Big Storm - Big Snow!

 It was forecast, but no one really expected to get the kind of storm that blew in!  Since it didn't arrive during the night, I think we were all lulled into thinking it wouldn't amount to much.  School was cancelled, but things were still quiet when Butch left for work.

Coming back from Council Bluffs~

By noon though, the snow had started & the wind was blowing.  Butch came home early & asked if I wanted to go to Council Bluffs for lunch & more paint.  I've been watching too many home improvement shows & decided I wanted an accent wall in the office.

Office accent walls~

Originally it was to be just one wall.  I liked it so much, we ended up doing the adjoining window wall too, which required more paint.  Our first time using Behr's matt finish.  Butch said it was too thick to roll & awful going on - but I love the finished look.  (We still have baseboard to do in this room.) 

Our weather vane pointing north~

We watched out the windows as the wind howled & snow came down non-stop.  It continued into the evening hours.  The wind blowing the snow into the windows sounded like they were being sandblasted.   With temperatures in the teens & the wind, the feels like temperature was in the single digits.

The Explorer is under there somewhere~

By this morning, the sun was out, but clouds were moving back in.  Omaha hadn't had this much snow in one day - for 45-years.  They were just shy twelve inches & I think our total was the same.  Butch had shoveled his way to the truck.  Eventually the City snow plow came by, moving all the snow off the street & piling it 3ft. high along the bottom of our driveway.  Then it froze of course.  I decided to go out & shovel...  I did a whole lot of that & hadn't made much progress as I saw a small skid steer coming up the street.  He stopped, dropped his blade & did most of our driveway!   

Driveway clear!

I was working on the strip next to the Explorer, where the wind had really drifted the snow, when I saw a little ATV Utility vehicle coming my way.  They pulled a snow blower out of the back & in no time, finished off the driveway next to the Explorer & even did the sidewalk out front!  Refusing payment - I told them I'd be more than happy to be put on their storm list & pay for the help next time.

Neighbor & his snow blower!

  By the time I came in, my toes were frozen, even through my warmest socks!  We have a chance of more snow tonight.  It's taken all day for the town to dig out, so I hope we've seen the end of the white stuff for a while!

Two-Miles on the Trail!

We were to have two more beautiful day's, before the cold & snow return.  Wednesday, I made my first visit to Silver City, since early last September.  Mari Jo & I sat in the sun by the shop, each wearing warm jackets.  The temperature was in the high 40's, but the brisk wind blowing off the snow made it feel much colder.  Mari Jo mentioned that a local volunteer keeps one side of the concrete portion of the trail plowed.  The other side is left with snow cover - for those who snowshoe or use ski's.  She had been walking her dog north from town.  Out the mile & back, for a two-mile round trip, weather permitting.

On our way north toward Mineola~

On my way home, I decided to cancel my PT appointment for Thursday.  With another day of sunshine & less wind, I put Nika in the car & drove again to Silver City.  I had no idea how far I would be able to walk, so I didn't ask Mari Jo to come along.  My goal was to make it to the end of the concrete.  A mile didn't seem like much.  My accomplishments on the Elliptical have improved from the first .25 mile.  Now, I can do two-miles in 35-min. at level one.  Nowhere near last winter's two-miles in 30 min. level five.  Patience has never been one of my virtues. 

Size discrepancy & a large knee - still~

The first  challenge was getting my tennis shoe on.  I've been wearing crocks since getting home, my foot won't fit into anything else.  Well, I jammed it in & left the laces as loose as I could.  

Nika looks north~

I was so happy to find the first of the benches!  I couldn't believe how tiring walking was!  Of course Nika wanted to pull & pull...  I'd forgotten her pinch collar.  So instead, I worked on having her walk beside me, rather than out front & corrected her each time she pulled.  I gave her slack whenever she was good.  (I told Doris Nika is the hardest horse I've ever had to train!  :-)

Our Goal!

I used each of the three benches along our way.  The mileage marker in town was 13-3/4 miles.  The last sign I saw - we were at 13-miles.  (The trail starts north in Council Bluffs, as do the mileage markers.)  By the time we reached the start of the limestone, I'd walked that mile!  

The way we'd come~

Thankfully, there was one last bench, just past the end of the concrete.  My leg was more than ready for another rest & I was already thinking about the mile walk back!

Nika enjoying the sunshine~

It was so nice to be out in the great wide-open again.  I love & have so missed the quiet of the countryside.  We spotted a muskrat crossing the trail & watched a Red-headed Woodpecker at work on a large snag.

Gorgeous day~

We sat for quite a while before heading back.  It was getting later in the afternoon.  As the sun moved further down, the temperature dropped & the wind had picked up. 

My footsteps in the limestone~

It seems unreal, how soft & slippery the trail gets.  Of course with the upcoming daytime highs of 27, it will be frozen solid again soon.

Almost back to town!

I've never fully appreciated before, just how far a mile is!  Riding a horse, or speeding along on Speedy, the miles seen to fly by.  On foot, on a very sore leg, a two-mile round-trip is a long way...  Sinking into the Explorer's comfy seat felt pretty good, at least until I had to get back out at home!  Good thing Butch wasn't there to see me gimp to the house!  

Eighteen-weeks into this recovery, the pain is still with me.  Strengthening my muscles & increasing my ROM are still my primary goals.  What's now become my good right leg (with the plate, screw & pins in the femur) has 143cm of flexibility.  My left knee is at 118.  Once my walking improves, Speedy will be on the trail next!  The long-range weather report is calling for a dryer than normal February through April.  Good for my plans to ride, not so good for the on-going drought.

January Blizzard~

 This blizzard hit like a freight train last night - winds gusting to well over 30-40+ mph & so loud it was a roar.  Our wind gauge is getting a workout.  The snow has been really fine, not even really flakes.  School was cancelled, Butch had a snow day :-)  When he went out to tackle shoveling - he said there was at least four inches on the walks.

It's a heavier, snow than we usually get too, but when the big gusts of wind hit it blows sideways.  Just more of a messy storm, the non-stop wind is getting old.  It also takes the 30° temperature feel like it's down in the teens.

Woods from the back deck~

I've gone out a couple times, but spent the afternoon in the kitchen.  Chicken & rice soup sure sounded good for our dinner!

Poor little tree frog :-(

Our poor little tree frog from Washington, is hiding from the cold!

Back Deck~

It seems no matter what - snow goes everywhere!  This one is so wet & sticky, it's too heavy for my blower.  Nika's outside, heated bed, had a puddle of water in the middle, so is drying now.  Usually, the snow doesn't blow so far in.

Nika~

As much as this particular Buhund likes the snow - today she prefers to be inside.  We'd just sat down with our latte's when she came in, looked at Butch, then over at the fireplace.  "Where's the heat?"  Butch got up & turned it on.  It's a good day to huddle indoors & pray the heat stays on!

A Winter Countryside~

 The days have been gray & foggy.  Unusual, at least for us, during the years we've been here.  Butch drove again all day yesterday.  It shortens our weekends!  Today, we went out for our usual early afternoon breakfast.  On our way back home, I asked Butch to take a road I didn't remember.

Winter Countryside~

The views are of windswept snow over harvested fields, asleep for the winter months. It's been somewhat dreary, but there's always beauty to be found.

Round Barn~

When we ended up on the road that passes this barn, I asked Butch to stop for a photo. It's one of our favorites! I'd love to know the history & year it was built.

For storing corn~

The next really beautiful old building we passed was the one above. It retains it's historic look, even if it's no longer used. Butch then mentioned another of his favorites, below.

Another beauty~

I don't think this barn is in use either, but it's well maintained & may house machinery.  

Me on the trail!

We ended up driving through Silver City.  It looked so quiet without the usual summertime hustle & bustle.  Of course who wants to leave a warm house on a day like this?  I wanted to at least visit the trail.

Walking is a wonderful thing, even if it's still work to not gimp...  115° range of motion, is considered good for functional activities.  I can peddle a stationary bike now, but can't quite make a full rotation on Speedy.  I hope, with more time on the stationary bike & the Elliptical, it will come!  I have to admit, it's been a long sixteen weeks, but forward progress is a good thing!