Unbelievably, it was 14°F when we woke up Saturday morning. That’s pretty insane for a bunch of desert rats such as I must admit we have become. I’ve nearly lost all my MN cred in these last 14 years in the southwest!
Since we lost all our water from the water tank in an unfortunate accident that broke the valve a few weeks ago (a neighbor friend was borrowing some water, it was totally an accident), we had to use bottled water for everything … it was comical to see how fast the tooth-brushing can go when people are standing outside on the frozen dirt hill, backs to the wind, holding a cup in one freezing hand and brushing their chattering teeth with the other. The only up side to the morning chill was that The Boy got to experience something that is apparently a rite of passage for males in the northern climes when he went outside to “use the facilities”. He was disappointed that the stream he produced did not freeze before it hit the ground, but the steam was prodigiously satisfactory.
We headed into town right quick, and were thankful for a working heater in our little van as we rumbled across the ranch beneath the cloudless, windless blue. Breakfast at the Wilbur’s IGA deli was a treat, and afterwards we did our weekend shopping. I was delighted to see a sign on the door when we entered indicating that it was “cheese day” — a periodic sale of all sizes of Longhorn Colby Cheese. And if your total bill was at least $50, you could get it for $1.99/lb. – but only if you bought a full horn. Well, shoot. That was easy! So I came out of there with food for the weekend, plus 15 lbs. of cheese to take home. I reckon that will last us a while.
Back at the ranch, I wandered down the driveway with my honey to see him install a nifty new feature on what everyone has decided to call “Nettie’s Gate” – probably because when we’re all driving in the same vehicle, it is Nettie who has to get out and open and close it. (The doggies came along to help as well.) This wheel is the coolest invention, and solves several problems. Nettie is very happy with her luxurious new gate gadget.
