This year's Iditarod has been some tough times for some teams. The "Elim 11" had to wait while a new route was figured out and cleared as heavy, wet snow and an overflow of water took out part of the trail. These teams were actually past the Elim checkpoint but had to turn back due to conditions.
Reports on facebook said the Elim 11 have stayed together to ensure the safety of all.
Even then, their continued trip has been in high winds and storms. They have arrived at the White Mountain checkpoint and are in their mandatory 8 hour rest period.
Here is a newspaper report on the happenings. Here are some of the FB posts
And they made the news
Oh, and congratulations to everyone who has so far finished the race - with Thomas Waerner taking the top spot.
All other teams, besides the Elim 11 have scratched for team and/or musher safety. Condolences to the Berington sisters who scratched for family reasons.
Friday night I went out and raked leaves from the side yard shrub garden. This had two purposes, get the wet leaves onto a drier portion of the lawn so that they can dry, and remove the heavy leaf layer to allow spring growth to push up thru the bark mulch. While doing that, I noticed daffodil greens poking up. We had high winds Friday night, so the leaves dried out and yesterday, I mowed the leaves into mulch. Pictures taken yesterday (Saturday) afternoon.
Daffodil greens in the shrub garden (notice that they are on the yellowish side from being under the leaf litter)
Daffodils were also poking up in the back yard under the trees - the tops are greener since they have gotten tall enough they have seen some sun.
My region is supposed to get 6-12" of snow on Tuesday - the day my bike is supposed to be delivered from the dealership. I can't reschedule as they are encouraging people to get their bikes out of storage in case they have to close their doors for a while. I did move one snow blower into the shed yesterday to make room for the bike (when they were forecasting 4" of snow), but will probably pull it out to the tent garage so I can run them both out of gas for (hopefully) summer storage.
Okay, that is just another day for me. But, My parents and sister conspired to make sure I got cards - and they arrived just on time. Can't help but smile when I see them displayed in the living room.
The cats starting out the New Year right. Everyone has had their breakfast and now they are snoozing and relaxing while keeping me company.
Spot is to the left
Rita to the right
Rainey is in front above the monitor
Hope the New Year brings everyone all wonderful things!
Started out early Friday morning scraping the old caulk out of the tub and surround. For some reason the plumber had used a clear caulk that yellowed badly. I was finally tired of looking at the dinginess and decided since I didn't have to make it to work for a couple more days, then I could sponge bath on a couple of them to complete this project. Didn't take a shower that morning so it was dry to start with. Scraped, and scraped, then doused with alcohol (rubbing - not drinking), scraped, doused, scraped. Then finally I got out my pet dryer, which is designed to blow water off a pet's coat instead of just use heat to dry. The drier does put out some warmth, so got some more gunk softened and taken off and rubbed down with alcohol again. After 2.5 hours, I had it as good as it was going to get. Used the dryer on it some more then set an oscillating fan to blow on it while I did other things.
Moved the snow blower out of the way and moved the bike in position for the dealer to pick it up that morning. Read while I was eating a mid morning snack of chocolate cream pie (my Thanksgiving hosts had sent a piece home with me) then hand washed some dedicates and hung them on the drying rack downstairs. Then I went outside and took down the windmill in the driveway garden before the snow Sunday since it is in line with the snow dump from the roof - plus I blow the snow in that direction. Instead of ensconcing the windmill in the metal shed as I did last year, I attached the base of it on the stump of the willow tree at the other side of the house.
I had just gotten inside when I thought I heard a car door. Looked out the window and sure enough the dealership van was in the driveway. Opened up the garage door and watched him get the bike in the van. The garage always seems so much bigger when the bike is out of it (today I moved the other snow blower in there, but it still has more room than when the bike is in there).
My Black Friday shopping consisted of going to Tractor Supply (<5 miles from me) and getting cat litter which was on sale for about $5 off a pail. Wandered around looking at stuff and got a pair of Carhartt gloves to go with the Carhartt jacket I was wearing. Stopped and got AA batteries to replace those in the electronic door locks (don't want those quitting on the pet sitter) and D batteries to rejuvenate the motion activated light in the stove room. Last stop was Aubuchon's to get caulk for the tub (10 year antimicrobial - in white).
After about 4.5 hours of futzing around (including installing the batteries I had obtained), I finally decided it was time to caulk. Proof that I did something.
It is supposed to take 24 hours to dry, but this morning it was still tacky (okay, so that was about 15 hours). I put the fan in the bathroom doorway, pointing out, to get warmer air to move in better and help it set up. I'll find out if it is good tomorrow morning when I take my shower before going to my HOG meeting.
And to end this post, here are cute pictures of Rainey in the trash can beside the desk. I heard rustling and couldn't figure out where it was coming from. Usually it means one of the cats is playing with computer cords, or a toy that is entangled in said cords. Finally Rainey popped her head up.
I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving. Please take a moment to think about all the blessings in your life and then eat your favorite seasonal foods until you are nigh unto bursting :)
Yesterday morning I looked out the kitchen window and had to go out onto the ramp and take a picture of this contrail. The sunrise lit it up nicely. Unfortunately, I am not a great picture taker, or picture manipulator, so the colors are washed out since the phone was compensating for the low light.
Later I got both snow blowers started because4 they hadn't been run for a month, did some running around in town, then moved some pellets into the basement from the garage.
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Thursday I took Rita to the vet for some issues (she is okay, or at least we can't find anything wrong and she is rebounding). The drive to Peterborough is along a nicely scenic Rt 202, despite the heavy overcast, so on the way back I stopped a couple of times to take pictures.
My first stop was just a couple miles from the vet at a Peterborough dam on the Contoocook river
This Russian Olive is at the place I parked to get the dam pictures. Yes, it is an invasive non-native species, but has very pretty berries.
These next 2 pictures were in Greenfield and you can tell I stopped in the breakdown lane.
These next 3 were in Bennington along the Contoocook River. There is a "boat launch" just large enough for canoes and kayaks, so I stopped there to take pictures of an island in the river
And the far bank was looking pretty nice too. Too bad I just had my phone and not my camera as I couldn't zoom enough to really get the impact.
This is ome autumn dressed fungus at home :)
Way too much like work yesterday. Put another coat of paint on the back garage wall (the part that had been painted last year), skim coated part of the wall I parged (ran out of materials, so only part done), loaded a ton of pellets in the Explorer, then unloaded & stacked it, weeded the shrub garden, raked leaves behind the fence (the drainage area), mowed the neighbor's and my lawns and got groceries.
I almost have all my pellets for the coming winter, with what I picked up yesterday, I have 4.8 tons
69 bags in the garage (top row is only 4 instead of 5 since the pipe downturns to go thru the block wall). I broke a bag, so it is taped up (orange)
65 bags by the washer
105 bags between washer and dryer (that is a big pallet that holds 7 bags per row)
I have 1 more ton on layaway and will probably pick it up next weekend. I just need to figure out where I'm going to put it. In the past I have had two pallets in the garage, but this car is wider and longer than the old Focus, so it would be more cramped - and I DO mind if I put scratches/dings in it :) . Can probably place a ton in the tent garage but I'll have to keep it covered with plastic since it would be open to the weather on one side.
Oh, and to finish of the post, a bit of cuteness of the youngsters snuggled in the pen while I was bringing some of the pellets I picked up into the house. Obviously I woke them up while I was taking pictures and Spot can't control her yawns.
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