Cold, Snow, Repeat

Here in Iowa, like most of the rest of the country, we are currently locked into a polar vortex that is producing low temperatures of double digits below zero and highs of single digits above zero, sometimes not even reaching above zero. There has been steady snow to go with the cold out here on the acreage, along with the accompanying winds that turn a couple inches of snowfall into two foot high drifts around the outbuildings and across the driveway. Both the house and shop propane tanks were filled at the end of December and are now at 50%. I worry about how often the furnace keeps kicking on, day and night, if it is wearing out. Thankfully our tractor, outfitted with a snow thrower, continues to start and keep us dug out. It is an old John Deere 420 that I encourage before trying to start it, pleading with it, “Come on old girl,” then praising it when we are done and back in the machine shed and I am brushing the snow off of it, “Good job old girl.” The dogs always come out with me, to look for bunnies in the shed when I open the door, then to run around the yard and on top of the hard packed snow drifts while I am clearing the snow. When the job is done they are ready to come back in with me, all three of us cold and snowy, looking for warmth and comfort. Today, Valentines Day, the high temperature here was -7.