Sunday, April 07, 2013

S is for sky....



  
…..and of course snow.....






…..and  supplies.....


The top of the lane, where we shall meet Tesco on Tuesday. Hurray!


We shan't mention spring yet, shall we?


50 comments:

  1. Oh my gosh Perpetua.. that is one big snow drift.
    Its still overcast here..but the sun is trying to get through.
    Its been a long winter.
    wishing you a happy sunday
    val x

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    1. Thanks, Val. Yes, I had a surprise when I saw the photo. I've only seen the drifts from the other end of the lane as yet. Glad to hear your weather is improving. We all need a real does of spring now.

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  2. And down here at 700ft there is hardly a speck of snow to be found.

    You are admirably calm about your isolation, although at least you can walk to the road now. Thank goodness for Tesco on wheels.

    I too made hot cross buns this year - the best yet, with glaze and paste. But very odd shapes and sizes! They freeze well, by the way!

    Spindrift51

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    1. So I gather from my sister. Even up here the fields are now green, with only the hedgerows and lane still having drifts.

      As for being calm, what can't be cured must be endured, as my grandmother would have said. :-) I've become increasingly philosophical about things with age, and we're pottering along quite comfortably.....

      Your buns sound great. I too will go the whole way when I make the next lot, though whether I'll manage to freeze any remains to be seen.

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  3. I think that will still be hanging around for a while Perpetua - it is such a substantial lump of snow. Did your DH take the photo it looks as if someone has tried to clamber over it.

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    1. Unfortunately I think you're right, Rosemary, though it is thawing every day. Yes, DH walked up the field to the right of the trees and through a gate about 20 yards below the top of the lane, then scrambled over the drifts to the road, from where he took the photo.

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  4. Just been catching up on your posts - goodness me, you have had a lot of snow, Perpetua! It's really quite spectacular and how lovely those daffodils are, poking through despite it all.

    I hope it goes soon now, though. Enough is enough. It's time for us to enjoy Spring - and I mean 'us'. We've had a lot of rain and cold weather all over Easter and today is the first day when our sky has been blue. Very welcome it is.

    Take care and may the journey to Tesco be trouble-free.
    Axxx

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    1. Spectacular is a good way to describe it, Annie, even though we've had far less snow than many places further north. The worst thing has been the long spell of bitterly cold weather, caused by the same high pressure which has displaced the jet stream to give you such a cold, wet Easter. Even now the high pressure and cold wind are stubbornly refusing to disappear and give us all some proper April weather.

      As for Tesco, they are coming to us with the order we've placed online. We'll meet the van at the top of the lane and carry the groceries back home across the field. Getting the bags over the drifts as far as the field gate could be fun.....

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  5. Perpetua, this may be a *stupid* question (sorry if it is...)but aren't snow plows available in your neck of the woods? I'm sure there could be a lot of reasons why they wouldn't be... but just curious.


    BTW, love Simon's cat!

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    1. Simon's Cat is truly wonderful, Rian. One of my very favourite cartoons.

      To answer your very reasonable question, the local council has snow-ploughs which it uses to clear the public roads, but our lane is private and not their responsibility. When we were badly snowed-in many years ago, we hired a digger and driver and tried to get the snow cleared. However our lane and its verges are so narrow that the digger had to back all the way out to the road to dump each scoop of snow, which was so slow and expensive that we sent him home and dug ourselves out over the following week. Being now 30 years older and with no teenagers to share the load, this time we're just waiting for the snow to melt. :-)

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  6. Thank goodness for Tesco!
    They came out to my mother in the worst of the foul weather - which was nothing on yours, luckily for her - when she and the young woman who mucks her out had put together a joint list for several others in the road and the delivery men volunteered to take the various bags to their destinees...well above and beyond the call of duty, I thought.

    What about an ersatz sledge (as in Friko recently) to tug the shopping home?

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    1. I know Tesco gets a lot of stick at times, but on the few times we've used the home delivery service so far, we've never found their drivers anything other than friendly, courteous and extremely helpful. I can easily believe the way they helped your mother and her neighbours out.

      Friko's sledge idea would have been great if there had still been snow on the field, but the drifts are too deep to walk over more than we have to, and the field is now green again, so we'll be using wheelbarrows to trundle the bags home. :-)

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  7. Hari OM
    YIKES! blame the dykes. I recall up on Grandad's hill, it was always along the dykes/fence-line and in the lanes between that the drifts held longest. Compacted and self-preserving. But the milk's on the way...8*>

    As for Simon's Cat. Not only did I "LOL" but snorted and cackled too. It was worth it! Sending sunshine, YAM

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    1. Exactly! The dykes and hedgerows act as immensely efficient snow-traps, which is why the snow is still up to 3 feet deep in places there and has vanished everywhere else. Compacted and self-preserving sums it up perfectly. :-)

      If you haven't come across Simon's cat before, you've a treat in store. Lots of them on YopuTube and all hilarious.

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  8. That's a huge amount of snow P. I don't envy you the journey back with the Tesco shopping.

    Thanks for the Simon's cat video. They really make me laugh out loud x

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    1. And that's more than a fortnight after the snow first fell and drifted, Ayak. The bit from the top of the lane to the hidden gate on the right will be tricky, but after that we'll use the wheelbarrows to take the bags the rest of the way. All good, healthy exercise. :-)

      I knew you'd enjoy Simon's cat. Can't think how I've missed this one til now.

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  9. It just shows how much snow fell, how bad the winds were, and how cold it has been over the last 2 weeks. It has all gone in Hebden Bridge now, but is still up on the tops, in vast drifts, probably having buried a considerable number of sheep. As for Tescos....I am so impressed at Helen's tale of how they helped her mother and neighbours. I am sure they sell haloumi cheese as well ! I made Annie's bread today, with the supply I miraculously found at the Co-op. Good luck with getting supplies home on Tuesday, and here's hoping the gradual warm up lets you out soon. J.

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    1. Having seen our drifts and how long they are taking to melt, I can imagine only too well just how bad it's been and still is in the worst-hit places. The high Pennines and the Cumbrian fells are in a different world and I reckon they could still be looking at snow in May unless we get a lot of warm rain before long.

      You're quite right. Of course Tesco sell halloumi cheese and I shall add some to my order forthwith, together with black olives. I can't wait to try Annie's recipe. I would really appreciate something a bit different just now. :-)

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  10. Hope you manage to get your groceries home safely. We still have snow drifts up the sides of the lane but are at least able to drive out to the main road. Keep warm.

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    1. Glad the centre of your lane is clear. It makes all the difference. :-) It will be awkward getting the groceries as far as the gate, but plain sailing after that. As for warm - we were due an LPG delivery just after the snow fell and it was postponed to the 17th. Even that date is now looking iffy, so we're being VERY careful with the CH.

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  11. Good old Tesco drivers, they are pretty good at getting to us through ice and snow too. Do hope you manage to get your milk supplies safely home.
    Thanks for the Simon's Cat clip - they are spot on, aren't they? I always enjoy them.

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    1. The driver won't have any problems getting to the top of the lane, thank goodness, and after that we will manage. Milk is essential and we just have enough to last til tomorrow. :-)

      I can't think how I didn't find this particular Simon's Cat when the snow first fell, but better late than never. It's super. :-)

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  12. P you should buy two sets of snow shoes. I'm sure that once you put them by your door - ready and waiting- the snow will never return.

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    1. Preventive magic, you mean? That's a thought.:-) DH used to enjoy a bit of skiing on the hill above the house, but he's never tried snowshoes.

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  13. No, don't even whisper 'spring' yet.....you may just jinx the Tesco van coming up the lane!
    What is the supply item that you are most missing?

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    1. What a horrible thought! My lips are sealed. :-)

      We still have plenty of dry goods, but are getting very low on fresh food. There's just half a jug of milk left in the fridge for tea and tomorrow's porridge......

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  14. That is some snow in your lane Perpetua. But very glad to hear that Tesco is coming to the rescue, on Tuesday. Loved Simon's Cat - great fun.

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    1. We haven't seen drifts like this for a long time, Ricky. I'f we'd thought to move the car up to the top of the lane before the snow came (as we used to do when we were still working) it would certainly have been totally buried. As for Tesco, I won't hear a word against them. :-)

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  15. That really is a lot of snow P, and lets hope it doesn't hang around for too long. Tescos to the rescue then.
    Patricia x

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    1. Talk about send the cavalry. :-) The snow IS melting and the bench under the drift in the field has partially reappeared, but it's just taking so long for the big drifts to go.....

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  16. Tee hee, Bird: 1, Cat: 0. Hilarious, Perpetua. Hurrah for Tesco and bringing you supplies. You will be feeling very festive indeed when the fresh food comes. It is amazing how long a dump of snow can take to melt - I have seen the huge dumps of snow made by the local authorities in Ottawa and Quebec - apparently they take months to melt, by which time it is winter again!

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    1. Glad you enjoyed it, Patricia. Yes, I'm looking forward to being able to widen my repertoire of meals after tomorrow, three weeks after I last went shopping.

      I can imagine the drifts you've seen in Canada would dwarf ours completely. One of the problems about ploughing or digging out a road is that the piles on the verges become enormous. Once our drifts have shrunk some more, we'll probably try to clear a path wide enough to get the car out at last.

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  17. That blue sky promises liberation soon, Miss P. Hang on in there!

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    1. We need the horribly cold east wind to stop for that to happen, MM and at present the local forecast is for the temperatures to drop again over the next few days. There's even a little snow symbol in tomorrow's forecast. Sigh.... :-)

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  18. Hope all goes well on Tuesday.

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    1. Thanks, I'm sure it will. With supplies we can sit it out until spring really does arrive.

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  19. Dear Perpetua, we have endured winters like this in the past, which, of course, does you not-a-whit of good to know at the moment. When Jennifer was a baby, we had snows that kept coming, and never melted. Tom would walk several miles for milk and staples over snowdrifts that were taller than he was - and he is 6' 4"! We don't forget these winters, but, as you are doing so graciously, we do endure them. I hope that by now you have met the Tesco truck and safely hauled your supplies home before the next dumping of snow hits.

    Here's to spring soon showing up!

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    1. Given your location, Penny, I know you must have had much harder winters to endure than us many, many times. Here in the UK winters like this are a rarity, which is why we are so ill-equipped to deal with them. At least our temperatures are more bearable that those in a Mid-West winter. :-)

      The Tesco delivery will be coming tomorrow afternoon and we're all geared up for transporting the groceries back down the field - by wheelbarrow!

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  20. It looks like your lane is one of the few bits still to have snow.

    After the last few weeks you've had I think S should be for survival, and stoicism!

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    1. Actually the higher hills south of us across the valley are still sporting a lot of snow on their upper reaches. Here it's just the drifts in the side lanes and along the hedgerows which are proving so persistent.

      Let's hope the promised rain arrives soon or my stoicism may falter, even if our survival doesn't :-)

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  21. Oh, I love Simon's Cat.

    :-)

    We are expecting between 4 and 8 inches of snow Thursday here in Minneapolis.

    *sigh*

    Pearl

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    1. Oh dear, I didn't realise how apt this super cartoon would be for you. :-( We're forecast heavy rain for Thursday, the first for ages, and I'm at present praying that it WILL be rain and not more snow.....

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  22. I really am intrigued, Perpetua. I have never even driven in snow. That's almost sad, though, don't you think? I do love your blue patch of sky which trains the eye heavenward...you must have lots of times you also lift your head and pray for endurance! :-) I think that trip to get supplies will be a great outing. Better get plenty if spring isn't quite yet a sure thing. oxo Debra

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    1. You haven't missed anything, Debra. :-) Snow looks beautiful, but I've always hated driving on snowy roads and try to avoid it whenever I can nowadays. Having trudged to the top of the lane today to collect the groceries from the delivery van, I can testify that the drifts ARE shrinking, but we still won't be going anywhere for a few more days. Thankfully we now have plenty of fresh food and milk for my tea!

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  23. SO glad that Tesco's came up trumps today - what a relief. It must have been nice to see another human face as well (other than on TV!) How did you manage to coordinate on timing with the driver? We had the dogs clipped on Thursday and promptly put them into kennels on Friday (not really knowing whether the kennels were heated!) They were delighted to get home this morning, rushed round like maniacs for a while - and now won't leave BH alone!
    I meant to point you in the direction of this cartoon a few months ago when I discovered it, in case you hadn't seen it - BH & I were in fits when we watched it. Brilliant.

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    1. I didn't actually see the driver as she'd gone by the time I got up there. We'd arranged for a phone call to alert us when the van was about to arrive so that we could meet it, but DH went up early to clear a path to the gate and was there to help unload before I'd even put my coat and boots on.:-)

      Can't think how I didn't spot this particular Simon's Cat before. It was perfect for this winter.

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  24. Yep, I have laughed long and good at this episode in the cat’s life.

    You cant still be cut off, can you? I sincerely hope not. If Tesco can make it, perhaps you’ll less like being under siege? A nice man sent by Mr Sainsbury came to visit us with a big load of groceries. we were very grateful.

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    1. Oh yes, we can, I'm afraid. The council roads have been clear for ages but we have over 100 yards of private lane that was up to 4 foot deep in snow between us and the clear roads. That depth of snow takes a very long time to melt at current temperatures. However, if the heavy rain forecast for tonight does its stuff, we should be a lot closer to freedom before long. :-)

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  25. Hope you will soon have your freedom, Perpetua!

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    1. So do I, Linda, so do I. :-) Hopefully not much longer to wait....

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