Digging Out

After a week of hearing that the weather should start warming up and instead snow continuing to fall, we decided we should start digging out. We figured with as much snow as we got, even if it did warm up it would still be awhile before the snow would be gone. The problem being, we didn't have enough diesel to run the tractor for every long. So the first problem would be to figure out a way to obtain some. Our neighbor at the bottom of the hill could take me to the guy below him to get some, but I would have to come down to the bottom of our driveway for him to pick me up. Having no other option, I accepted his offer. You might at this point take a look again at the picture in the previous post of me nearly up to by waist in snow. Around the corner from where that was taken, for the next 150 feet was snow up to my waist (after that it was only about 2 to 3 feet deep). Unfortunately it was the only way down the hill. I did make it to the bottom of the hill to be picked up by Tommy (our neighbor) and taken to his lower neighbor to get a five gallon diesel can filled. Then back up to the bottom of our driveway to drop me off. I thanked him and watched as he drove back to his house, picked up the diesel can and started off. Did I mention that our driveway is 2/3 of a mile long and rises 250ft? And that a 5 gallon can of diesel must way 40 to 50 lbs? And that it was snowing? And 24 degrees? Fun, fun! Anyway, I got the diesel back to the house, filled up the tractor, and worked for what was left of the day on the driveway. The next morning Sheila continued the work
Yes, that is the snow up to the top of the tractors back wheels

We also started to dig out the front path, switching with the tractor person when they got tired of shoveling

Eventually the path was doneAnd the driveway nearly done


The hope is to be able to get out this next day. We'll see.

More Snow

Even the electric tape didn't escape the snow.


The maple is covered in ice.


We're beginning to wonder if we'll be able to get out in time for Christmas!


The tractor is covered fairly well by snow but the handlebars sticking out of the snow on the left belong to the old push-mower.


Johnnie is ready to hike cross country for supplies.


This is officially the most snow we've seen since we were kids!

Snowed In

The snow continues to fall here, making everything look like a winter wonderland.

Even the pets get caught in it:
Although, some don't seem real excited about it:

Since we can't get out, we have been able to get the front room decorating done
I think Sheila's done a great job this year.

Time Flies

You know how it goes. You say "Hmm, I really need to update our blog. I should do that soon." and then suddenly its a year and a half later. Sigh. Anyway, this is a quick update and I hope more will follow.

We are getting ready for Christmas up on the hill, and winter seems to want to follow along:

Although, it is amazing what being just 500 feet above the valley can do:

My World

And now for the post from the favorite daughter :D
(Warning, this post consists of mostly rambling, observations, and wastes 15 minutes of your life you will never be able to get back :P)
As the youngest (AKA "The Spare") daughter, life is a little different for me here on Blackberry Hill (You know it's funny, we call our hill "Blackberry Hill" even though we spend so much time trying to fend them off...O.o). My life during the summer contains adventure, fun, friends, partys...and work. My family's passion for gardening never stops, and the number of things wrong with this house never seems to shorten. Including the number of bee's nest we have here (They're watching us....They're EVERYWHERE!!! O.O).
Sundays are the worst (In my opinion.). This is the day we do our laundry, clean our rooms, do our regular chores, take out the recycling, clean the bathroom, and anything else we feel needs doing. Yesterday was an exception though. Huh, I can hardly remember what we did yesterday...Oh! We gardened (Of course). Although everyone loves to garden, I for some reason don't share that same love. My logic: It's hard, and I don't find it that enjoyable. Did I mention it's hard? Anywho, enough about chores...
I love italics...
As much as I love summer, I love my friends more, and I'm ready to go back. Well, ok that's a lie. I'm not. Well, I'm kinda. I'm just ready to see them. Some of them I havn't seen for...well...JUNE! And to think, summer's almost over...it went by so fast...:(
I <3 my guitar. I might be getting lessons soon! That'll be fun. This has been the first time ive been excited about music lessons. I guess trumpet just really isn't my thing. I <3 music, but trumpet, I'm not so fond of. Ive also discovered my intense love for theater!! I love being on stage and acting. Ive decided that Theater is my focus. Theater, and writing. I <3 to write as well, though I'm not that good. I find I am better at writing storys than poetry, but I can never finish my storys. Im taking creative writing in hopes to improve my writing so I can love the subject more.
Anyways, back to music. Though as much as I love my band buddys and my band director, I dont think our jazz band is for me. I was having fun these few years, but now as I progress more and more, I find that this jazz path and my band director is more about playing constently, and having your focus and future career in jazz music and well, I just play for fun, as a hobby. I think after this year I am going to quit.
I was at my friends house one day (I think it was a few weeks ago...maybe it was last week..>.<) and we of course, being girls and being young, stayed up late just talking. Talking about life, talking about school, talking about friends, and talking about how cool it would be to meet Johnny Depp. :D
Some how, we got on the topic of forming a band. We got excited about getting our talented music friends to join us, I would play guitar with some vocals, and she would be mainly vocals with the occasional guitar, we would get a drummer, a pianist, and practice our butts off. We even started working on songs (we've only finished writing one so far.). We were so excited it took us forever to fall asleep.
Soon though I begin to think, "Is this for real or is this just another dream we talk about but never really take into action?". I want to make this real, but we shall see.
And Now, sadly, It is time to leave. Good night!
-.- zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Downed Trees and Good Guys

The last day of school before winter break, the storms moved through our part of the country bringing freezing rain and strong winds. At our house, that meant several large oaks battled the wind and lost the war. We nearly collided with the trees when we left the house before dawn. The trees that came down were lying in wait around a blind corner. Fortunately, we were in a spot that allowed us to turn around and head back up to the house.

My husband cranked up the toy chainsaw we had at the house and all of us traipsed down to the trees and worked over the course of several hours in bright sunshine, freezing rain, and fluffy snowflakes to remove the first tree. Then the chainsaw broke.

Can you blame it? It was like using a spoon to drain a pond.

But there we were on the wrong side of the trees, missing the last day of school and work and needing to get the kids to their mom's house so they could celebrate their holiday together.

However, country community is strong and the local tractor supply guys are also our neighbors. With one phone call, they brought us a brand new chainsaw (a man-sized chainsaw) and even cleared the tree for us on the way up to the house! They didn't even want to hassle with taking payment when they brought it up. "Just stop by the shop whenever you're in town, I can't remember how much it was..."

Not a bad ending for a cold, wet day.

Sunrise over Blackberry Hill

Lighting the Fire

It only took two years, but eventually we got around to enjoying the fireplace. Yes, yes, what were we thinking? Dunno, but, as any caveman will tell you, life is better with fire.

Jazz Band Fundraising

The bands are incredible, the student interaction is great to watch and the camaradarie is all part of the fun.

Sunset at the Beach

The sunset was fantastic on our 8th Anniversary.

Penny - Canine Junkie

Penny a.k.a. Pen-Pen is the lickiest dog ever. Afflicted by epilepsy and hyperthyroidism, she takes pills twice a day. Thankfully she thinks they're treats and can barely wait to get her meds each morning and evening. Sometimes I think she knows something we don't and prefers the medication to food.

Coronet-er

Our youngest daughter is the Bell brass section, although she's now beginning to incorporate strings!

Holidays!

Not a creature was stirring, at least until the girls got home Christmas Eve. Then all creatures were stirring, purring, panting, licking, wiggling, wagging, and giggling as carefully wrapped packages revealed surprise after surprise.

Digital cameras for the girls, a 10"x12" greenhouse for my husband and a red nano for me. Not to mention a warm fire, laughing and loving children, a proud husband, and pampered pets.