We sure have had some snow up here in the north country. Well, it’s February. In Maine. What do we expect, right? January is cold and dry and February is a snowy mess. The worse is if you get on one of them “a snow storm every thirty-six hours” cycles, which we had a week or two ago, I think. It’s just a freezing, white blur, so it’s hard to remember.
Snow storms are tough on Charlie’s back, my expectations, and both our waistlines. Charlie’s back because even with a plow on the truck, there are still paths to shovel and roofs to rake. My expectations because I’m the kind of person who looks forward to things, so snow cancelations are hard to take. They turn my smile upside down. And our waistlines because of stuck in the house boredom, a reward for shoveling, comfort food to make us feel better, hot cocoa, homemade cookies ‘cause it’s something to do… need I to go on?
Snowstorms are even tough on Scamp. He’s a sturdy little fella, and loves going out for a walk in just about any weather. The one thing he can’t take is the morning after a snowstorm, when the roads are freshly salted, and I don’t blame him. It hurts his paws. He’ll just walk to the bottom of the driveway, do his business, then dig in his heels if I start our usual route. He will not budge until we head back toward the house. Sometimes, I actually put him inside and go do the a walk anyway because I have a rule: I need to stay outside longer than it take me to get ready to go outside.
But there’s been in a bright spot for me this winter. It’s orange, came into my life in January, and my world hasn’t been the same since. No, I’m not talking about our new president (which, love him or hate him you have to agree he has a little oompa loompa thing going on). No, I am singing the praises of the snow rake I bought for my car. Honey, this thing is amazing! It has a long handle with a hard rubber orange rectangle on the end.
I got it to take the snow off the top of my car. This was prompted from an unfortunate incident that happened one day when I took Scamp to the vet for his yearly checkup. Now, Scamp is such a good boy everywhere, except in the car. He whines and yips and bats at his crate for the entire trip whether it’s ten minutes or an hour. So much fun!
Anyhoo, we’d had some snow, but at that point it had changed to rain. I had cleaned off my car good, but can never get the roof because I’m challenged in the height department. So, it’s raining like crazy and I go to turn into the vet’s parking lot, Scamp screaming in the back. As I slow down, the heavy snow from my roof slides onto my windshield, almost blinding me, then keeps going onto the road. Well, that’s good, I’m thinking, when I realize that snow took both my windshield wiper blades with it! Seriously! All that was left were the bare arms, scraping the windshield!
Got to say, after our business at the vet’s, it was a long drive to Tiger’s Garage (where the service is always grrreat!) with rain pouring, no wipers and Scamp serenading me from the back. Tiger replaced the wiper blades and told me about the snow rake. I bought one the next day, and it’s my new best friend. Not only is it good for taking snow off the roof of your car, but it makes it a lot easier and quicker to get all the snow off the car. I like it so much that, instead of providing moral support from the comfort of our home, when we get a snow storm, I’ve been going out and doing the cars while Charlie plows. So I guess that snow rake is Charlie’s new best friend, too.
That’s it for now. Catch you on the flip side!
Hear Ida Tell It: My New Best Friend
March 9: A Visit With Ida, The Hilltop Guild, First Congregational Church, 6:00pm, South Portland, ME
March 31 & April 1: Ida’s Havin’ a Yard Sale, The Footlights Theatre, http://www.thefootlightsinfalmouth.com/, 7:30pm, Falmouth, ME
Invite Ida to Your Book Group
In need of a little pick me up? Sick of reading serious, even depressing books? It’s okay for your book group to read something fun every now and then. Something that will make you laugh with some good advice thrown in for good measure. And while you’re at it, how about an author visit to spice things up?
I’d love to come to your book group and give you the inside scoop on “Finding Your Inner Moose” and/or “The Sweet Life,” especially if food is involved! You can order my books from Islandport Press, your local book store, or the usual suspects (Amazon, Barnes & Noble). Also available for download in your favorite ebook format.
Send me an email or call 207.384.4526 to make a date. We’ll have a wicked good time! And remember: what happens in book group, stays in book group, right?