Winter Prep Woes

If we were having a beer, you would be worried.

“Look at you boys, right on time today. Beer for you, what about you? Bourbon? Wine?”

“Make mine a seltzer today Cheryl.”

“Seltzer?”

              “Seltzer?”

“Yes, seltzer. I have to finish getting my garage clean; I should probably stay sober.”

“Why didn’t you call? We could have waited an hour? Oh, and yes to that beer, Cheryl.”

“I’m not sure an hour would do the trick, I have a lot left to do.”

“Do you actually think you’re going to go home from here and do any of it?”

“One Yuengling, and one seltzer. I put it in a snifter so you could pretend. Refills are on the house.”

“Thanks Cheryl, but he’s right. I’m kidding myself about cleaning that garage tonight. I’ll have a glass of Meiomi.”

“OK, but the free refills were only for the seltzer…just sayin.”

“Understood. So, how about you my young friend? Did you get your garage clean?”

“I should be ready to shove some cars in there by tomorrow night. A little late, but I also had to rearrange the shed.”

“You mean snow blower pointed out? Did you get that puppy tuned-up?”

“I did. Remember, I took it in for a tune-up in August. It’s at the door and ready to roll.”

“Yes, I remember now. The D-I-Y project where all you did was deliver and pick-up the machine.”

“Knowing your limits is half the battle.”

“Keep that in mind now that you’ve switched to wine. Here’s your Meiomi. You guys want food?”

“Well, since I’m not going to be working tonight, I think a pizza might be nice.”

“I’d be willing to split a pie with you.”

“If I’m paying, I’m ordering spinach, garlic and sliced tomatoes.”

“Then I’d be willing to have a small pie of my own – sausage, green peppers and onions.”

“Two smalls. I’ll get that order right in.”

“You know, I think if you order a separate pie, we should split the bill.”

“Yeah… I don’t think it works like that.”

“You sure?”

“Well, it doesn’t work that way when I pay.”

“OK. I just thought… Did you get your snow stakes in?”

“Yes. I put those in during the week. I wanted to make sure I had enough.”

“Did your yard grow?”

“No, but I need to mark the driveway for the plow guy.”

“I thought you did your own driveway.”

“I do, but I have a guy who does it if I’m traveling. Last year, I forgot to mark the driveway, and he left about three feet for me.”

“Then get those stakes in. Does he also do the sidewalk?”

“He does.”

“Does he do a path for Maddie?”

“No, and he doesn’t build Mt. Maddie.”

“I wouldn’t think Maddie would have approved of this guy.”

“I’m sure she doesn’t, but my wife does.”

“Happy wife, happy life.”

“Exactly!”

“Do you stake out the entire pattern, I remember it being pretty complicated.”

“I mark small plants and shrubs, anything I don’t want to hit with the blower. The pattern isn’t really complicated.”

“I seem to remember a lot of laps.”

“The paths have to wider than the snow blower. Two passes are required.”

“You could back up and move over a bit.”

“I don’t like reverse.”

“It’s not like you’re parking a truck at the mall, what’s wrong with reverse?”

“It’s slow, and it’s unproductive. I like to keep the auger engaged.”

“I would think you would be all about optimizing the pattern.”

“I’ve tweaked it over time.”

“Let’s see it again.”

“Here, but when did you become an expert in logistics?”

“I tend to see things that others often miss. For example, what about this mess?”

“Get that thing away from my phone! What is that? A pencil?”

“Yes, a pencil. Don’t say it like it’s a dirty word. Cheryl, can you hand me a napkin?”

“Sure, but the pizzas won’t be up for a few more minutes.”

“I need to illustrate something.”

“Oh, that’s funny. He’s the geekiest person in this bar, and you’re going to draw on a napkin with a pencil.”

“Cheryl, please, don’t give him the napkin. You’re enabling him.”

“I’m with him on this Dan. I have a stylus, I can’t draw on the screen.”

“Ugh…”

“Here’s your napkin. Your pizzas will be up in five minutes. You boys want another round.”

“I need another round now, Yuengling.”

“Me too Cheryl. And, I’ll take another splash of this seltzer.”

“Is it the seltzer or the snifter?”

“It’s the snifter. I like holding it, just like this pencil.”

“Message received!”

We’re expecting our first significant snow later today. The gallery includes some of the prep work to-date and, of course Maddie’s ultimate goal. Also, if you can’t find Slow Joe Crow, watch the video.

We cleared out a bunch of dead/dying lilacs. Next year, we’ll have something else here.

Everything pruned back to the point that I can get a snow blower in there.

We have a small yard, but winter prep generates a lot of brush.

The load has to be covered before hitting the road.

One of the best services our town provides is this brush dump.

We had a short strong storm that left a few leaves in interesting places.

We had a short strong storm that left a few leaves in interesting places.

He’s hard to see, but there’s a loud beak crow high in that tree.

We had a short strong storm that left a few leaves in interesting places.

Winter sunrise on the way to work.

In the summer, the garage doesn’t get any sun this early. I love the shadows.

Winter is the only time I see this sunset. The trees block it out the rest of the year.

Looks like I’n the first one here today.

There will be more decorations later, but this is a sure sign that winter is here.

I’ve used these doors before on a Thursday, but this is what you get when you’re the first person to arrive.

The clock came with the office. The important part is the temp. That’s 62°f (16.7°c) and that’s a cold Monday morning.

The tree gives a little light at the dark point of the morning routine.

I stopped at Maddie’s to pick up a sandwich for lunch, but the French Toast looked too good.

This is what we like best about Mt. Maddie, just sittin and lookin.

Sometimes it’s hard to get her off Mt. Maddie when it’s time to go inside.