the backhoe as well as fuel.

I looked at my bank account and I also grabbed the title to the Jeep and headed to town determined that one way or another, I was getting the snow thrower that I needed.

And I got it. I didn’t have to hock the Jeep, either. Turns out there was a Honda Equipment promo with 18 month same as cash deal going on. I qualified. The dream machine was delivered to me just after 6:00 p.m. Friday evening.

Hoo-RAH!

This morning, the dream machine and I made friends and we threw some snow. It might not look like much, but things are clear.

It also might not look this pretty for long.

The forecast continues to show warming and freezing rain and then rain and above freezing temperatures.

If that is correct, it is going to get very ugly, very soon.

RATS.

My neighbors can thank/blame me. I think it is like when you get your car washed and then it rains. I have the dream machine for snow clearing and now we will probably not get snow.

Onward.

Next up for this Saturday was the Christmas Tree!

All is ready in the living room…

Christmas Tree putting up would not be complete without a cat with his nose in the goings on!

…AND in the bringing in!

(***I didn’t know Auggie was following until I saw this photo :) ! )

All set in the stand.

Lights and snowflakes are on the tree. I stopped there. The tree is drier than I thought and I’m not sure it will go the distance until Christmas so I decided minimal decoration was best. It smells wonderful and the lights are beautiful and I am happy.

So far, Bear and Auggie have shown minimal interest, but some of that could be due to all of us being outside for quite a while and they are just tired!

I’m a little tired also.

The dream machine is heavy and although it doesn’t require me pushing it, it does require me controlling it. It is still a good workout, although I imagine it will get easier as I learn more. I spoke to the dealer after the first go and he gave me some advice about handling which I’ll try next round. But, bottomline, it is powerful, capable and it has a BIG LIGHT!!! and the tractor drive and IT IS RED :) – it matches the Jeeper and I like red!!

***It IS raining here, now. And it is warming up. Phooey!!

***AND, Margaret…after my “snow does not stick to Auggie’s fur” reply…today, in the warming snow…poor guy came in with “snowballs” in his stomach and bottom fur! It thawed, but he was walking a bit bowlegged for a little while.

I’ve owned this house since September 2006.

I’ve done a number of RV trips, but tallying up time in the RV vs time at the house…time at the house is FAR greater. And yet…I immediately am at “home” in the RV and on returning to the house…it feels so strange and it takes me awhile to feel at home – at home. I don’t get it, but it is not a new feeling and now I just go with it, knowing that eventually, the house will once again feel like home.

After a relatively balmy first day back, the forecast was correct: it got very cold, very fast and it snowed. But not much snow: less than an inch.

But, cold! 13F was today’s high.

Not enough to deter Bear and Auggie, though!

Last night, it occurred to me that Thanksgiving weekend I usually get out the Christmas decorations. Last night, the thought of moving any more stuff did not appeal at all.

But today, with the cold and the snow …I got to thinking about the Christmas stuff.

And about a Christmas Tree.

I’ve made do with my little silk tree for the last 4-5 years. Every year, I’ve said “Next year, I’m going to get back to having a real tree”.

Hee… That is the tree that Auggie had been using to get on to the garage roof and my neighbor cut it down so that I was not always having to “rescue” Auggie.

It is still green.

The TOP is beautiful.

MY CHRISTMAS TREE!!! – my real Christmas tree.

It is forecast to warm mid-week and then I will whack off the top of the downed tree and next weekend, I will put up my REAL Christmas Tree.

And we all say “YAY!!”

Okey-dokey! Meanwhile, Mel, my across the road neighbor with the chickens and fresh eggs phoned asking if I needed eggs.

YES, I said. Also, Jesse…Mel’s husband…is a tech guy and knows cameras so when I went to get the eggs, I took my lens with the cracked filter. He was able to remove it. Let me say that several men had tried to remove the filter, but he did more than just use muscle…he used brain power. He said that he could feel the point where the glass stuck and he worked with that and GOT THAT filter off! Happy, happy, happy me!!! It saved me a trip to the camera store and $$$ and I put a new UV filter on the lens and am back in normal business photography-wise.

AND, we had a fun time visiting: Mel, Jesse, their sons Hudson and Carter and Brewster their dog.

The eggs.

Back at the house: Christmas decorations.

The “Bear” Angel…it might be moved to the top of the REAL Christmas tree – we’ll see.

Table top venue…

Stockings hung by the chimney with care and a nice fire in the woodstove to keep us warm.

Settling in.