By Day 3 of the snow, we needed to get out. My brilliant offspring wanted to try Sugarloaf-a local landmark noted for it's height.

Side note here. Thirty seven years ago my parents were travelling through this flat, rolling country. They had been given directions for wherever they were going in the area and Sugarloaf is where they were supposed to make a turn. Being accustomed to actual mountains in PA and MD, they never noticed Sugarloaf Mountain and never did reach their destination.

Now we all live here and yes, that little rise does mean something. But not sledding for us this time. There are real bumps and something approaching rocks, not to mention plant stubble.

The children were ready to camp out in the house and continue annoying each other but their aunty and mother, like the graceful chicks they are, stayed firm.

We put the pickup in 4wd, tied on snowboats that dad brought from a real wintery place out of state several years ago where they sell these things, loaded the dog and ice chest that wasn't icy, and stuffed kidders in the back seat like cattle in a trailer.  4wd is good. Especially for two Hick Chicks on a snowpacked dirt road.

Hick Chick #1 holds the fence for the reluctant adventurers. Her children really weren't so pathetic. See, she's a real country gal-it shows.

First screaming shove.

Hick Chicks in training. My word! she's smiling! Her Mom might have a faint clue in her brain!

Heading across really slick snow to a 'better' slope. Slope, not hill.

My darlings who have never screamed "meany" at each other. choke.

She's really hanging tight so the sled doesn't, you know drag her along headfirst.

Push!

We invited SIL Lisa to come along and bring her boyfriend. They thought it sounded like a good idea.

It took them an hour to get ready to drive a mile.

There

was an immediate snowball fight. The boys seemed happy to have a man at the party.

Hot chocolate! Church cookies AKA sugar cookies. I, on the other hand had whipped up a coffee cake to have ready when we got home but the electric went off at the wrong moment and it had to wait to bake until we got back. So my children's mother only took along water bottles and left them on the pickup seat.

I am so relieved to have two SILs who take up the slack for my featherbrain.

Ach! such choy we never expected.

Hot cider.

Round 15.

The little ones can really step it off.

Aunt girlfriend, who can take seven nephews out for pizza and trail them through Wal Mart single handed begs for mercy in the snow.

Back on her feet, she's in control again.

Our friend Emily was skiing with her family. We thought about her nice vacation but we went ahead and laughed at our Hick Chick selves.

I want to unburden my Hick Chick soul. Boots: Mom bought them for me when I went to CO sixteen years ago. Carhartt bibs: Dragged them out of  a dark corner of the basement since Freeman has moved on to better insulation. Coat: bought it new fifteen years ago to mark a new era in my life.Leather gloves. I keep them in my long leather coat pockets but I have used them to chop ice on tanks and put out minerals for cows. (who knew hick chicks have long, black leather coats?)

Hick Chicks #2, #3.

When I think of the snowmen we made when I was a little girl. They were so proud of their creation.

Not a stone or chunk of coal to be had, mud face.

After sufficently freezing fingers and toes, demolishing the cookies and drinks, the Chicks decided to have mercy on their now tired but smiling offspring. But wait, daughter was helping her mom there until she went to her knees and slithered up the slope-not hill. It was a belly cruncher.

And the longsuffering boyfriend? He shook his head and lit out. We're pretty sure he's not scared off yet. He came for a few days and stayed longer than a week. Most likely he senses a need to rescue Ms. Lisa from these dames who don't know how to act their age.

Did I mention poor Frosty? The nephew's tender heart couldn't leave him alone on the slope. He rode home in pieces on the back of the pickup.

Lonely road.

Lonely barn.

If you wonder why this farm truck is referred to as a pickup-I don't know. I grew up thinking it's a truck. But nooo, anything bigger is a truck. Even my boys laugh at me..

Now you know how Frosty got to be smiling at you when you drove up the road.

  Just like my girls walked in the lane afterwards, I'm going to walk away from this keyboard and go to sleep. I've waited up long enough for my hard working man.

And the term Hick Chicks is never to return. Our daughters deserve a better legacy.

Internet service back to normal, electricity back on. Laundry caught up and cooking in my kitchen again.

So. I should get started on that fun post, right?

Today was co-op day so we were going all day. Eye dr., Mazzios and the library. THEN I discovered it's my turn to take hot lunch in to our church school tomorrow. And this evening the cousins are here for overnight while their parents celebrate their anniversary.

Everyone is getting along great so I'm off to read to them before bedtime to keep the peace going.

You'll hear from this corner when you do. Hopefully before the next and supposedly worse storm moves in on Sunday. Ahh.

Winter showed up again. Imagine that.

Wednesday was a balmy day, the children had their cousin outside in the stroller and it was hard to believe the weather predictions. but we cleaned house and tied up loose ends just in case.

The storm did hit hard and even though the electric blinked a few times while the bread and cinnamon rolls were in the oven yesterday, we've been just fine. My parents lost their electric and are running the generator.

Freeman finally came home last night after four days on a job to tne news that the calves were out but they were contained over night down the road a couple miles. Contained. Or is it quarantined? Or maybe confiscated. Never mind. Freeman is home and I'm not responsible for being completely normal.

The children spent time outside today in the snow with their cousins. And on this fine day when I could have been totally alone in the house, what did I do but go along with that man of mine to put out hay and help knock ice off the fences.Francesca went along since the cold got to her before the others and she dozed in the back seat while I read when we were waiting on Freeman.

It's been a lovely day. Puttering from one thing to the next,scrapbooking three pages, watching games of ConnectFour and Rook, now a tussling match in the living room.

Yesterday I deboned a turkey that had roasted all night  which put certain children in fear that we'd live on turkey for days. However, there are four packs of turkey in the freezer and this evening we dined on barbequed ribs and homefried potato chips. Then just for fun we toasted mini marshmallows over candles.

Our DSL is down because of the weather so I'll have to wait until later to post pictures.  Freeman's laptop is nice to have around to keep up with things.

Stay warm friends, at home and at heart.