Thursday, February 13, 2020

Winter Time 2020

Winter in NY

Winter time finds so many people complaining about the cold weather and snow. When I moved to my apartment in May of 2018, I swore to myself that I would never do that. I have always loved the beauty of the snow before it is cleaned up. Before the plows or snowblowers push it into piles. At my house I used to take pictures of it from my door or deck. I was in awe of its beauty. It seemed that no one but me ever appreciated it. Southerners who have never traveled to a snowy climate in the winter have never experienced it. I imagine they would not like it for long. Maybe they couldn't take the temperatures.



The view from my apartment windows

Now I live downtown in the small city of Norwich, NY. The population in 2017 was 6,718. So no walking in the forest after an early morning snowfall. Though to be completely honest, I hadn't been able to do that in the last couple of years before I moved. I was having serious mobility issues and walking was difficult. It is still hard, but I manage. I don't have a lot of work to do. Simple housecleaning tasks can be difficult, but I am not in a rush to finish by a certain time. I do what I can and then sit down. I am able to put my legs up for an hour or so during the afternoon. That helps.



Sonny's snow covered deck

My boyfriend lives in the country so going to his house gives me that shot of country life. I am not out walking around in the snow there either. I am careful of falling, so I don't take any unnecessary chances. We took a ride out in the forest to cut blackberry brambles for Rabbit. He needs to chew on sticks and he really enjoys the ones I get from the woods. I need to get more now. That ride was very enjoyable to me, as it was along my old road. That is another thing I miss, going outside to pick stuff for Rabbit. He had a more varied diet back then. Even in the middle of winter, I was able to pick grass and dandelions that grew in the barn. I was able to dig down under the snow and find kale that got left in the garden beds in fall. Now I mostly buy his food from the store.



On our way to pick brambles for Rabbit!

The change from wood heat to electric heat didn't really affect me much. This old school building I live in is very well insulated and my electric bill for the year is less than $500.00. I keep my heat down because I am always hot. Nothing to do with the electric bill. Has my power ever been out? Not since I have lived here. I asked my neighbor across the hall since she has lived here for years and she could not remember it being out. I have some 115 hour liquid candles I bought from Emergency Essentials, just in case. I am planning on getting some of those light bulbs that will stay lit even if the power goes out. I have heard good things about those. I still love the smell of wood smoke in the air. But I do not miss the work and dust from it. The worry of a chimney fire or from the wood stove in general. One time the insulation in the wall near the wood stove in my house fell down on the wood stove. If it hadn't been caught in time, we'd have gone up in smoke for sure, because I think I was sleeping.



Norwich, NY

I am looking forward to spring, but not because I hate winter. In spring after they clean the sidewalks and roads up, I will be driving around on "Jazzy" my mobility chair. I had so much fun on it last year. I can't wait to get back out on it again. I have some new places to explore and new activities to try!






Copyright © 2020 Kathleen G. Lupole
All Photographs Copyright © 2020  Kathleen G. Lupole
Updated 2021



 

1 comment:

Unknown said...

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