When I thought of offering a "TOAST" to the YEAR-THAT-WAS...

*ALMOST* FRYING THE MICROWAVE IS **NOT** WHAT I HAD IN MIND!!

"SAFETY" NOTE

Always. **ALWAYS** "DOUBLE"-CHECK the TIMER **SETTINGS**

before Pressing the START-BUTTON

on Your Microwave-Oven!!

And THEN, **CHECK-IT-AGAIN**!!

Who knew that CHOCOLATE-CHIPS could "BURN" *THAT* quickly..? And, SMOKE that MUCH... Whilst the Pita-Bread and Paper-Towel remained *mostly* UNscathed.

well... At least, IT *wasn't* "POPCORN"! -- *AND*, that the MACHINE **STILL** WORKS!!

..so far...

However, that "BURNT-CHOCOLATEY-TOAST"-SMELL continues to PERMEATE throughout the HOUSE! - [Thankfully, I had managed to Clear the Worst of IT *before* IT could set-off the ALARM!]

oh! BTW, and did I "mention", that I'm kinda starting out

"THE-NEW-YEAR" on MOTHER's

"NOT-My-*Favourite*-Progeny-Right-Now"-SH*T-LIST..?

-- yeah... I'll probably be on IT for at LEAST a Week, or "WHENever" - [*IF*] - the SMELL goes AWAY... Whichever LASTS the *LONGEST*! -- With ANY *Luck*, I'll have LOTS of Shovelling to DO Tomorrow... OUTSIDE!

ANYHOO... I do HOPE that the REST of YOU are having a **BETTER TIME**!!

**HAPPY NEW YEAR**!!

**********************************************************************

"ZZ-TOP"

.




PATONS
"Classic Wool"
- 100% New WOOL
- [made in TURKEY]
- Colour: 77404-Orchid



******************************************************************

"SOME ASSEMBLY MAY BE REQUIRED"

THANK "ELFIS", MOTHER OWNS MORE "TOOL-KITS" THAN A HARDWARE STORE! - [And that's just What's kept *in* the Kitchen!]

 

-- yeah...*That* "SOCKET-BIT" will FIT...

 

Sooo... About that "ROOF-RAKE" I bought the Other Day... To be more accurate, IT's really more of a "SCOOP" than an actual "RAKE".

 

And, I suppose that the Primary "SALES-PITCH" is all about the "POLE"-part, with ITS "Universal"-Standard-Sized "SCREW-ON"-END-BIT..? -- You know, so I can "PAINT WALLS" or "SWAT BUGS" without the need of a Ladder or Shotgun...

 

okay. So inside "The BOX" that came with The POLE, We have...

• the 20-Inch-[or so]-Long-PLASTIC-"SCOOP"
• the Foot-Long-POLE-bit that Screws onto The POLE
• 2 METAL-"STRUTS" -- *NOTE* - The "Pole-Attachment"-ENDS are just minutely *concave*...
• 2 SMALL BOLTS
• 2 LARGE BOLTS -- *NOTE* - One is just *slightly* Longer than the Other
• 3 "ROUND"-NUTS
• 1 "SQUARE"-NUT that looks awfully *rounded*...
• an "INSTRUCTION"-SHEET with rather DARK "Photos", that is so VAGUE, IT makes any "IKEA"-One look like the ROSETTA STONE!

 

alrighty... How *HARD* can THIS be, huh?

 

• Had to look at The BOX "Picture" to figure-out WHICH Direction the POLE-Bit had to go.
• Thankfully, the SQUARE-NUT and the SMALL-BOLTS fitted into Hole-wells...
• hmm... I "GUESS" that the LONGER BOLT goes on the Bottom..?!
• seriously? - "WHY" are the NUTS *only* HALF-THREADED?? -- One bad TUG of Heavy-SNOW and I'll end up LOSING *all* of the Hardware!
• [INSERT MOTHER's "TOOLS" to the Rescue!]
• wow. These INSTRUCTIONS really are *Disgustingly* BAD!
• I just HOPE the STRUTS don't get "in the way" of the SNOW...

 

MEANWHILE... I REALLY *should* have STAYED HOME Yesterday - [instead of doing GROCERY-GETTING] - to do the SNOW-CLEAN-UP *while* the Temps were ABOVE "FREEZING"... As THIS "CONTRAPTION would *probably* have WORKED, *THEN*!

 

Overnight-Temps had DROPPED! -- ALL of that MELTWATER and SNOW-POOP *FROZE*!! - There's "Zamboni"-ICE EVERYWHERE! And that CRUSTY-ICE-LAYER covering all of the SNOW is now, a HALF-INCH Thick! -- NO way was that PLASTIC-"SCOOP" going to Break *any* of IT without a good bit of "Power" behind IT, that then *would* have DAMAGED the ROOF!!

 

I *MISSED* My Weather-"WINDOW"-of-Opportunity!!

 

[cheap-half-threaded-square]-*NUTS*!!

 

*****************************************************************

yeah, so about that "DAYLIGHT"...

IT JUST WASN'T HAPPENING... Although, IT was WARM Out! -- The SOUNDS of "MELT-WATER" were EVERYWHERE... And THE SKIES, *OVERCAST*!

I really *should* have Spent the Day "Breaking-IN" My New ROOF-RAKE on the Softening SNOW..? BUT, We were nearly OUT of YOGURT - [for FATHER] - and a Few OTHER-ITEMS...

We also dropped by The SALLY-ANN to have a LookSee... The Place was pretty much PICKED-OVER. However, I did manage to FIND a Few Heavy GLASS CANISTERS that had Recently "come-IN". -- They could end-up being USEFUl...

MEANWHILE... HERE's that *FINISHED* HAT! -- The PINK-One just might get Done, *Tomorrow*..?

"DIAMOND-BLACK"

PATONS
"Classic Wool"
- 100% New WOOL
- [made in TURKEY]
- Colour: 00226-Black

***************************************************************

"..We interrupt This BLOOG-Time...

...TO MAKE THIS IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT..."

That *FIRST* "BLACK HAT" has *just* been COMPLETED!!

[INSERT The sound of *Cheering* ELVES! ...from whatever Tropical-BARSTOOL They happen to be perched upon...]

HOWEVER, the "HOUR" is quite LATE! And, I have to be UP in a FEW Hours for SATURDAY-SHOP-FARI-ing, so NO "BABY-PICS" for Tonight! -- Actually, I'll try to do Them in "DAYLIGHT" - IF there *is* ANY - seeing as IT is "BLACK"...

Anyway, TODAY was just a BORING-Minor-Chores-NO-Shovelling Day. But, IT *was* SUNNY for a change! -- [Making a "NOTE" on My Calendar right now...]

okay... Going TO Bed NOW!

**************************************************************

IT's "BOXING DAY"! - So *of course*, We bought BOXES!!

AND, *YARN*!! LOTS AND *LOTS* OF YARN... Can't ever FORGET the YARN...

Besides, We were at THE STORE for *over* TWO HOURS! -- MOTHER likes to take Her "Time" *SIFTING* through the "ON-SALE"-MINUTIA... I think it might have taken Me all of TWO-MINUTES to pack away Those 25-BALLS of "BABY WOOL" into My Cart!

They were *really* ON-SALE. PLUS, there was a 25%-OFF-EVERYTHING-COUPON just for Today. *ALL* Day! -- I had an Extra One that I ended up giving to This SWEET-LITTLE-93-YEAR-OLD-LADY and Her Daughter... Apparently, She's only been KNITTING for *just* a Couple of Years! - And, does rather Nice Work - [She showed off Her Lovely Multi-Coloured Vest]

So... The "PHOTO"-BOXES were down to $1.66 again - ["before" The-COUPON] - We BOTH got Some. -- I really have to Start *FILLING* the OTHER "20"-or-so that I already own and are TAKING-UP-*SPACE*!! - Just as soon as I can FIND a *SPOT* to Stack Them "safely"...

Anyhoo, We needed 2-Carts to house the TEN-of-Them whilst We went SHOP-FARI-ing for *more* BARGAINS...

oh. Look! The Little-Bags of GLASS-PEBBLES are only a DOLLAR - for Today *ONLY*...
I have a "thing" for THOSE, too... I could probably Cover a WALL with the Amount of PEBBLES that I already have! - Who needs to bother buying Glass-Tiles..?

MEANWHILE... Previous to Our leaving the HOUSE, there there had been the odd "Light"-SNOW-SQUALL of Teeny-Snow-Pellets... Hence, a QUICKIE-15-Minute-SHOVELLING was in order. - Just in Time for MADAME-Q to Drive-IN for a 5-Minute-VISIT!

However, the ROADS were My PRIMARY "Concern"... Just a tad too GREASY in that SHINY-BRIGHT-SUNLIGHT for My Liking. - BUT, MOTHER *WANTED* to go OUT!

When We had *finally* DEPARTED from MICHAEL'S - [only] - with the 2-CARTLOADS, "DUSK" and FLAKES were upon Us... About 15-Minutes later, *just* after Entering LOBLAWS, Ginormous-FLUFFY-FLAKES were coming DOWN!

An Hour afterward, and I was Brushing-OFF a good 3-Inches of IT from The CAR... And, the ROADS were like Driving on PEANUT-BUTTER! - Managed to get HOME without "Spinning-Out"! By THEN, the PRECIPITATION had subsided for the most part...

However, I still had Road-Poop to remove from My Wheel-Wells before going into the Garage. And, to SHOVEL the Walkway before UN-loading Our BOXING-DAY-BARGAIN-BOOTY. Once done, I was looking at a HALF-Shovelled Laneway...

ohhh...what the hell... I spent the Next Few Minutes Clearing-AWAY the Couple of Inches of FRESH-FLUFF on the remainder of the Driveway. LESS for Me to DO, Tomorrow... *IF* I even "have to"..? - I was "Planning" on doing some LAUNDRY instead. Perhaps, make some *SPACE* for Those BOXES..? And, *STASH* The YARN!

UNTIL Then, IT's LATE-ish and I did *want* to get some STITCHINESS "done"... So, I'm gonna stick "The LID" on THIS and Post IT!

***************************************************************

"CHEERS"!

PATONS

"Classic Wool"

- 100% New WOOL

- [made in TURKEY]

- Colour: 00230-Bright Red

- Colour: 00202-Aran

- Colour: 00226-Black

******************************************************************

"BOUGHS of BLING" in a SPACE Where No ORNAMENT Has Gone Before...

"SOME"-PEOPLE have "ADVENT"-CALENDARS...

MY SISTER has an ADVENT-"FOREST"!!

Or at least, it *seems* THAT way! -- Given the Floor-"SPACE", She'd stick a "THEME"-TREE in *EVERY* Room!!

HERE are a FEW from *This* YEAR's "SELECTION"...

SISTER's "SHINY-WHITE-BLING" TREE

The "SANTAS" are What Our Sister-In-Law, MAID-MARE, makes!

BIG-D's "SCI-FI" TREE

I think just about EVERY "Sci-Fi" *HALLMARK* ORNAMENT from the Past 20-YEARS is probably on This THING!

The "POWDER-ROOM" MINI-TREE

For MANY of YOU, IT's "THAT TIME" already!

Sooo...

**MERRY CHRISTMAS**!!

*HUGS* from AUNTIE "STASHER"

****************************************************************

WOOHOO!! -- I *ESCAPED*!!

GRANTED, ABOUT 5-MINUTES OF "TUNNELLING" WAS INVOLVED... But, Me and THE CAR finally made it *OUT*!! YAY!!!

so. Typical TWO-DAYS-BEFORE-CHRISTMAS-CROWDS... Although, to be honest, TRAFFIC was just *slightly* LESS than what I was "DREADING". However, the GREASY Roads kind of made-up for it... Not to mention, the "PEANUT-BUTTER"-like SLUSH in the Parking Lots!

okay. "WHAT" I said about the TRAFFIC... There was an EXCEPTION. That LAST KILOMETER before COSTCO took about 15-Minutes, *instead* of the Usual-TWO! -- Also,  the RUSH-HOUR TRAFFIC that I got caught in LATER from TRAINYARDS to THE-MALL, doesn't Count.

ANYHOO... Despite ONLY going to FIVE-PLACES, it still took Me almost AS many HOURS to *do* so! -- A LONG-DAY... But, at least I wasn't SHOVELLING - *THEN*!

As to the DAY's "HIGH-LIGHTS"...

• Got a Parking-Space right off at COSTCO! [SHOCK!]
• Bought *Myself* a 6-FT ALUMINUM ROOF-RAKE-POLE! - That I *just* managed to FIT into My TEENY-VEHICLE...
• "Caught-Up" with MANAGER-DAVE... Haven't had a Chance to in WEEKS!
• yeah. And, I *Bought* YARN!
• Got ALL of the GROCERY-SPECIALS that I needed...
• Actually made it to THE BANK "in Time", despite TRAFFIC and Obstructive ROAD-EQUIPMENT.
• More Groceries...
• Had to HUNT for My "BLACK"-CAR that was now "GREY" from SLUSH-SPRAY! -- I'm going to have to let IT get SNOWED-ON to remedy that "Camouflage"...
• hmm... "WHY" are there "ROAD-CLOSED" SIGNS into MY NEIGHBOURHOOD..?!
• ah! The NEAR-Future probability of SNOW-POOP-*REMOVAL*..?!!

 

MEANWHILE... Tonight... I only had Time to do HALF of a PANEL on THE TOQUE. And THEN, the Plastic-CORD of My CIRCULAR NEEDLES **BROKE**!!? - crap!!

And THAT's My FAV ONE, too!! -- I've made so Many HATS on IT, that the TIPS are *WORN*!

ggrrrrrrrrrrrr... I was having SUCH a "GREAT"-Day, too....

*********************************************************************

I feel like I'm "LIVING" in a Dish of *BAKED ALASKA*!

SERIOUSLY! -- Today's METEOROLOGICAL-"MENU" was about 9-Inches of FLUFFY-DRY-LIGHT-SNOW *Covered* with a Half-Inch CRISPY-ICY-CRUST!!

...That, had come DOWN around DAWN and had DRIFTED to ABOVE the DOOR-LINE!! -- And, DON'T get Me *started* about the PLOW-POOP!! - [NOT so "Light & Fluffy"!!]

Anyway... I didn't go OUT until MID-Afternoon. TRUDGED to the Garage for the SHOVELS... *SAW* the Laneway... [INSERT "Shoot-Me-Now"-SIGH!] - Decided to "start" on the DRIFT at the Front DOOR *First*...

"MAYBE" I'll *WAKE-UP-SOON* and ALL of THAT-CRAP *won't* BE there any more..??!!

yeah... THAT didn't Happen...

Once the FRONT was Cleared, I cut a SWATH to the Curb and "SURVEYED" My NEXT-TWO-HOURS-OF-*WORK*... yep. EVIL-SNOWPLOW-GUY is soooooo *ON* the "NAUGHTY-LIST"!! - IF, I don't WHACK Him to Death with My Shovel first!

As I pondered My FATE, NEWER-NEIGHBOUR-ACROSS-THE-STREET - [the One that bought MADAME-Q's House] - happened to See Me, AND My awaiting *TASK*... Then, OFFERED to come over with Her "New" SNOWBLOWER!!

Whilst My "New-BFF" got Her Machine, I CARVED-OUT a PATH for IT to get through... And, broke-up some of the BOULDERS. - I didn't want to BREAK the BLOWER over those Bigger-CHUNKY-Bits!

So. In LESS than 10-Minutes, She EXPERTLY - [honestly, "GIRLS" really are MUCH *neater* with Snowblowers than "GUYS" are!!] - Cleared-UP the Laneway and that 7-FEET-out "MARTIN"-esque BARRIER-BEYOND-The-CURB!!

AND, **SAVED** Me at least 90-Minutes of WORK and a probable HEART-ATTACK! -- The NEXT Half-Hour was devoted to Scraping-away what was LEFT... And, to do the SEWER "RAVINE"...

The Following 2-Hours into and PAST "Sundown" were spent on DIGGING-OUT the REST of the PROPERTY! -- I'm beginning to get "concerned" about the DEPTH on the ROOF... That ICING-Layer is PREVENTING any Quick SOLAR-Melting or WIND-Erosion on the Accumulation...

whatever...

At the "Moment", We supposively have "ICE-FOG"..? - I'm not near a Window to check on that... I'm just HOPING that We DON'T get any MORE PRECIPITATION until **AFTER** I get HOME from SHOPPING, Tomorrow! -- *IF* I can get OUT of the Laneway... AND, IF the Roads are "GOOD"..?


MEANWHILE... During My NON-*CRYO*-Time, I managed to get TWO PANELS done on TAP-MAN's TOQUE... Only have ONE and a Half to go... I would have Posted a PIC, but it's LATE and the ZZZZZZZZZZZZZs await!

*****************************************************************

I "KNOW" that I was OUTside for *OVER* TWO-Hours!

"WINTER SOLSTICE" -- *THE* "SHORTEST" DAY... yeah! No SH*T!!

And, FORGET about ANY "DAY"-LIGHT! - Was OVERCAST the *entire* Time as I SHOVELLED *AGAIN* in the FINE-Almost-Invisible-FREEZING-RAIN... I could HEAR IT more than SEE IT. And IT gave Everything a CRISPY-Coating.

I almost LOST the END of My POLE-BRUSH to the EAVES-TROUGH, too! - The Upper-Segment-Joint appears to be slightly BUSTED! At one point, the Brush-Segment was *Dangling* from the Roof-Edge... STUCK! -- THANKFULLY, I managed to KNOCK IT loose!

Gonna have to break out the DUCT-TAPE and *FIX* that!

MEANWHILE, despite there only being a FEW Inches of SNOW, IT was a tad Heavier due to the Thin-Layer of ICING... AND, the Subsequent PLOW-POOP was MORE than *enough* to PROHIBIT *ANY* Notions of VENTURING-OUT to SHOP-FARI!!

POOH!! -- I *really* WANTED to GO to MICHAEL'S!! - ["My YARN" is ON SALE! - And, I'm having STASH-Withdrawal...]

I'm even *WILLING* to CONFRONT the SCARY-CRAZY-PRE-CHRISTMAS-*SUNDAY*-[DRIVER]-CROWDS, Tomorrow... HOWEVER, the Overnight-ALL-Day "FORECAST" is calling for ICE-PELLETS and FREEZING-RAIN!

I'll probably be *LUCKY* to make it to the GARAGE *WITHOUT* FALLING!!

AND, that "ALL" of THIS *CRAP* is OVER WITH, **SOON**!! -- I *really* DO NEED to go SHOPPING on MONDAY!!

********************************************************************

I *think* that I was OUTside for about TWO-Hours..?

ALTHOUGH, IT FELT LIKE *THREE*!!

When the SNOW is still COMING-DOWN as I'm "attempting" to put IT *ELSEWHERE*, One can easily LOSE Track of TIME! - Or, just get "Confused"..?

Case-in-Point -- the LONE *ROBIN* - [who must have been on a NO-FLY-LIST!?] - that was hanging around with a FLOCK of WAXWINGS!

They were ALL Snacking on the JUNIPER-TREE BERRIES in the Tree that canopies the Front-Walkway... And, which kept Me from knocking any SNOW off of the Branches! - I didn't want to accidently Hit any of Them with the POLE-BRUSH...

- BTW, that Reminds Me... I *FORGOT* to "CHECK" My SNOW-COAT after I came IN... [there was a lot of Chirping going on...]

ANYHOO, "EVERYTHING" was "PRISTINE" once I was *DONE*! -- NOT that THAT will last long... MORE "Light" FLURRIES are Expected. - Whether We get to SHOP-FARI or *NOT*, Tomorrow, will greatly depend on "WHAT" falls Overnight..? -- ICE-PELLETS and/or FREEZING-RAIN continue to hover on the HORIZON!

And THEN, just *sprinkle* in a little bit of Holiday-"SEASONing" along with some CRAZY-CONSUMER-CROWDS into the "MIXed"-Precipitation and You really need to *Wonder* "WHY-I-*HATE*-This-Time-of-Year"..?!

The LAST "WEEKEND" before CHRISTMAS... TRAINYARDS will be a *ZOO*!!
- [*whatever* the Weather!] - FINDING Parking at MICHAEL'S will be a "Challenge"!

You know, I haven't been There in what? TWO Weeks..?! Longer..? -- A "GOOD-THING" that I got all of THAT YARN in The MAIL! Or, I'd *really* be going NUTS!!

okay. Gotta get STITCHY Now...

oh! 

**HAPPY SOLSTICE**!!

**********************************************************************

*oh!* -- IT'S HERE..?!

YAY! -- [nuts.. Now I have to Write-Back *nice* stuff to CUSTOMER SERVICE..]


ANYHOO... Remember that BUNCH of YARN that Bought ONLINE a Few Weeks back..? - [SEE 03DEC2013 POST] - And, that I had LIKED IT *so* MUCH that I went and Ordered MORE the NEXT DAY..?

well...

After a few bouts of "PONG"-MAIL with the COMPANY concerning the UNexpected Lack of SHIPPING "INFORMATION" - [hey. They tell You to Contact Them after "so" long...] - I *finally* GOT the "TRACKING NUMBERS"... *WHEN* I got HOME and Checked My "E-MAIL", *AFTER* Opening the PARCEL-in-QUESTION that had Arrived whilst I was OUT!

At least, that's ONE *LESS* Thing for Me to "worry" about! -- Except of course, the part about FINDING a "PLACE" to PUT IT!

Mind You, I am still just a bit "disappointed" over NOT getting that THIRD-COLOUR I had also ORDERED. - [Out of Stock] - Maybe "NEXT-TIME"..? However, THESE "DYE-LOTS" *do* MATCH the PREVIOUS-ORDER! So I *am* HAPPY about THAT!

oh. And, I am LOVING These 6.5mm "STAINLESS-STEEL" DOUBLE-POINT NEEDLES!
-- To be sure, the Next Time there's another "FREE-SHIPPING" Deal, I'll be getting some of the OTHER SIZES! - Although, I do Wish that THEY were about another Inch Longer...

whatever. Can't WAIT to "PLAY" with THEM!


MEANWHILE... 'Tis was a BUSY Day... Mucho Driving *and* BUSING about! -- There was STUFF and "PAPERWORK" to get... THINGS to MAIL... PEOPLE to "SEE"... "GIFTS" to GIVE... And, "in-the-end", IT *ALL* surprisingly *managed* to Get *DONE*!?!

...and NOW, I'm just waiting for the OTHER *SHOVEL* to "DROP"..?!

[oh.. LOOK! *Another* STORM is headed THIS Way!!]

*******************************************************************

"THE GRINCH" made Me do it...

ACTUALLY... NOT SO MUCH... BUT, I WAS BORED...

And, didn't really have ANYthing to BLOOG-about, *and* I've got a bunch of STUFF to *DO*! -- Sooo, for You "HOLIDAY-Loving" - [bah! humbug!] - "CATTY-PEOPLE", Here are a Couple of My SISTER's CREATURES...

*****************************************************************

Taking a Brief-Break from the BLACK...

seriously. I *NEED* TO WORK WITH SOME "COLOUR" FOR A CHANGE! -- Going BLIND...

It recently occurred to Me that My Nephew-In-Law, TAP-MAN, could probably do with a TOQUE Himself...

*******************************************************************

Did a bit of THIS... Done some of THAT...

ADDED A COUPLE MORE "INCHES" TO *THE HAT*!!

Which, took up most of My Evening... Whilst My "Day" was spent catching up on CYBER-STUFF, and *WAITING* for WEB-PAGES to LOAD!

I think that SUNNY -25Cness OUT There, was Freezing EVERYTHING "UP"!!

oh. And, then there's the Part where My LEFT-HIP - [and Lower Back] - was *killing* Me!! That whole "SITTING-DOWN" and "GETTING-*UP*" thing is just a tad **PAINFUL**... "LYING-DOWN" ain't working out so *well*, either!

Sooo... Based on My previous "PHYSIO"-Experience, I'm thinking that the Bulk of the "Problem" are the HIP-TENDONS..?? -- whatever... Yesterday's SHOVEL-FEST has definitely caught-UP to Me!

But, NO Worries... I'll be Seeing My CHIROPRACTOR later in the Week, anyway... A little "Stretch"-Time on "THE RACK" should Fix IT all right up!

However, for NOW, I *must* be OFF to BED! -- *IF* the "Forecasted"-SNOW holds OFF, I've got SHOP-FARI-ing to DO Tomorrow!

********************************************************************

IT was LIGHT! IT was DRY! IT was sooo FLUFFY!!

SO, ??WHY?? THE **** DID IT TAKES THREE HOURS TO GET RID OF IT??!!

oh wait... Could it be "because" there was a FOOT of IT and then, there was the EVIL-SNOWPLOW-GUY's 6-Feet-Outward *HEAVY*-PLOW-POOP "Contribution"..? AND, I also *needed* to REMOVE as much as I could from the ROOF-LINE...

The TEMPS might have been a CRISPY -15C, but once IT warms up, that "Nice" FLAKY-FLUFF will turn straight into Crystal-Hard-ICE! - NOT a "Good-Thing" to have sitting on Your Roof...

ANYHOO, We got *LUCKY* Last Night! That "BIG STORM" just *clipped* Us with ITS Northern-Back-Edge... And the "COLD" was what kept the SNOW Quality "DRY"!

MEANWHILE... Although He *KNOWS* that He *shouldn't*, FATHER was OUT doing the Laneway - [just to the Curb, Thankfully!] - and the Front-WALKWAY, *before* I got UP! - [It's an annoying *OLD-GUY*-Thing He does..]

Soooo, of course, that meant I had to RUSH through Breakfast, then DO the OTHER "CHORES" that I had wanted to "take My Time with" BEFORE commencing with the "SCHEDULED" CRYO-HYDROLOGICAL-DISPLACEMENT...

I didn't Finish until AFTER SUNDOWN! -- To be Honest, IT was difficult to tell, since IT had been OVERCAST and I was still wearing My SUNGLASSES! - [a Shovelling-MUST-Have!]

whatever... EVERYTHING was TRIM & TIDY! -- Tomorrow's GARBAGE-GUYS should be "grateful" for the *Clear* CAN-Access... IF, EVIL-SNOWPLOW-GUY doesn't come-by again to MESS it all up!?

Once I was IN, I still had a Load of LAUNDRY to HANG! -- I'd forgotten about THAT...
- [crap!]

Needless to say, My LOWER-BACK is *killing* Me!

-- Having to do the SIDE of the HOUSE is always *AWKWARD* and is usually the primary Culprit for Said PAIN. - Then again, Handling that 12-Foot-Long ALUMINUM BRUSH-POLE to Clear the ROOF-EDGES, probably doesn't HELP either!

I "napped" after Supper for a bit, but despite the Current "Hour", I really have a hankering to WIND-DOWN with some STITCHINESS *after* I get THIS Posted! - Which, I'm gonna DO, NOW!

****************************************************************