🎪 as we end the II month

 🎪 ' the boro. sunny but a mixed bag. unsettled. mayhaps snow / slush ????? might happen
the melt is on tho '
you can see the trickles [ floods soon ? ] on the driveway edges

and there is a load of snow to melt

🧲 well now

 🧲 closing out the month. Alison Krauss sang ' Get Me Through December '
and we can croak out ' Getting through ' ***** whatever this is '

the mixed bag is coating the ground. this is where snowflakes look like ' little balls '
temperature close to freezing, thus ?????? falls

on first appearances. cars are moving on the street. 

we shall see said the Zen Master

㊗ on the 26 the of the II month

 ㊗ a lull. that the feeling today. awaiting an unknown mess of snow, rain, damp and colder
there will be crap
good news. the run off situation around this house is good. downspouts are mostly running free and away from the foundation
however, the ground is frozen and the snow cover extensive and deeper than other years

we shall see said the Zen Master

✨ .... the ' boro reports

 ✨ ... not much
a thought. I was out chopping thru ice in the gutter [ again ]. W/ much success. The bulk of the back gutter is flowing.
to wit. water poured out of the downspout. two weeks ago, the downspout was plugged w/ ice. I dismantled the assembly and left the downspout hole open. Water flowed a bit, or more. The water barrel below got covered in a glacier
Thus, after clearing about 80 % of the gutter, I attached a short downpipe w/ angle elbow and an 20 inch extension. The water shoots out past the barrel.
the idea is that w/ a short downpipe that I can reach and maintain the structure from the deck and no ladder.
Today, maybe I can free up the last bit of the back gutter.

As well, I managed to breakup the glacier on the barrel and get that mess of ice out into the yard

So, looking at the results out there, I say in my head ' just in the nick of time ' [ as the water pours out of the downpipe ] AND then said ' what you mean is " should have done this two weeks ago "
However, the temperature is near 32 or like yesterday, 40. So much easier to work than in 8 degrees 

works report for the day. All the ice is gone from the backside gutter. And I added another 12 inches to the extension. Thus, outflow is much past the 6 ft distance from the foundation that I try to keep for the water outflow to the lawn 

🧋 and now .....

 🧋we need to monitor the melting snow. lots of it

slept til 7 AM 
coffee and typing

🏘 Out of the dome of ...

 🏘  .... cold. We emerge buried in snow. the warm air [ relatively ] is here. So, a balmy 32 F. + / - 
and the big melt will be on. As you've read, I've gone pre - emptive BUT was / will the snow transferral be enough

We shall see said the Zen Master

🈲 February 21

 🈲 or moving more snow. What is it ?

out back the snow piled up against the fireplace room window, maybe two ft high

I decided that a pre - emptive strike is to move that snow out to 6 ft from the wall. 

THEN out front.  lost 4 ft of driveway width or snow mounding. Only one choice, take the driveway back. You had to start somewhere. I opted to remove 2 ft of snow from the East side of the driveway. Thus, chucking clumps of hardened snow and snowblowing a whole lot more, I took back some 120 sq ft

more to go tho '

sunny in the ' boro, and a cold wind [ plain uncomfortable ]

 

🎇 and still cold

🎇 very cold. b/c in F the wind chill makes the feel 0 

weather more. damp ish and pregnant but nothing should happen re: precipitation

out front. I moved a small mountain of snow. the other day, I looked out and said ' boy, the snow comes right to the front window '. problem  : where will it go on melting.
answer. into the ground. however, there is a slight low spot in front of the window there. water tends to pond
well. I didn't want a mountain's worth of snow melt ponding there
call it pre - disaster relief

🐻 ' ... you're as cold as ice ...

 🐻  or we are. Yepper, another cold one [ not a beer, either ]
below 32 and feeling the prolonged 
like Steve Mc Queen, we are the ' cooler kings ' [ ref ' the Great Escape ]

the interesting result of the internet : is when I Google [ we are Google centric, for sure ],  that ' my ' problem gets 10 000 hits in a blink

well. the WhatsApp, neighbourhood watch has people discussing snow load and water problems i.e. leaks etc

not nice. but I feel like I'm not alone

🧰 is the theme

 🧰 ah, already the 18 of the month

We have cold and will have cold for days yet

I venture out today or right now. A supply run for the house

🧿 as the month marchs on { to March }

 🧿 you heard it here second
the weather guy feels [ not knows ]  that this last dump appears to be the end of major winter storms

and we are buried etc. the lawn service came and cleared our walk and drive

BUT the street is a mess.  a slight rise to the curve and that is death to some cars
guys got stuck yesterday before the big drop in temperature

AND a follow up : the downspout opening is plugged again

Managed to pry open a space but definitely some sort of longer fix is needed

🎟 waiting out the storm

 🎟 well, we are
others choose to dare the elements and the road s

we might run out of cheese and eggs
and beer.

here it is 3 AM and I am typing and wondering
why am I awake
answer : worried. all my work on the eaves-trough is backing up water in the gutters
yes. the downspout opening seemed to have plugged up
water is freezing in the gutter

the story : for two days or parts thereof, I hacked and gouged ice out of the gutter. I put down salt and attempted to produce a clear path for run off.

THEN yesterday from noon on, I watched snow build up. Next the icicles formed. Heavily, where I could not finish de - icing. And slowly the icicles moved closer to the downspout. I had meant to keep the downspout clear of ice build up. Typically, the icicles are run off from the roof, passing over the gutters [ filled w/ ice ] and hanging from the gutter

I figured, well, w/ the snow and melting and the downspout hole seemingly blocked again, that all the work from Fri and Sat was undone.

At 8:30 AM, I cleared the side deck and back deck w/ shovel and snowblower. I did notice that the water was dripping more from the downspout. Good, at least a tiny bit of hope, there.
After warming up, I thought at least try and put some salt near the downspout opening. B/c if there was any kind of path for water, keeping that opening clear was at least a beginning.
Out I went, sort of a feeble attempt to get things rolling again [ flowing I guess ]

I punched through snow and ice AND found EMPTY space beneath the snow cover w/ a thin layer of ice
YES ! the gutter was more or less open and able to move water. Some ice and snow BUT mostly clear.

Next. I borrowed [ stole ] a nylon calf length sock from M ... and filled the sucker w/ salt. I laid this salt tube over the downspout opening. Ensuring lots of salt and the salt will dissolve but the bulk of the salt stays

Not perfect but at least not a complete loss.

So, rate the weekend effort. Likely, we'd have to put the number at 7. Success. Some back tracking and retreat. There is a channel for water to move and maybe, I can keep this clear

🧊 de -icing

 🧊  .... chopping ice out of the gutters

yesterday 3 hr and today 4 hrs
WHY ?
b/c I have / had an ice dam form over the kitchen part of the eaves-trough
Picture
an ice waterfall flowing over the eaves-trough forming foot long icicles and dripping water onto the deck
NO. you don't get it
disaster city.

Solution : use electrical cables [ well. I didn't turn them on long enough or at the wrong time ]

Thus. I am a hewer of ice. In essence, the ice is locked into the gutters. You chop out pieces and try to clear the space in the gutter for water to flow
AND do not cut the cable in the eaves-trough

working in relay 20 minutes to unthaw my hands and revive - I finished w/ minutes to spare as the next snow storm begins

Yes. Snowy in the ' boro

🛶 like the canoe

 🛶 we 'dugout ' again. 
the story: couldn't sleep past 5 AM

a small portion of soup. typing
dark out there - of course

AND I have a frozen eavestrough and downspout
gonna have to chop out the ice

🐾 2 peat

 🐾  this snow load was big
apparently [ haven't been out ] the temperature was cold
lighter snow, fluffy ish

We shall see said the Zen Master

typing but no coffee yet

Got my coffee. Good that

The snow: actually, turned out quite heavy ish. Must have been damper out than I thought

I had been tinkering w/ the snowblower and got it firing. Thank goodness.

that snow was fairly deep on the wood walkway and back deck

Since Sunday which is weigh in day . I decided to adjust my eating regimen by concentrating on taking in starch as primarily potatoes and rice. AND cutting way down on sugar plus switching from crackers and potato chips to sunflower seeds. Also bread gets restricted to a ' need to " basis and not unlimited access

Results: Sunday weight 181 2

Thursday weight 179.

And no this is not a one week trial. The intent is 2 months or total grumpiness whichever comes first 

Oh. beer gets left in for morale support 

History would indicate that 176 # is doable and 174 is a reach. However, the general story is losing weight and maintaining are different beasts

Thus a solid plan looking down the road is crucial. The current idea is a stage wise approach and allowing sufficient time to adjust to each level. I feel like # 176 is a reasonable sounding place but. . ..... 

🔮a three-peat

 🔮the KC Chiefs failed to do it
BUT here in the ' boro we will
snow on the weekend, snow on Wed PM ish and another blitz on Saturday

not quite the same huh ?

 

🎣 as time goes by ....

  🎣 lost a fishing buddy
yesterday. a long illness period
a brave fight

a restful weather day. the gods are taking the day off

THEN two days of  ????  big snow and yuck

😼 coming on ....

 😼 ......   International  Day of Pulses
celebrating Legumes
I'm assuming here that ' Pulses ' is kinda like the seaweed thingy

sun is attempting an end run thru ' the cloud cover

overall, no snow would be good

decided to start a new eating regime : highlighting a little less meat
tea and rice
maybe.
less processed. meaning cut out crackers e.g. and eat sunflower seeds
or potatoes and rice

🎒 snowfall February

 🎒 winter is catching up w/ us. More snow overnight.
maybe the most this winter

coffee and typing. so, normal in here
our no service arrived at 6AM ish. did a smash up job
AND I went out and cleared the side access to the deck

this chore is to maintain access from the side door or backdoor for emergencies

sound planning is to know where yo're going - locate exits etc

🏕 good morgan

  🏕 ... the sun is trying to break thru
in the ' boro

storms later

coffee and typing

📕 an open book ....

 📕 or ......
the ' boro today. Sunny. Snow sprinkled down overnight
slightly hazy bluebird type sky

this photo shows a pre pre - assembly of a shadow box presentation

the style is ' steampunk '. the various items including the frame are largely recycled. the gear pieces [ circa left and middle ] were purchased, tho '

the actual frame etc are not fixed in place. this is sort of a trial. the circular base within is a tin lid

🌨 never rains but it ......

 🌨 snows
yes. Definitely a misquote

however, the mix produced snow
this will be the heavy stuff. quite mild.

more than an inch but not much more ..... so far

stay tuned tho '

follow up : cleared the side deck approach and back deck. Not as heavy as I suspected

there is a lull in the precipitation action

🈲 .. sing for your supper

🈲   .....and you'll get fed  Ah, yes. Mama Cass

cold again in the ' boro
the sun is out and lighting up the view 
we are in the realm of weather medley
no set trend except different each day

Wiarton Willie: Ontario

 groundhog of S Ontario.  predicted a short winter
hi success rate is 30 %
but we love a gamble

🏘 the 4 th is here

 🏘 ' boro. everything. gray / sunny. windy a bit. mainly uncomfortable.

did a verification of financials
made chicken stock

in fact. I soaked and made vermicelli for a soup.
I've never soaked vermicelli before. Figured boiling water was the normal. Soaking worked quite well.

🔖🔖🔖 fevrier

 🔖🔖🔖of the second month of  '25

yes, snow in the ' boro overnight

more to come
We shall see said the Zen Master

📻 video killed the radio store

 📻 "I heard you on the wireless back in '52

Lying awake, intently tuning in on you
If I was young, it didn't stop you coming through

and video killed the .....

in the ' boro. a warm up to near 32 [ not quite but real close ]

happenings. dull as dirt here. however, I've commented before

danger! when my life gets exciting -its not good

by the way the group was the ' Buggles ' 

back to happenings ...... 

🈲 02 / 01

 🈲 reporting from the ' boro
big sun
big cold
crisp if you like
or fricking freezing if you were on foot

follow up
our circulating pump in the dishwasher failed
new Whirlpool was ordered. Due date is now 4 days hence
AND we are becoming dishwashing experts, sadly
Very efficient. but thank goodness we can anticipate an end

this morning stepping out and looking East