Why is it that the days I think I’m going to have all day to sit and knit . . those are the days I have hardly any knitting time?
This morning I did my cleaning chores and about noon, I sat down to start knitting.
I watch the weather like a hawk and I knew it was going to rain most every day this week. I even showed it here last night – rain all day. I don’t think I had taken my first stitch when Nicole called on her lunch break and asked how’s my weather. I said “Fine – just a little rain and it’s cold.” She said “No snow or ice?”. They were already having sleet and freezing rain and she’s about 45 minutes north of me. I looked at our weather and at that time, they were saying snow for us later tonight and I doubted there would be much snow.
Then . . it hit me. If we do get ice, I have no de-icer or way to get to the grass with Rita. I did just say no to using puppy pads in the house. Thank goodness we do keep them for when we leave Rita alone and I just picked up a package of 100 in my grocery pickup Friday. There’s no way I’m taking a chance on going out in the middle of the night, slipping and no one even knowing I’m out there.
Atwoods is a store kinda like Rural King or Tractor Supply and they’re maybe 2 or 2.5 miles from the house so I ran down there to get kitty litter to spread across the ice so I can go out with her so long as it’s not dark.
They had 10 pounds of their brand kitty litter in the plastic buckets for $9.99 and the same exact stuff in 40 pound bags for $9.99. I got the 40 pound bags.
Why is it that when there’s a storm – ice storm, snow storm, hurricane – I’ll always buy all kinds of stuff I wouldn’t normally buy?
I love Frostie Root Beer so much that I’ll never buy more than one or two. Sunflower seeds, sugary popcorn, apple butter, pickles and Frostie Root Beer. I’m ready for whatever Mother Nature has for us (not really but I’m trying to sound brave).
When I got back from Atwoods, I looked at the weather again to see for sure what time it was going to get bad. The snow is now gone and we have this:
We have freezing rain pretty much through 5 a.m. and about 10 p.m., the temps drop to below freezing. There are so many puddles on the roads right now. That’s all going to freeze and become black ice. There’s nothing good about ice and I pray it doesn’t do what they say it’s going to do and everyone stays safe.
There’s a hill right beside our house and we’ve been told it freezes so I’m betting there’ll be some interesting activity out there tonight.
Don’t forget we won’t have internet or cell phone service if the power is out (because my cell phone only works in the house on wifi). I will not go outside if it’s icy so no one should worry about me if there are no blog posts for a few days. . it will only be because the power is out, which I hope won’t happen.
Dottie Newkirk says
Fingers crossed that it’s not too bad there…..We had sleet this morning and temperatures are not expected above freezing until Thursday a.m. Snow/freezing rain and more sleet expected tonight-tomorrow. Right now temperature is sitting at a “balmy” 23 degrees (Texas panhandle).
Judy Laquidara says
Is this unusually cold for October for y’all?
Dottie Newkirk says
Yes!! Getting ready for round 2 (which is the sleet/freezing rain/snow). I have knitting, quilts to bind, quilt to quilt next to me so I can stay warm and accomplish something too. Made potato soup earlier so we can just stay in and stay warm and hope the ice doesn’t bring down power lines/trees.
Judy Laquidara says
Same here. I’ll be fine so long as the power stays on. I’ll be fine eve i it doesn’t but I’ll be a lot more comfortable if the power stays on. Hope it doesn’t get too bad or y’all. Staying and staying warm sounds good.
Paula Nordt says
Still a balmy 78 here in Needville, Texas. Front suppose to come through tomorrow evening. Just hoping it brings some much needed rain. Stay safe and warm!
Teri says
Stay safe and warm. Hope the power stays on.
Judy Laquidara says
I hope so too. So far, so good. I haven’t actually seen any ice at all yet.
Liz says
OKC here – it was spitting rain, then getting colder, and then I heard a slow swoosh coming from the front yard – a BIG branch came down. It’s too big for me to work on since I am wondering about other branches. My lawn guy usually comes on Tuesday, so I might be lucky with getting it taken care of, but I have a few days to take care of it. I hope that nothing else goes down. More rain/sleet is on the forecast.
The issue around here is that many of the trees still have the leaves on the branches, so it is dangerous. My electric service has been flicking on and off. I am cooking up a stew, just in case. And the thermoses will be filled up, just in case there is a downtime during the night.
Judy Laquidara says
Yes, from looking at the weather, it looks like y’all may be in trouble. Good luck — check in when you can.
Do you have a backpack type stove? That’s what I’ll plan on using if our power goes out before I get my gas stove.
Nelle Coursey says
Just thank God you are in a house that has heat! We have not had heat for nearly 2 weeks! Waiting on parts, then they tell me it can’t be fixed and we have to get a new one. That was Friday, called them today and they said no one had told them the emergency and that we have no other heat source! I did go to Weakley Watson and got a ceramic tower that does a great job for the kitchen, dining room and living room. We have a small one for upstairs and we have electric blankets. But it is going to be almost freezing here tonight and maybe tomorrow night! Don’t have a clue when they will get it installed. We should have good weather after tomorrow though. Should not be any snow or ice here, but who knows!!
Judy Laquidara says
Goodness, Nelle, that’s awful. I hope you get the new heater in soon and it doesn’t get too cold til it’s fixed.
Susan says
It sounds like you are going to have lots more experience now with cold and icy conditions than you did in Texas. Not new for you, but I know you’ll be careful.
Judy Laquidara says
In Kentucky Vince worked and Chad had to go to school. In MO the first time, Vince worked; Chad was in college about an hour away and had to come back on weekends for his job. At least now, Vince and I can stay home when the weather is bad. Knowing we don’t HAVE to go out gives me peace of mind.
JustGail says
DH has been using chicken grit on ice the last couple of years. I’m not sure how it compares price-wise to kitty litter. But it has no clay to turn to slippery mud, no clumping or fragrance chemicals like some cat litters have, and no salt. Bonus is the birds can use it when the gravel driveway is too iced/snowed over to find grit from there.
Judy Laquidara says
Thanks. I’ll check into that once I use up the 80 pounds of kitty litter. 🙂