we were ready for winter---  2 kabota. tractors-- snow blower.  --in good shape  block heaters plugged in....my car with plow....and then teh storm hit

not the snow storm... but  a rat or two. disabling my car-- ok ... it takes longer but the bigger tractor will. clear the place.... bud left it backed in  and plugged into the deagle house - absolutely no problem.... heater works so well i had to remove my jacket---- took maybe 3 hours to clear most the place of teh first 6 inches... and it was letting up.... so i parked the tractoR.  

HOWEEVER.......    WHEN BUD PARKED THE TRACTOR UP NEAR THE FRONT DOOR, BY THE DEAGLE HOUSE.THERE WAS AN EXTENSION CORD THERE........AND .. THERE WAS NO SNOW ON THE GROUND..ALL IT NEEDS IS 1/10 OF AN INCH OF SNOW. AND TEH AREA BY TEH  GARAGE AND DECK TURNS INTO THE BERMUDA TRIANGLE-- THERE IS NOTHING QUITE AS EXCITING AS SLIDING DOWNHILL IN AN UNCONTROLLABLE FASHION ..DRAGGING TTHE BUCKET ONLY PILES UP A HUGE WAD OF SNOW-PACKING IN 2 OF YOUR  4 WHEELS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO DRIVE..   YOU WILL NOTE TEH MANY SCARS ON THAT TREE AS IT HAS STOPPED ME FROM SLIDING OFF TEH STONE WALL  MANY TIMES...  HAVING THE TRRACTOR AT THE TOP OF TEH HILL WHEN THE STORM STRTS, GIVES YOU ONE SWIPE DOWNHILL TO THE DRIFEWAY WHERE IT WORKS WELL-- HOWEVER.. FORGET GOING BACK UP THE HILL

SO --- I WAS IN TEH HOUSE .. NOT NOTICING THE STORM HAD NOT "LET UP". AND WE GOT ANOTHER 6 INCHES..  THE ONLY WAY I COULD ATTEMPT GETTING TO PLOW WOULD BE TO TKE 2 HEAVY EXTENSION CORDS... PLUG ONE IN THE GARAGE -- ATTACH THE SECOND CORD----TEST IT TO BE SURE IT WAS LIVE - THEN WALK DOWN TO THE TRACTOR AND PLUG IN THE BLOCK HEATER-- THEN SIT IN THE CAB FOR 20 MINUTES AND START THE THING.. ANOTHER 10 MINUTES AND IT WOUOLD BE SO WARM I WOULD TAK OFF MY JACKET AS I CLEARED THE SNOW OF TEH SECOND 6 INCHES...

HOWEVER......

THE LONG/HEAVY EXTENSION CORDS NEEDED ARE IN THE G TENT---  IF MY   4 WD CAR WAS HERE.. I WOULD SIMPLY DRIVE AND GET THEM- HOWEVER THE RAT GOT CONTROL OVER MY CAR..... SO I AM JUST PLAIN HELPLESS. TIL SOMEONE COMES AND GETS THAT TRACTOR STARTED..  TO GO DOWM AND TRY AND START IT COUOLD BE  RISKING MY LIFE BECAUSE I COUOL NOT GET BACK UP THE HILL ON FOOT IN THE SNOW.

TEH BEST LAID PLANS OF  MICE OR MEN. ??????? GOOD OLD ROBERT BURNS WAS ODE'ING TO A MOUSE.........ME? .....A RAT.

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SPEAKING OF ODE'S... THERE IS ONE  CINDY SHOULD LOOK UP. ( DONALD SWANN?)

The door's not shut on my genius but
I just don't have the time!
For days and days among the trees
I sleep and dream and doze
Just gently swaying in the breeze
Suspended by my toes
While eager beavers overhead
Rush through the undergrowth
I watch the clouds beneath my feet;
How sweet to be a Sloth

DONLD SWANN AND MICHAEL FLANDERS SING  SOME LOVELY OBSERVTIONS "AT THE DROP OF A HAT."

BEING IN TH BATH AND HAVING THE HOT WATER RUN OUT

HEAR THE STATUS SYMBOLS CLASH 

GOOD READING FOR A SNOWY DAY,  HIGHLY RECOMENDED

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ME? I THINK I WILL READ ALL ABOUT. RECLINER CHAIRS

AND SOMEONE  IN  CHINA MAKING OUR HARNESS....

WHILE TOSSING A LOG OR TWO ON THE FIRE....