Ice Storm 2026

I was hoping to upload a pic from our recent ice storm but some glitch is preventing me. In the meantime, enjoy this excerpt from one of my favorite short stories “The Snow covered up the grass with her great white cloak, and the Frost painted all the trees silver. Then they invited the North Wind to stay with them, and he came. He was wrapped in furs, and he roared all day about the garden, and blew the chimney-pots down. “This is a delightful spot,” he said, “we must ask the Hail on a visit.” So the Hail came. Every day for three hours he rattled on the roof of the castle till he broke most of the slates, and then he ran round and round the garden as fast as he could go. He was dressed in grey, and his breath was like ice.” (The Selfish Giant, by Oscar Wilde)

Chores



I don’t mind cleaning but often I’d rather be doing something else. I’m sure this rings true for most people. We presently have more tools available to help with the chores, but they cannot work by themselves. For example, we can churn through laundry, as the machine does the heavy lifting, but the laundry doesn’t separate or put itself away. Same with the dishes, for the most part. 


There’s something about doing the dishes. Not sure what it is, except maybe force of habit. I don’t mind doing the dishes. Give me the choice between doing yard work and the dishes, I’ll choose dishes. Might be because I can’t do yard work like I used to—help in that department is always appreciated—I’d rather be up to my elbows in suds. 


My, how chores differ for each of us. I have friends who are ranchers and I tip my hat to what they accomplish with crops and fields, herds and flocks. The work never ends! Then there are those whose very survival depends on getting their chores done, like gathering and chopping wood, hauling water, hunting, fishing, trapping. The list goes on. When you step back and look at it all, the most satisfying chores are the ones closest to the bare necessities. 

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