What's with men?

Or is it just WV men??

Last night we had to help Mariann's car get out of the middle of the snowy road - of course it didn't quite make it up the first leg of our road. We followed a pick up truck out (we were in the Rhino lol... "Here we come to save the Day"!!).
So the truck stops and a guy gets out at the same time we do. The guy was in his late 20's I'd say...

Jim started giving Mariann directions, then Jim and I pushed the car a little..then an little more. Reverse... forward...reverse...forward... a very tiny 80 point turn...
Inch by inch we turned Mariann's car around until she finally headed back down the hill.

What did the guy in the pick up truck do?? Got in his truck and watched us...

Do Mamas not teach their boys chivalry anymore???

I would be so surprised (and annoyed) if my son ever watched an older man and woman help a young girl and just sat in his warm truck and watched!

How do those those lyrics go? "If it wasn't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all..."

The driveway is such a mess - too much snow, then warmer weather turned it soft, and slushy, now there are ruts... and more snow is coming - which will make a bad thing worse.

The pickup truck developed an oil leak tonight. Luckily my husband Jim is so very quick. The minute he heard a slight "ticking" he stopped the truck and poured oil in it. We drove home and we are hopeful that the engine was not damaged!

And, of course we do not have a car to replace the Subaru that burned in January... The snow has been so deep that I haven't wanted to go look for a vehicle. And we will have to get a loan, which I don't want (Nana held the other loan)...

But, I made cauliflower salad today for Jim's lunches. Plus banana bread - instead of using sour cream, I put in vanilla yogurt - less fat and a great taste.

OK... time to count my blessings...
1.We have a warm house, food, and clothing!
2.Nana doesn't have to see any doctors... she is pretty healthy.
3.Mariann has water in her well - Jim and I pulled the pump out of the well on Sunday (all 200 ft of pipe). It was a job, but the two of us can work well together.
4. We are healthy and still love and respect each other

So, in the scheme of things, we are doing pretty good...

Ice Cream Snow

Ice Cream snow 

# 1 Ingredients: 1 gallon snow 1 cup white sugar 1 tablespoon vanilla extract 2 cups milk 

Directions When it starts to snow, place a large, clean bowl outside to collect the flakes. 

When full, stir in sugar and vanilla to taste, then stir in just enough milk for the desired consistency. 

Serve at once. 

Ice cream snow # 2 

1 (12 fluid ounce) can evaporated milk 2 eggs, beaten 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract 3/4 cup white sugar 1 gallon snow In a large bowl, combine evaporated milk, eggs, vanilla and sugar until smooth. Gradually stir in snow until mixture reaches desired consistency. Eat at once.

And the snow still falls...

We are having a record amount of snow this year here on High Lonesome. I check and feed the animals in the afternoon and by the next morning, my tracks are covered. School has been virtually non-existent for the students, the road crews are putting in a lot of over time and have run out of gravel and grit...

It's February and it reminds me of the first year we were here... a lot of our time was spent cutting firewood, and we are doing the same this year. Our firewood pile was depleted early this year, so Jim and I are out cutting and hauling... boy do we miss the kids!

I am writing a book on the first winter we lived here... the winter, snow and cold has been easy to recall!