More Snow, More Shoveling On A 7º Morning

6:55

I was surprised at how cold it was when I stepped outside, checked my phone, and realized it was 7º in the shade. We received another three or four inches of snow during the late afternoon and evening, enough so I will be out shoveling after breakfast. I count one fishing hut out this morning as either it's too cold for the guys or the fish are not biting. 

Like most of the housebound, our days do not change much. We do not have much choice, however, because of Covid19, with no road trips, no dining out, no visiting family, no gatherings with friends.  Still, we manage our day, looking for things to do within the bubble. Our first and best choice is always to get outside and do something, despite the cold, the weather.  Yesterday, neither of us felt much like doing anything, something that's becoming more common, unfortunately.  Evie, however, convinced me to get outside, so off we went to Long Point State Park once again.  

Skiing Long Point

We must hike, ski, or snowshoe there two or three times a week.  We love it and it's only ten minutes away.  This time we decided on a ski/snowshoeing out to the point, a flat, easy, half-hour hike.  We were surprised by the absence of anyone else on the trails as well as out on the lake.  It was like the old days when we were the only ones out enjoying the cold, the winter, and snow.  Where did all the fishing guys go?  Although we were only out for a half-hour, we were happy with our trek, having gotten in what we wanted, some exercise.  When we returned home, I shoveled the parking areas, surprised by how crunchy and heavy the snow was, a result of snow more like ice pellets than flakes.  

I had the same lunch as Monday, homemade veggie soup and a toasted ham and cheese sandwich.  I watched Balthazar, read, and napped my usual afternoon.  Afternoons seem long because we already had been to Long Point.  Evie accomplished a few things around the house but much of the afternoon was wasted, watching TV or on our devices.  At 5:00, Evie had a Zoom call with her sisters and at 6:00, I left to pick up our steak special from Steeners Irish Pub, a 15-minute drive on a snowy evening. I took my time and was home by 6:30.  Evie heated up the hand-cut fries and we had a steak dinner with fries  It tasted good to both of us and Evie especially loves the fries. We watched the rest of the film Vice, about Dick Cheney. It paints a troubling and scary picture of a power-hungry politician, whose policies based on lies have done irreparable harm to the US as well as the Middle East. We ended the night with another home improvement show, a renovation of a home in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh.