Waiting out the ice

Hi neighbors. This week surprised us with our first ice coating. It arrived in the middle of the day so no one anticipated the first step out the door might not end well.

My daughter-in-law called me to come and get her. She had fallen on the ice trying to get to her car in the parking lot. She assured me she was now on her feet again, but afraid to move. As we talked, some people came by and helped her get to her car and into it. Thank goodness for the kindness of strangers!

I doubt I could have gotten to my car myself, much less got the door of it opened and the ice cracked off enough to see out the windows.

I've said it before and will probably say it again every time it happens; I hate ice! I dislike snow but I really do hate ice. Particularly the thin and devious type that you don't really see until you're at ground level where it has placed you.

At least I no longer have to get out in it daily to go to work. I remember leaving work to find a new layer of ice on my car many times; trying to chip ice and remain erect to do it. I'm happy I don't have that problem any more.

Monday I did some heavy duty shopping and bought lots of frozen precooked foods that only need to be heated through. The cashier asked what would happen if the power went off. I told her that as long as my car was covered in ice, the trunk would make a great temporary freezer.

I admit I would feel a lot safer with one of those new generators that run on natural gas and kick on automatically when the power goes out. Although I've never been without power for more than a few hours, I figure that just means my time is getting closer when that will happen.

We should be grateful if we live in dry, warm houses with a heat source and electricity. It might look like a cozy situation in a movie; but sitting around with only candles for heat and light is not a situation I want to experience.

Although it might mean a trip out on the ice, it's always nice to put some bird food out on icy, snowy days; particularly if the bad weather lasts more than three days. When I can get to it, I have my flat tree stump I can sweep snow off of and scatter seeds on for the birds. If the squirrels are out, they will eat it all if they can; and carry away what they can't eat to save for later. I can't blame them for that.

If it's too icy, the birds aren't afraid to come on my back stoop and eat; that's a lot easier on me too, I just open the door and put the bird food on the railings.

I no longer have dogs or cats; but if you do, make sure they have a warm place to spend the frigid days and nights. Some people put heat lamps in sheds or well insulated doghouses like they do for baby chicks.

Indoor dogs and cats need sweaters on to go outside on very cold days. Cats who normally like to walk outside and are content on a leash, won't venture out when it's cold. If there is anything wet on the ground (snow, ice, rain) they don't like to walk on that; so they are content to stay inside and look out the windows.

I must be more a cat person than a dog person. My attitude toward going outside in icy, snowy or rainy weather is the same as the house cats. Nope, I'll watch all the sliding action from a safe perch inside my cozy little house. Just like the cats, I also have an indoor bathroom and no reason to leave the house.

When the weather is cold and icy, I do remember days in my life when I was younger and we went to my grandmother's house with a path. I don't know which was worse, freezing in the winter, or fighting spiders, snakes and setting hens in the summer. If all of civilization falls due to climate change, war, or any of the "end of the world" scenarios, I hope at least the modern sewer system survives!

Those of us lucky enough to have a home, think ahead and stockpile survival food and bottles of water; enough for at least a week. Be smart, be safe, and be kind.