Deep Winter Has Arrived in Idaho

Yes, Virginia there is snow in Idaho during the winter. The snow started last week and didn't really stop until today. There were no real snowstorms, just continuous light flurries that would sometimes last for hours or more. The temps have settled into a pattern of 20's during the day and single digits at night, so there is no real melting happening. This keeps the snow light and fluffy, and it crunches beneath your feet as you walk. We now have about 8 - 12 inches of the stuff, yet it is hard to tell exactly because of the influence of the wind blowing it into small drifts.

The surrounding countryside is a winter wonderland and provides a stark beauty. When it is this cold, things are not wasting any energy. You can see a small knot of black angus cattle on the far hillside, huddled for warmth. These cows have to eat and keep their internal furnaces going nonstop in order to survive. The creek is not frozen over yet and the ducks have been playing in the water. Bald eagles are frequent visitors to our pasture and are competing with the hawks for rodents. Pheasant are still all around us and visit each evening across the street from our place.

Yesterday Karren and I put new handles on the kitchen cabinets, replacing the old wooden knobs that the previous owners had installed. They were a lime green, sort of vomit color and they were bugging me badly. GONE! With the exception of five large drawers we replaced them all. We prefer these types of handles to knobs because they won't snag clothing. I got them on closeout from Home Despot. Cabinet hardware can end up costing hundreds of dollars and we were fortunate to find a great deal on these basic but serviceable handles ($8 for 10 handles).

We had Jabba the Hut install them... no, wait! That's me! Too many cookies and disease have plainly taken its toll.

After we had the new handles on we felt more compelled to clean the place. A solid week of flu had left us devoid of energy and the dishes had piled up to record heights. I think this house is beginning to look a bit better on the inside too. Can't wait until I can score a better paying gig in order to pay for some future planned work. We still have to renovate the upstairs and downstairs baths, replace the living room floor, redo the kitchen walls, cabinet doors and the lighting, and much, much more. All we need is the capital to do it.

Next time read about our continuing struggle to survive the harsh winter in, "Shooting the Yeti off the Porch" or "The Miata's in the Ditch Again!" Until then, keep your powder dry. The Zombie apocalypse is near. Thank goodness we're in Idaho, a place not very friendly to zombies (they freeze quickly since they have no internal heat source).