Early Morning Whiteout

7:17

8:00

Sunday Morning

It's 8:05, and I've been up since 6:30. I actually slept well, waking only once, and my cold seems to be improving. The weather is ominous—I can barely see Long Point through the haze. The temperature, however, is 14º warmer than yesterday's 7 below zero. We're expecting 10 inches of snow or more, though it hasn't started falling yet. I'm sure I'll be outside shoveling two or three times during the day, and unfortunately, it's windy, making the task even more difficult.

Saturday Morning

Yesterday I woke feeling much the same as Friday, if not slightly worse. I was awake at 5:00, up at 6:00, and had a leisurely morning with a couple of cups of coffee, reading both the Times and the Post while waiting for Evie to proofread the blog. Once she was up, we published it, and I found myself growing restless despite my cold. When I looked outside, I noticed we'd gotten three or four inches of snow overnight. Despite the sub-zero temperature, I decided to shovel. I dressed in layers, wore a mask like an ice agent, and shoveled for maybe 15 minutes. I was surprisingly warm the entire time, probably because there was no wind.

Local Ice Agent Out Shoveling

Saturday Errands and Afternoon

Saturday, of course, means going to the Transfer Station. Evie didn't want me to go at first, and I agreed, but after being outside shoveling, I decided I felt well enough. We gathered the trash, and I was off around 11:15, joining a few other hardy souls who also wanted to dispose of their refuse. Once home, I was happy to settle on the couch with my book until lunch—the rest of the chicken noodle soup and a toasted cheese sandwich with jelly. Delicious. I found a new European crime series called Darkness: Those Who Kill. I don't love it, but it's worth watching during lunch. Strangely, I have little interest anymore in watching college basketball, which I used to love. Now I find it boring, much like the NBA.

Hearty Souls

Ice Fishermen And Child

After lunch, I read for a while and then took a long nap—maybe an hour—waking up groggy and disoriented about the time of day. By 3:00, I was back on the couch reading Theo of Golden, waiting for Evie to join me. Much of the afternoon was spent watching ice fishermen walk in and out of the lake, despite the cold. We sat around until 5:00, when we had our wine. Evie had already prepped dinner—breaded pork chops. Around 6:00, she fried them, then put them in the oven with baked potatoes, and we were enjoying a feast by 6:30.

Sitting On An Orange Bucket

Saturday Evening

We were somewhat at a loss for what to watch and decided on My Lottery Dream Home with David Bromsted. We watched three episodes, and the last one was particularly interesting. David's house in Orlando was destroyed by a hurricane in 2022, and the hour-long episode focused on rebuilding and renovating his new home. It gave insight into his passion for collecting, especially glass, and his distinctive taste—a pink Tudor, if you can imagine it. The show also touched on his serious depression and drug use following the loss of his home, and his decision to seek help—a real success story. After Evie went to bed, I watched my series, Darkness, then headed upstairs early myself.