It looks like CT (Mary McH) and our area NW of NYC are
going to get hit hardest. 24" and severe drifting for this area.

Horses are in already. We're stocked up on gas and fuel
oil. Still need to make a hay and straw run.

Today, a pigeon in the barn (it's the first one I've ever seen in
our barn) kept trying to follow us around as we mucked and
fiddled with the tractor. It even tried to follow me into the
house. I gave it a little cracked corn in the barn. Poor thing.
It really wants to come inside. I think it's someone's pet that
got off track somehow. If it seems to be suffering out in the
barn I guess I'll bring it in. It's so tame, it doesn't stand a
chance against our neighbor's killer cat. :-\

Ruth CM

From:	Ruth Baltopoulos
Subject:	Re: Blizzard anyone?
Date:	Sat, 22 Jan 2005 12:02:01 -0500

RPM1 wrote:

> It looks like CT (Mary McH) and our area NW of NYC are
> going to get hit hardest. 24" and severe drifting for
> this area.
[...]

We are having dire predictions for the Boston area as well. I am keeping my
ear to the weatherground (not that they are usually correct at all, but it
is my only recourse), as my girls are planning to head to Lowell this
evening for a Brad Paisley/Sarah Evans concert. They have had tickets for
months and have no intention of missing it, so they say. 'Twill be
interesting to watch their reaction when I remove all available sets of keys
from their grasping hands if the weather pans out to be what they say it
might...
--
Ruth B

From:	Eileen Morgan
Subject:	Re: Blizzard anyone?
Date:	Sun, 23 Jan 2005 01:47:58 GMT

Well, it started snowing this morning and has kept it up all day; I
left the girls out, Moonlight with her snow suit on and Belles and
Dolly naked as usual.

My wood guy cancelled bringing my wood for the THIRD time, so I was
tweaking a bit since I am totally out of wood. I keep the house at 55
and use my kero and woodstove for 'comfort heat.' I am currently
wearing three layers while I type. :-( I did find someone who would
let me raid their woodpile, but I only took enough to get me through a
day of power being out. I'm good so far but my power tends to go off
at the threat of a storm, much less a real one.

We have had a lot of snow but it has not been windy; tonight the wind
is supposed to really pick up, with the threat of blizzard conditions
since the snow on the ground is really light weight. I went ahead and
tucked the girls into the barn for the night. No one was cold, but, if
it isn't going to be horrible until 1-3am, I don't want to come out
and find maresicles in the morning.

I decided to crank up the woodstove and get the house toasty before
bedtime, in case I lose power in the middle of the night. When you
keep the house at 55 and lose your heat, it pluments pretty darn fast.
This way at least I'll have raised my baseline some, and I've got
enough to burn tonight and again some tomorrow if I need to.

Stay warm, all!
Eileen Morgan
The Mare's Nest

From:	Nancy DeMarco
Subject:	Re: Blizzard anyone?
Date:	Sun, 23 Jan 2005 03:07:22 GMT

Hey! There's a lot of snow out there! :) Beautiful fluffy powder
almost to my knees! This is gonna be wonderful riding! Woo hoo!! :)

Nancy DeMarco
Mason, NH

From:	JJ
Subject:	Re: Blizzard anyone?
Date:	Sun, 23 Jan 2005 14:08:21 GMT

Hi Eileen,
"Eileen Morgan" wrote in message
news:f806v050jcv7f19lo4btbadsrtad33gnei@4ax.com...
> Well, it started snowing this morning and has kept it up all day; I
> left the girls out, Moonlight with her snow suit on and Belles and
> Dolly naked as usual.
>
> My wood guy cancelled bringing my wood for the THIRD time, so I was
> tweaking a bit since I am totally out of wood. I keep the house at 55
> and use my kero and woodstove for 'comfort heat.' I am currently
> wearing three layers while I type. :-( I did find someone who would
> let me raid their woodpile, but I only took enough to get me through a
> day of power being out. I'm good so far but my power tends to go off
> at the threat of a storm, much less a real one.

I hope you give that guy a piece of your mind when he finally DOES deliver
your wood! What does he expect his customers to do? Sorry to hear that.

I hope your power holds out! JJ

>
> We have had a lot of snow but it has not been windy; tonight the wind
> is supposed to really pick up, with the threat of blizzard conditions
> since the snow on the ground is really light weight. I went ahead and
> tucked the girls into the barn for the night. No one was cold, but, if
> it isn't going to be horrible until 1-3am, I don't want to come out
> and find maresicles in the morning.
>
> I decided to crank up the woodstove and get the house toasty before
> bedtime, in case I lose power in the middle of the night. When you
> keep the house at 55 and lose your heat, it pluments pretty darn fast.
> This way at least I'll have raised my baseline some, and I've got
> enough to burn tonight and again some tomorrow if I need to.
>
> Stay warm, all!
> Eileen Morgan
> The Mare's Nest

From:	Eileen Morgan
Subject:	Re: Blizzard anyone?
Date:	Sun, 23 Jan 2005 15:37:26 GMT

On Sun, 23 Jan 2005 14:08:21 GMT, "JJ"
wrote:

>I hope you give that guy a piece of your mind when he finally DOES deliver
>your wood! What does he expect his customers to do? Sorry to hear that.

Well . . . I can't really blame him. It's been stuff out of his
control; truck broke down, emergency, and the weather coming in (those
trucks are NOT good in snow, so I don't blame him for not being able
to make it Saturday). I'm a first time customer, so it isn't like we
have a standing relationship yet, LOL.

This is the first year I've routinely bought wood--I split and burned
a couple of cords a year from the trunks and downed trees the prior
owners left here (the guy had a landscaping business and would haul
things home from the job and throw it in the fields). That lasted six
winters, can you believe it! (didn't burn much the first year, and
this year, my 8th here, I'm buying). The first guy I bought from was a
go and get it yourself thing, and that was fine but I was sort of
annoyed 'cause the dude sat there drinking coffee and watching me load
my whole pickup. Like I was entertainment or something. So I don't
want to go there! Another dude has wood I can go and pick up, but
we've had schedule conflicts (he would help me load, too, and is
closer than Dude A). Now Dude C delivers and it is only 20 bucks more
than me going and getting it and loading and unloading the whole thing
myself. I'm willing to put up with a little for that! I'm still
figuring out how fast I am burning wood, so my timing will get better.
I found one guy who will bring wood out here really cheaply if I buy a
bunch in the spring and stack it to season here, so I'm gonna get set
up with a couple of cords that way for next year.

>I hope your power holds out!
It has so far, miracle of miracles.

Take care, stay warm!
Eileen Morgan
The Mare's Nest

From:	CMNewell
Subject:	Re: Blizzard anyone?
Date:	Sat, 22 Jan 2005 09:57:21 -0500

On Sat, 22 Jan 2005 09:23:48 -0500, "RPM1"
wrote:

>It looks like CT (Mary McH) and our area NW of NYC are
>going to get hit hardest. 24" and severe drifting for this area.
>
>Horses are in already. We're stocked up on gas and fuel
>oil. Still need to make a hay and straw run.
>
>Today, a pigeon in the barn (it's the first one I've ever seen in
>our barn) kept trying to follow us around as we mucked and
>fiddled with the tractor. It even tried to follow me into the
>house. I gave it a little cracked corn in the barn. Poor thing.
>It really wants to come inside. I think it's someone's pet that
>got off track somehow. If it seems to be suffering out in the
>barn I guess I'll bring it in. It's so tame, it doesn't stand a
>chance against our neighbor's killer cat. :-\

Check and see if it's banded--you may be able to track down the owner.

>
>Ruth CM
>
>
>

CMNewell, DVM

"Do you realize that
world peace could be achieved with Basset Hounds?"
--Terry von Gease

From:	CM 2
Subject:	Re: Blizzard anyone?
Date:	Sat, 22 Jan 2005 11:22:17 -0500

Well Ruth, looks like you're going to get what we didn't! Wednesday we
were supposed to get a light dusting up to an inch, we got six inches.
Last night we were supposed to be buried alive and nothing happened.
Stay warm and dry!

Candy

From:	wkambic at vic.com
Subject:	Re: Blizzard anyone?
Date:	Sat, 22 Jan 2005 12:05:46 -0500

On Sat, 22 Jan 2005 11:22:17 -0500, cmsquared2@webtv.net (CM 2) wrote:

>Well Ruth, looks like you're going to get what we didn't! Wednesday we
>were supposed to get a light dusting up to an inch, we got six inches.
>Last night we were supposed to be buried alive and nothing happened.
>Stay warm and dry!

I learned long ago that "forecast" = "prognostication" = "SWAG" (as
opposed to "WAG").

In any event, we are hunkered down for the dusting we expect for
tonight.

Bill Kambic

P.S. "WAG" means "wild ass guess." "SWAG" means "scientific wild ass
guess." ;-)

From:	Mary McHugh
Subject:	Re: Blizzard anyone?
Date:	Sat, 22 Jan 2005 14:35:47 -0500

RPM1 wrote:
> It looks like CT (Mary McH) and our area NW of NYC are
> going to get hit hardest. 24" and severe drifting for this area.
>
> Horses are in already. We're stocked up on gas and fuel
> oil. Still need to make a hay and straw run.

Yup. I just got in from all the errands -- we've already got 2" and it
just started.

I worked until 10pm last night and wasn't in any mood to get my
groceries. We just wanted some fun stuff (nachos, baking goods)for
tonight and we always need milk. I had to go shop for US early this am
and I just got back from shopping for my mom.

So, here I sit having survived TWO shopping trips in one kooky day. If
we weren't having a code release deadline on Monday, I would have just
done both shopping trips yesterday or even Thursday.

Now I have to go out and stuff the ponies in the barn. It's the first
time this winter that I'm putting them in. Tomorrow, they'll LOVE to go
out and roll around in the snow after being cooped up all afternoon and
night. No need to stock up for them, they've got 3 tons of hay in the
3rd stall and I'm good on grain.

It's a real classic nor'easter we're brewing here. Time for comfort
food and plenty of libation!!! :-)

Mary

From:	RPM1
Subject:	Re: Blizzard anyone?
Date:	Sat, 22 Jan 2005 15:16:07 -0500

"Mary McHugh"
> It's a real classic nor'easter we're brewing here. Time for comfort
> food and plenty of libation!!! :-)

Severe weather is when I get some of my best cooking
done. I actually like when Ma' Nature puts the skids on
the day to day, frantic multi-tasking life we live.

Right now a giant pot of chili is simmering. Tomorrow,
chicken soup. After that, the freezer will be full. I bet I
can find a bottle of Jamesons here somewhere for purely
medicinal purposes, of course. ;-)

Jigsaw puzzles are a traditional snow storm activity here when
we're not plowing, shoveling or hauling hot water to the barn
for the horses.

I'm not sure when the horses will go back out. The snow should
stop tomorrow afternoon but the wind and the drifting is going to
be significant. We'll play it by ear. They're bedded deep in straw
with steamy buckets of water while soft, fragrant hay overflows the
mangers. Mouse actually isn't too cheesed off at the four walls.
Amazing.

So far so good.

Ruth CM

From:	Nancy DeMarco
Subject:	Re: Blizzard anyone?
Date:	Sat, 22 Jan 2005 21:07:11 GMT

"RPM1" wrote:

>Right now a giant pot of chili is simmering. Tomorrow,
>chicken soup. After that, the freezer will be full. I bet I
>can find a bottle of Jamesons here somewhere for purely
>medicinal purposes, of course. ;-)

We have lotsa fish for chowder and some beef stew in the crock pot.
But now you have me salivating for chili. I might have to go back out
to Hannaford and wait for a parking space to open up. Thanksalot.

>Jigsaw puzzles are a traditional snow storm activity here when
>we're not plowing, shoveling or hauling hot water to the barn
>for the horses.

The 50-gallon tank is full and steaming, and they just had a couple
gallons each of alfalfa water. Well, OK - Lucy drank 3 and Timbre
drank 1.

The chickens just got a huge blueberry pancake along with crushed egg
shells, corn and layer pellets. And they have a big steaming bucket
of water. I can't believe they keep laying in this weather. They're
real troopers. :)

>I'm not sure when the horses will go back out. The snow should
>stop tomorrow afternoon but the wind and the drifting is going to
>be significant. We'll play it by ear. They're bedded deep in straw
>with steamy buckets of water while soft, fragrant hay overflows the
>mangers. Mouse actually isn't too cheesed off at the four walls.
>Amazing.

Mine are still out - just a few flakes falling so far, and we aren't
in line for probably more than a foot. We'll see. The barn is bedded
deep with piles of hay in the corners of the stalls. They can push
through the tattered hanging quilt and go in whenever they decide it's
time.

Last year, Lucy would just *not* stay in the barn unless I shut her
in. This year, she has decided it's home. She's been in as often as
out these days.

We just picked up an oil-filled radiator at Home depot. The kitchen
has been 46 degrees most of the day. The new heater already has us
above 50. :)

Nancy DeMarco
Mason, NH

From:	RPM1
Subject:	Re: Blizzard anyone?
Date:	Sat, 22 Jan 2005 16:48:27 -0500

"Nancy DeMarco"
> We just picked up an oil-filled radiator at Home depot. The kitchen
> has been 46 degrees most of the day. The new heater already has us
> above 50. :)

I run around putting on scarves and sweaters
if it gets much below 73 in here.

Ruth CM

From:	Mary McHugh
Subject:	Re: Blizzard anyone?
Date:	Sat, 22 Jan 2005 16:59:16 -0500

RPM1 wrote:
> "Nancy DeMarco"
>
>>We just picked up an oil-filled radiator at Home depot. The kitchen
>>has been 46 degrees most of the day. The new heater already has us
>>above 50. :)
>
>
> I run around putting on scarves and sweaters
> if it gets much below 73 in here.
>
> Ruth CM

Ha! You'd fit RIGHT in here. In this room it's 69 and I'm so cold I'm
wearing a sweatshirt. :-D

If it were 50 degrees in this house, I'd be hibernating.

Now, I have to get to ordering my Capresso frothing machine, thanks to a
heads-up from Ruth W.

Mary

From:	Nancy DeMarco
Subject:	Re: Blizzard anyone?
Date:	Sun, 23 Jan 2005 00:14:26 GMT

Ruth:
>> I run around putting on scarves and sweaters
>> if it gets much below 73 in here.

Mary:
>Ha! You'd fit RIGHT in here. In this room it's 69 and I'm so cold I'm
>wearing a sweatshirt. :-D
>
>If it were 50 degrees in this house, I'd be hibernating.

I'll see your sweatshirt and raise you a snowsuit. :)

Seriously, I've been wearing my snowsuit all day, with a coat over it.
Ugh boots too. It makes housework next to impossible, but I've been
catching up on some reading. Most of the house is 60ish, but the
kitchen - no way, not even with the space heater.

Anyone out there have any hints on warming it up (the kitchen, that
is)? :) It's mostly on a slab, partly over the basement. On one side
it has a big 60-paned 67" X 52" window - single thickness (charming,
but drafty), and on the other side an even bigger bay window. And a
double door to the outside and a single one to the garage. The floor
is ceramic tile. It has two oil-fired FHW baseboard heating units -
one just under the big window, the other just under the bay window. :)

I just bought strapping - figured I'd sorta frame the big window with
a quasi-force fit so I don't have to damage the pretty paneling, and
staple plastic over it. Other than that, I'm clueless.

Nancy DeMarco
Mason, NH

From:	Dana Compton
Subject:	Re: Blizzard anyone?
Date:	23 Jan 2005 21:46:32 GMT

>Anyone out there have any hints on warming it up (the kitchen, that
>is)? :) It's mostly on a slab, partly over the basement. On one side
>it has a big 60-paned 67" X 52" window - single thickness (charming,
>but drafty), and on the other side an even bigger bay window. And a
>double door to the outside and a single one to the garage. The floor
>is ceramic tile. It has two oil-fired FHW baseboard heating units -
>one just under the big window, the other just under the bay window. :)
>
>I just bought strapping - figured I'd sorta frame the big window with
>a quasi-force fit so I don't have to damage the pretty paneling, and
>staple plastic over it. Other than that, I'm clueless.
>
>Nancy DeMarco
>Mason, NH

I would suggest one/two of the small electric heater blower units. they plug
into any outlet, shut off if tipped over and do a pretty good job. I would buy
2 and use as needed. They only last a season or 2 with heavy use.
When my Mom retired we built her a little house 12x24. That was all she had for
heat but it stayed cozy with 3 of those heaters (2 normally did the job), even
with a huge single pane siling glass door . The house was not overly insulated
as we are in the south. but even in the teens it was warm in there when she
used the 3rd heater. She added about 35 dollard a month to our electric bill so
they weren't that expensive to run, and she is cold blooded like most older
people. So might give them a try. Much better than the radiator types.

Dana

Azthor - 8 year old Saddlebred gelding
Juan's Magic- 17 year old Thoroughbred gelding

The Urantia Book a Logical/Scientific Christian Book
www.urantia.com

From:	Nancy DeMarco
Subject:	Re: Blizzard anyone?
Date:	Sun, 23 Jan 2005 22:25:12 GMT

spellboundacre@aol.comNOSPAM (Dana Compton) wrote:

>I would suggest one/two of the small electric heater blower units. they plug
>into any outlet, shut off if tipped over and do a pretty good job. I would buy
>2 and use as needed. They only last a season or 2 with heavy use.
>When my Mom retired we built her a little house 12x24. That was all she had for
>heat but it stayed cozy with 3 of those heaters (2 normally did the job), even
>with a huge single pane siling glass door . The house was not overly insulated
>as we are in the south. but even in the teens it was warm in there when she
>used the 3rd heater. She added about 35 dollard a month to our electric bill so
>they weren't that expensive to run, and she is cold blooded like most older
>people. So might give them a try. Much better than the radiator types.

I actually have one of those in my massage room, and it does a great
job. But electricity is frightfully expensive here, so I use it very
sparingly. I turn it on 10 minutes before a client is due to arrive
and shut it off partway through the session.

The radiator doesn't do nearly as good a job for fast heat, but it
uses little enough electricity that I can leave it on for extended
periods.

Maybe I should be looking at propane. Where's Hank Hill when you need
him? :)

Nancy DeMarco
Mason, NH

From:	Mary McHugh
Subject:	Re: Blizzard anyone?
Date:	Sat, 22 Jan 2005 20:24:35 -0500

Nancy DeMarco wrote:
> Ruth:
>
>>>I run around putting on scarves and sweaters
>>>if it gets much below 73 in here.
>>
>
> Mary:
>
>>Ha! You'd fit RIGHT in here. In this room it's 69 and I'm so cold I'm
>>wearing a sweatshirt. :-D
>>
>>If it were 50 degrees in this house, I'd be hibernating.
>
>
> I'll see your sweatshirt and raise you a snowsuit. :)

See? That's what I don't like about winter. I hate feeling like the
Michelin man when I go outside. Or like Randy the little brother in A
Christmas Story.

> Anyone out there have any hints on warming it up (the kitchen, that
> is)? :) It's mostly on a slab, partly over the basement. On one side
> it has a big 60-paned 67" X 52" window - single thickness (charming,
> but drafty), and on the other side an even bigger bay window. And a
> double door to the outside and a single one to the garage. The floor
> is ceramic tile. It has two oil-fired FHW baseboard heating units -
> one just under the big window, the other just under the bay window. :)

Well, depends on how fast and how much ($$, that is). =:-o

If it were me and I had the $$, I'd look into radiant flooring.

Your windows are probably old like ours and a huge heat loss. We got
replacement storms from Home Cheapo that were inexpensive and they fit
over our single paned double-hungs and that has helped us a lot with
keeping this house warm but I don't know about your 60 panes. We have a
bow window with 21 12" panes and we lose a ton of heat thru there. I
was going to get the plastic shrink wrap kit for them but ran out of time.

Do you have room for a nice wood stove? That would heat it up without
too much re-configuration and remodeling.

Wilbur was NOT TOO HAPPY about me locking him in the barn. I hope he
and the barn are in one piece tomorrow morning. Khan, OTOH, just wanted
to know where the hay was.

Mary

From:	Nancy DeMarco
Subject:	Re: Blizzard anyone?
Date:	Sun, 23 Jan 2005 02:11:55 GMT

Mary McHugh wrote:

>See? That's what I don't like about winter. I hate feeling like the
>Michelin man when I go outside. Or like Randy the little brother in A
>Christmas Story.

Outside? Who said anything about outside? :)

Hey! Thanks for the movie suggestion. I was just thinking it's about
time to get under the electric blanket (without the snow suit) and
slap in a DVD.

>Well, depends on how fast and how much ($$, that is). =:-o
>If it were me and I had the $$, I'd look into radiant flooring.

Maybe in a few years. :) For now, perhaps a scatter rug fresh from
the dryer.

>Your windows are probably old like ours and a huge heat loss. We got
>replacement storms from Home Cheapo that were inexpensive and they fit
>over our single paned double-hungs and that has helped us a lot with
>keeping this house warm but I don't know about your 60 panes. We have a
>bow window with 21 12" panes and we lose a ton of heat thru there. I
>was going to get the plastic shrink wrap kit for them but ran out of time.

I just didn't want to gum up or nail into the pretty wood. So I'll
jam strapping in there and staple to that. Should help (I hope). If
I did the same to the bow window, I'd have to relocate about a dozen
house plants. Want an aloe the size of a beagle?

>Do you have room for a nice wood stove? That would heat it up without
>too much re-configuration and remodeling.

I was thinking of that. There is a space that could work, currently
occupied by the hubby's gun rack. It would sure help motivate me to
keep the deadfall cleaned up. :) But then I think about hubby's
asthma, and wonder if the back puffing might trigger an attack.

>Wilbur was NOT TOO HAPPY about me locking him in the barn. I hope he
>and the barn are in one piece tomorrow morning. Khan, OTOH, just wanted
>to know where the hay was.

I'm about to take more warm alfalfa water out to them. I assume
they've put themselves in by now, and it's a long, snowy walk from the
barn to the stock tank. They're probably waiting for maid service.

Hard to know what to put on for outside when you're already wearing a
snowsuit. :)

Nancy DeMarco
Mason, NH

From:	Priscilla Dance
Subject:	Re: Blizzard anyone?
Date:	Sat, 22 Jan 2005 23:15:31 -0700

Nancy DeMarco wrote:

snip
>
> I was thinking of that. There is a space that could work, currently
> occupied by the hubby's gun rack. It would sure help motivate me to
> keep the deadfall cleaned up. :) But then I think about hubby's
> asthma, and wonder if the back puffing might trigger an attack.
>
>
What about a gas/propane stove? I had a friend that had one in NJ in a
greenhouse attached to her house; prior to the stove it was VERY cold
and unusable in the winter. Afterwards, warm and toasty. Hers looked
like flames happily burning.

Priscilla Dance

From:	Dana Compton
Subject:	Re: Blizzard anyone?
Date:	23 Jan 2005 00:24:26 GMT

>
>We just picked up an oil-filled radiator at Home depot. The kitchen
>has been 46 degrees most of the day. The new heater already has us
>above 50. :)
>
>Nancy DeMarco
>Mason, NH

snipped above

Hope it brings it up even more. This big old house gets cold. 2 furnaces and
you'd think she would stay warm.

Dana

Azthor - 8 year old Saddlebred gelding
Juan's Magic- 17 year old Thoroughbred gelding

The Urantia Book a Logical/Scientific Christian Book
www.urantia.com

From:	Hayward
Subject:	Re: Blizzard anyone?
Date:	Sun, 23 Jan 2005 00:15:58 -0500

Nancy DeMarco wrote:

> "RPM1" wrote:
>
>
>> Right now a giant pot of chili is simmering. Tomorrow, chicken
>> soup. After that, the freezer will be full. I bet I can find a
>> bottle of Jamesons here somewhere for purely medicinal purposes, of
>> course. ;-)
>
>
> We have lotsa fish for chowder and some beef stew in the crock pot.
> But now you have me salivating for chili. I might have to go back
> out to Hannaford and wait for a parking space to open up.
> Thanksalot.
>

Hee hee. GMTA - Bob made a huge pot of chili, too.
>
>> Jigsaw puzzles are a traditional snow storm activity here when
>> we're not plowing, shoveling or hauling hot water to the barn for
>> the horses.
>
>
> The 50-gallon tank is full and steaming, and they just had a couple
> gallons each of alfalfa water. Well, OK - Lucy drank 3 and Timbre
> drank 1.
>
> The chickens just got a huge blueberry pancake along with crushed egg
> shells, corn and layer pellets. And they have a big steaming bucket
> of water. I can't believe they keep laying in this weather.
> They're real troopers. :)
>
>
>> I'm not sure when the horses will go back out. The snow should
>> stop tomorrow afternoon but the wind and the drifting is going to
>> be significant. We'll play it by ear. They're bedded deep in
>> straw with steamy buckets of water while soft, fragrant hay
>> overflows the mangers. Mouse actually isn't too cheesed off at the
>> four walls. Amazing.
>
>
> Mine are still out - just a few flakes falling so far, and we aren't
> in line for probably more than a foot. We'll see. The barn is
> bedded deep with piles of hay in the corners of the stalls. They can
> push through the tattered hanging quilt and go in whenever they
> decide it's time.
>
> Last year, Lucy would just *not* stay in the barn unless I shut her
> in. This year, she has decided it's home. She's been in as often as
> out these days.
>
> We just picked up an oil-filled radiator at Home depot. The kitchen
> has been 46 degrees most of the day. The new heater already has us
> above 50. :)

Jesus. One word; Cuddleduds. At Penney's and such. The best long
underwear in the world. Like butta as they say in Boston.

I went into town today for gas today and man, it was busy. It's a
little town of about 2,000 with a tiny main street and everyone was
stocking up on food, gas and booze. Of course there was the Pats game to
prepare for, as well as the blizzard.

We worked part of the day battening down the hatches. We may have to
turn off the hot wire on the fence if the snow gets too high, although
we've forgotten to turn it on lots of times and they've been fine.
(They must know, too - maybe when the soft clicking sound stops? -
because they will rest their heads over the top wire then)

We heard a report that it might be one of the top 5 storms in history.
I grew up with either hot house flower or overmanaged horses, depending
on your pov, and have had trouble just letting our guys choose if they
want to be in their stalls, the run-in, or neither. So, a few inches
have fallen and I look outside and Adina is munching away under the
run-in roof while Mardi was rolling in the snow.

With n'oreaster gusts to 60 miles an hour, it may be hard to let just
them be...

Barb

From:	Hayward
Subject:	Re: Blizzard anyone?
Date:	Sun, 23 Jan 2005 05:37:14 -0500

Hayward wrote:
>
>
> Nancy DeMarco wrote:
>
>> "RPM1" wrote:
>>
>>
>>> Right now a giant pot of chili is simmering. Tomorrow, chicken
>>> soup. After that, the freezer will be full. I bet I can find a
>>> bottle of Jamesons here somewhere for purely medicinal purposes, of
>>> course. ;-)
>>
>>
>>
>> We have lotsa fish for chowder and some beef stew in the crock pot.
>> But now you have me salivating for chili. I might have to go back
>> out to Hannaford and wait for a parking space to open up.
>> Thanksalot.
>>
>
> Hee hee. GMTA - Bob made a huge pot of chili, too.
>
>>
>>> Jigsaw puzzles are a traditional snow storm activity here when we're
>>> not plowing, shoveling or hauling hot water to the barn for
>>> the horses.
>>
>>
>>
>> The 50-gallon tank is full and steaming, and they just had a couple
>> gallons each of alfalfa water. Well, OK - Lucy drank 3 and Timbre
>> drank 1.
>>
>> The chickens just got a huge blueberry pancake along with crushed egg
>> shells, corn and layer pellets. And they have a big steaming bucket
>> of water. I can't believe they keep laying in this weather.
>> They're real troopers. :)
>>
>>
>>> I'm not sure when the horses will go back out. The snow should stop
>>> tomorrow afternoon but the wind and the drifting is going to be
>>> significant. We'll play it by ear. They're bedded deep in
>>> straw with steamy buckets of water while soft, fragrant hay
>>> overflows the mangers. Mouse actually isn't too cheesed off at the
>>> four walls. Amazing.
>>
>>
>>
>> Mine are still out - just a few flakes falling so far, and we aren't
>> in line for probably more than a foot. We'll see. The barn is
>> bedded deep with piles of hay in the corners of the stalls. They can
>> push through the tattered hanging quilt and go in whenever they
>> decide it's time.
>>
>> Last year, Lucy would just *not* stay in the barn unless I shut her
>> in. This year, she has decided it's home. She's been in as often as
>> out these days.
>>
>> We just picked up an oil-filled radiator at Home depot. The kitchen
>> has been 46 degrees most of the day. The new heater already has us
>> above 50. :)
>
>
> Jesus. One word; Cuddleduds. At Penney's and such. The best long
> underwear in the world. Like butta as they say in Boston.
>
> I went into town today for gas today and man, it was busy. It's a
> little town of about 2,000 with a tiny main street and everyone was
> stocking up on food, gas and booze. Of course there was the Pats game to
> prepare for, as well as the blizzard.
>
> We worked part of the day battening down the hatches. We may have to
> turn off the hot wire on the fence if the snow gets too high, although
> we've forgotten to turn it on lots of times and they've been fine. (They
> must know, too - maybe when the soft clicking sound stops? - because
> they will rest their heads over the top wire then)
>
> We heard a report that it might be one of the top 5 storms in history. I
> grew up with either hot house flower or overmanaged horses, depending on
> your pov, and have had trouble just letting our guys choose if they want
> to be in their stalls, the run-in, or neither. So, a few inches have
> fallen and I look outside and Adina is munching away under the run-in
> roof while Mardi was rolling in the snow.
>
> With n'oreaster gusts to 60 miles an hour, it may be hard to let just
> them be...
>
To heck with the natural survival intelligence of horses. At 3:30 AM we
shut them in the barn with warm maple syrup water and NPR. Maybe it
is only to make us feel better, but this ain't your average storm either.

We will have poops and piddles in their stalls for the first
time in months after Bob "housebroke" them.

The best to Nancy, the Ruths, Mary, and anyone else out there in the
path of the blizzard. Hope you and yours are tucked in and cozy.

Barb

From:	Mary McHugh
Subject:	Re: Blizzard anyone?
Date:	Sun, 23 Jan 2005 08:54:04 -0500

Hayward wrote:

> We will have poops and piddles in their stalls for the first
> time in months after Bob "housebroke" them.
>
> The best to Nancy, the Ruths, Mary, and anyone else out there in the
> path of the blizzard. Hope you and yours are tucked in and cozy.

We're here -- not too bad.

We ended up having shrimp last night -- not the traditional comfort food
but at 3.99/lb. cheaper than anything else and good for our diets, too.

I'm glad I put mine in. They can tolerate a day in here and there.
Now... we'll see if the barn is in one piece. Wilbur really only got
agitated when I had him in and Khan was out so I'm not *that* worried.

I need to built a partition between the stalls that is more like a gate
where I can swing it into position when I need it and swing it away when
I'm done. I like having them in separate stalls when they're locked in
but I like having the doubled space when they're going in and out.

Keith's out plowing a path to the barn and clearing the driveway. I
always thought it was ridiculous for him to plow down to the barn but it
sure makes the chores easier when you don't have to trudge thru 2' of snow.

Hard to say how much we've got. We had 5.5" at 8pm last night (hardly
mega-storm totals) but since then the wind really kicked up. Our top
gust was 36mph so far (according to the new wx station :) so with all
the blowing and drifting, it's hard to tell how much actually fell.
We're supposed to get another 6" before it's all over this afternoon.

Well, I'm supposed to be making pancakes -- I'd better get started.

Mary

From:	RPM1
Subject:	Re: Blizzard anyone & why I love my mare
Date:	Sun, 23 Jan 2005 10:13:49 -0500

"Mary McHugh"
> I need to built a partition between the stalls that is more like a gate
> where I can swing it into position when I need it and swing it away when
> I'm done. I like having them in separate stalls when they're locked in
> but I like having the doubled space when they're going in and out.

I =love= our set up. In the 30' end of the barn we can either
have one big run-in, 1 regular stall and 1 large stall or 3 regular
stalls depending on how you swing which gate. Most of the time
we compromise and have the gates V'd to allow for the run-in.
The V'd gates discourage any bullying at grain time. They're
still free to come and go but they can't just slam over to the
other side without a bit of effort AND they'd be risking going
up against an eating horse's butt - not worth it. Works like a
charm.

> Keith's out plowing

Pat's out plowing us, and the neighbors, out. Then we trek to
my mom's house to get her dug out.

> Hard to say how much we've got.

Same here. In some spots the ground is almost bare and in
others it's 3'. A lot of hype if you ask me.

I turned the horses out at around 9am since we have blue
sky patches here and it's really not that cold. I shoveled
the deck to the dog run in shirtsleeves.

The horses both blasted out of the barn, went about 5' and
rolled. Only trouble was there was a 3' drift in the way. Tucker
found great pleasure in rolling almost standing up. Mouse,
the ever sensible one, had herself a little roll and was getting
ready to have a run when all of the sudden the ground under
the snow went craaaaack! Mid-run she stopped DEAD in
her tracks, froze for a moment, snorted, assessed the situation
and then very carefully & slowly backed up in her exact same
footsteps and then gingerly tip toed back up into the barn to eat
hay. THAT is PRECISELY why I love that horse. She has the
fire in her belly like a TB but not at the expense of her own
neck (and mine when I'm on her). That sort of sensibility has
saved our hide more times than I can count on the trail, hunting,
orienteering... I'll be very sad when she's gone. I've never met
a horse with that same sense of self.

Ruth CM

From:	Mary McHugh
Subject:	And there was great rejoicing... was Re: Blizzard anyone & why I
Date:	Sun, 23 Jan 2005 10:48:15 -0500

RPM1 wrote:
> I =love= our set up. In the 30' end of the barn we can either
> have one big run-in, 1 regular stall and 1 large stall or 3 regular
> stalls depending on how you swing which gate. Most of the time
> we compromise and have the gates V'd to allow for the run-in.
> The V'd gates discourage any bullying at grain time. They're
> still free to come and go but they can't just slam over to the
> other side without a bit of effort AND they'd be risking going
> up against an eating horse's butt - not worth it. Works like a
> charm.

Someday you'll have to send me a diagram. What kind of gates did you
use? I was thinking of 2 6' gates instead of a single 12' gate. Our
stalls are 12x12.

>
>>Keith's out plowing

> Pat's out plowing us, and the neighbors, out. Then we trek to
> my mom's house to get her dug out.

Ha! The -one- thing I don't have to worry about is plowing out my mom.
Especially since I do *EVERYTHING* else for her and yet I have 4
brothers that live practically next door. Two of them plow and they
always plow her out. Then again, she doesn't drive anymore so it's not
really necessary anyway. The Polish couple that live with her are good
about keeping the sidewalks shoveled.

>
>>Hard to say how much we've got.
>
>
> Same here. In some spots the ground is almost bare and in
> others it's 3'. A lot of hype if you ask me.

Ditto on the hype. We have one weather-guesser here who is always wrong
and Keith told me that he actually said on air after receiving a ton of
e-mail saying the storm looked to be over that *HE* was the expert and
it would be too dangerous to assume the storm is over. Well, we've got
sun too and the long range radar doesn't show much promise of more
precipitation. We've nicknamed him "Mr. Hype".

I'd guess we averaged here around 10". I read on weather.com that the
north shore of MA is getting 8" per HOUR. The local guys here were
apoplectic at the thought of maybe 3" per hour. I hope the rest of our
northern NE contingent checks in soon.

> I turned the horses out at around 9am since we have blue
> sky patches here and it's really not that cold. I shoveled
> the deck to the dog run in shirtsleeves.

I was worried about opening the barn doors and having the two goofs try
to blast out a single door at the same time but they were well behaved
and walked politely out in single file. Then the explosion came!

> neck (and mine when I'm on her). That sort of sensibility has
> saved our hide more times than I can count on the trail, hunting,
> orienteering... I'll be very sad when she's gone. I've never met
> a horse with that same sense of self.

My Arab Bub was like that... full of piss and vinegar but with an
acute sense of self-preservation.

I took my life in my hands removing Wilbur's blankie w/out tying him up.

Yet, he stood politely albeit with body quivering while I gingerly
removed the blankie. I expected him to whirl and gallop away as I
removed it but he just stood until I said "OK, you can go". Then the
fireworks began. Khan rolled about 10 times in the snow. There was
much rejoicing! :-)

Mary

From:	RPM1
Subject:	Re: And there was great rejoicing... was Re: Blizzard anyone & why I love my mare
Date:	Sun, 23 Jan 2005 11:10:28 -0500

"Mary McHugh"
> Someday you'll have to send me a diagram. What kind of gates did you
> use? I was thinking of 2 6' gates instead of a single 12' gate. Our
> stalls are 12x12.

Big gates are the only way to do it IMO. I like having the
big V in the middle. Since we don't need a third stall anymore
we took the middle gate off, which would have been in the gap
of the V. The points of the V are where the chains for lock-up
are, if that makes sense. When the V is closed there is a 10'
aisle between the stalls.

Ruth CM

From:	Hunter
Subject:	Re: And there was great rejoicing... was Re: Blizzard anyone & why
Date:	Sun, 23 Jan 2005 17:25:05 -0500

>
> Someday you'll have to send me a diagram. What kind of gates did you
> use? I was thinking of 2 6' gates instead of a single 12' gate. Our
> stalls are 12x12.

Don't do it! If you have to close the gate fast you will have one side
closed, then reach for the other and the first side will open..... been
there done that, will always have one gate now.

Hunter

From:	Eileen Morgan
Subject:	Re: Blizzard anyone?
Date:	Sun, 23 Jan 2005 15:29:47 GMT

On Sun, 23 Jan 2005 08:54:04 -0500, Mary McHugh
wrote:

>We're here -- not too bad.

Us to! Dogs are sleeping and happy (one nice thing about having Hair
Dogs is you don't worry about the cold much--I have two Great
Pyrenees, one Bernese Mountain Dog, and a Newfoundland) after coming
and going through dog door all night and morning. Play in snow, track
in house, play in snow, track in house . . .

I brought the girls in for the night. We had some major whipping wind
last night and still this morning. Since there was a thin coat of snow
over the entire shed floor, I am also glad I brought them in--that
almost never happens. Sometimes I see a little snow drifting on one
side or the other, but never from front to back and side to side like
that. Must have had a heck of a lot of swirling wind.

>Hard to say how much we've got. We had 5.5" at 8pm last night (hardly
>mega-storm totals) but since then the wind really kicked up. Our top
>gust was 36mph so far (according to the new wx station :) so with all
>the blowing and drifting, it's hard to tell how much actually fell.
>We're supposed to get another 6" before it's all over this afternoon.

Yeah, hard to tell here, too, as my driveway is anything from bare
ground to thigh deep; local reports are something like 6-10" depending
on location as of 5am this morning, still snowing and blowing and
expected to maybe get 12-16" total in most parts around here by the
time it is over. I think my area is close to that 10" mark, maybe a
little more by now.

I have my tractor plugged in, put in conditioner and fuel and crossing
fingers that she cranks on up when I go out. Otherwise instead of
using the front end loader to plow I'll have to shovel . . . gack . .
.. I've done it before and it sucks. It's been really really cold here
for a week . . . sometimes if I am not running her every day that has
a negative effect, sometimes the fuel conditioner and plugging her in
takes care of any sluggishness on her part. Cross fingers for me,
please!

I went ahead and put the girls out for the day. I was thinking I'd
leave them in, but once I was out walking around I thought Naaaahhhh,
they'll be better off outside. The stock tank heater keeps that water
warmer than what I can keep in front of them in the barn. Moonlight
had the very very start of some shivers when I went out last night for
chores (even with her huge blue blanket on) so I went ahead and
layered in a quilted blanket liner this morning. Wimp. Belles and
Dolly had ice hanging off their faces, sides, manes, tails, sticking
out their ears--not a shiver. Could have cared less. So I am not
worried about them at all this morning, and it should be getting a
little better this afternoon, since the wind is supposed to die down a
bit.

Hope everyone else in the storm path is faring well! I think I will
make a cup of soup for a mid morning snack, before I tackle my
driveway.

Eileen Morgan
The Mare's Nest

From:	Nancy DeMarco
Subject:	Re: Blizzard anyone?
Date:	Sun, 23 Jan 2005 17:33:35 GMT

Hayward wrote:

>To heck with the natural survival intelligence of horses. At 3:30 AM we
>shut them in the barn with warm maple syrup water and NPR. Maybe it
>is only to make us feel better, but this ain't your average storm either.

Heh. :) I shut Timbre in around 11, leaving Lucy with the in-out
option. It appeared Timbre had been selected for guard duty - she was
just outside the door, and Lucy's gigantic butt was in the door.
Timbre had about 4" of snow on her back, icicles hanging from her
forelock almost covering her eyes. I took pity.

This morning's tracks seem to indicate that Lucy stayed in too. She
was waiting for me at the gate when I carried steaming alfalfa tea
down the WAYTOOLONG driveway, wading through snow from knee-deep to
waist-deep along the way. The only problem was having to carry the
buckets so darn high, it got my shoulders tired.

I let Timbre out, and she did some trotting around, snorting. Lucy
blasted out of the barn, which convinced Timbre something horrible was
about to happen. Many laps at breakneck speed ensued. As soon as she
settled down, Lucy went back inside and blasted out again. Poor
Timbre. At least she's getting her exercise.

>We will have poops and piddles in their stalls for the first
>time in months after Bob "housebroke" them.

My stalls are a fright - just picked out into the aisle and gave them
each another bag of shavings.

>The best to Nancy, the Ruths, Mary, and anyone else out there in the
>path of the blizzard. Hope you and yours are tucked in and cozy.

Best to you too, Barb. :) I took care of the horses, chickens and
guinea pigs and went back to bed. But now it's time to face the
music. Hope the snowblower starts. :)

The sun just came out, and it's a whopping 12 degrees. Heat wave!!!
Can't wait to go for a gallop! :)

Nancy DeMarco
Mason, NH

From:	Ruth Baltopoulos
Subject:	Re: Blizzard anyone?
Date:	Sun, 23 Jan 2005 10:39:34 -0500

and beHayward wrote:

[...]
> The best to Nancy, the Ruths, Mary, and anyone else out
> there in the path of the blizzard. Hope you and yours
> are tucked in and cozy.

And the best to you, Barb :)

I just trudged back in from shoveling a path out the back door to the rabbit
hutch to deliver him some sweetened warm water and veggies, and another out
into the yard so that the two Yorkies can walk rather than tunnel when they
need to answer Mother Nature's call. It is still gusting and snowing and
blowing, so it is hard to tell how much is out there; prolly at least two
feet. There has been so much drifting that it is waist and chest high (and
beyond) in many spots.

No way I can get my Jeep Wrangler out of the garage and up my fairly long
driveway without being plowed. The snow has drifted waist deep in front of
the bays. I just talked to my plowing buddy, who is understandably swamped
and has been plowing since 7:00PM last night. He is going to swipe down my
driveway to open it up so that I can head to the barn and see if they need
help. Chances are the workers were unable to get there this morning, so I
would like to pitch in...

Hope that everyone else is faring well; hunker down and stay warm!
--
Ruth B

From:	Diane Fowler
Subject:	Re: Blizzard anyone?
Date:	Sun, 23 Jan 2005 11:25:29 -0500

dSouthern connecticut got 18 1/2 inches. Spent morning feeding and helping
doing stalls and turning out my horse and a couple of others. Drifts
everywhere.

Diane
"RPM1" wrote in message
news:35f5u5F4ji5c4U1@individual.net...
> It looks like CT (Mary McH) and our area NW of NYC are
> going to get hit hardest. 24" and severe drifting for this area.
>
> Horses are in already. We're stocked up on gas and fuel
> oil. Still need to make a hay and straw run.
>
> Today, a pigeon in the barn (it's the first one I've ever seen in
> our barn) kept trying to follow us around as we mucked and
> fiddled with the tractor. It even tried to follow me into the
> house. I gave it a little cracked corn in the barn. Poor thing.
> It really wants to come inside. I think it's someone's pet that
> got off track somehow. If it seems to be suffering out in the
> barn I guess I'll bring it in. It's so tame, it doesn't stand a
> chance against our neighbor's killer cat. :-\
>
> Ruth CM
>
>
>
>

From:	JJ
Subject:	Re: Blizzard anyone?
Date:	Sun, 23 Jan 2005 14:07:14 GMT

"RPM1" wrote in message
news:35f5u5F4ji5c4U1@individual.net...
> It looks like CT (Mary McH) and our area NW of NYC are
> going to get hit hardest. 24" and severe drifting for this area.
>
> Horses are in already. We're stocked up on gas and fuel
> oil. Still need to make a hay and straw run.
>
> Today, a pigeon in the barn (it's the first one I've ever seen in
> our barn) kept trying to follow us around as we mucked and
> fiddled with the tractor. It even tried to follow me into the
> house. I gave it a little cracked corn in the barn. Poor thing.
> It really wants to come inside. I think it's someone's pet that
> got off track somehow. If it seems to be suffering out in the
> barn I guess I'll bring it in. It's so tame, it doesn't stand a
> chance against our neighbor's killer cat. :-\
>
> Ruth CM

Howdy,

Lots of snow here too (eastern PA). I'm not sure how much. It was hovering
around 6-8 inches yesterday evening...and still coming down pretty hard.
It's finally stopped now. Hubby is out playing in it. He's enjoying
himself so he says. Doesn't want my help so...I guess I'll have to stay
inside. :-)

Comet's in at her barn...And the outdoor ponies were probably moved into the
indoor arena. I know the old gals would be. Plows have been out but really
haven't made much of a dent on the roads out where I am. And I'm sure even
less of one out where Comet's barn is. We are always last on the plowing
list.

We haven't lost our power though. I can't believe it.
Like Eileen said, we usually lose our power out here at the mere threat of a
storm or wind or rain let alone an actual one! Sure is pretty out there
though. Tough on my little dog though. She's about 17 lbs and snow white
herself. She gets lost just trying to go out for a poop! Hubby dug out a
nice little area for her to use though. The drifts are way over her head
otherwise. ;-)

Winter has arrived for sure! Hope everyone manages to stay warm and
dry out there! JJ