Two things happened today…sometime between midnight and breakfast time, the river rose a couple of feet, adding to the two-or-so feet of slow rise we've experienced starting the day after Thanksgiving; also, from mid-morning onward, we've had one snow squall after another pass through—little mini-blizzard fronts that could make you think winter might actually be on the way.
I'm glad to see both. We needed rain, after five months of serious drought. And while it's blustery and cold out there, I've not yet grown so old or coddled as to not be thrilled by the sight of the season's first snow. Falling snow always carries a hint of magic. Not that this snow is apt to do much more than give the leaves and grass an insignificant white frosting; when it's all over, we might end up with a quarter-inch down if we're lucky.
I've spent the morning running around to various office supply stores replacing a laser printer. The defunct one—an HP 1022 that's only four years old and has hardly been used, fell victim to the same lightening-induced power surge that ended up taking out my iMac, which I also recently replaced. The sad part is, the surge killed only the printer's ability to "talk" to the computer; you can push the TEST button and the printer prints just fine. If I knew how to replace the input module, I could probably fix this one for a few bucks. As it is, the bill comes to $244 and change. Technical ignorance doesn't come cheap.
Adding to the situation, seeing as how I simply can't bring myself to toss the old one in the trash (waste not, want not) I'll have to store it somewhere until I can find someone who'd like to have a go at fixing it—and thus ease my conscience by happily giving it to them. Sort of like finding a home for a surplus kitten.
Ahh-h-h-h…the snow continues to pour down. "The old woman's shaking her featherbed," my mother used to say. I'm debating whether to make a 55-mile roundtrip run to a bookstore on the other side of town to look for Christmas presents; it will be dark long before I get back. Meanwhile, the ground is turning whiter than I expected. In fact, I believe I'll up my estimate regarding accumulation—let's say a possible half inch.
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28 comments:
Sorry to hear about your printer troubles - let's hope you find technical whizz sometime soon. As for snow - if you want to see snow take a look at my blog! Since I took those photos there's several more inches fallen. We have about 15 inches on the pavements so everyone is walking down the centre of the roads down tracks made by the few 4x4s that have managed to get out. Dog walking is not a lot of fun right now!
I hope the old woman 'shakes her feather bed' up this way soon. We have only had a skiff of snow so far this season. Your photo makes me doubly impatient for a similar snowfall.
England seems to be under a thick blanket of snow with airports shut down and folks hunkered down until it passes. The world seems to be topsy-turvy weather-wise. Sobering.
The beautiful first blanket of white is a special time for both young and old. Hoping if you went into town that the roads were safe.
....:-)Hugs
I would say you have your Christmas cards, Grizz. Just print your header photo with a yuletide message and your done, assuming, of course, that your printer is up for the job. Be safe on that fifty-five mile trip on snow-covered roads.
I love love love that photo because it's... well, everything I love. Snow. Trees. River. Welcome, Winter!
I had to skim the rest of your post because technology problems give me the heebie jeebies.
My condolences for your equipment!
Have you tried Freecycle.org?
I've given away a number of things that way. You just narrow it down to your local area. SOmeone always will take it. I gave away a 14 x 6'' antenna!
Love the post. We have rain and snow today.
I can so relate on your comment about technical ignorance not coming cheap. My dad's computer went ppfffttt--and we took it to Best Buy (my dad's choice). They were worthless. But they charged a pretty penny.
As for hanging on to the old printer, I belong to Freecycle, and there is a man in this area who takes old computers and printers and rehabs them, then offers them free to folks in need. Sure feels good not adding to landfills.
Rowan…
Wow! You really have a lot of snow. Certainly nothing like that here. You know, dog walking might not be a lot of fun for you, but I'll bet some of the dogs are having a blast.Moon the dog absolutely loves snow—the deeper the better. Stay warm and take photos.
Bonnie…
I just took a final look outside—but there's not much more snow down than I saw several hours ago…which is MAYBE a half-inch. So you'll have to look elsewhere for your thick blanket. (England would definitely be the place to start.)
This is, indeed, strange weather lately—globally speaking.
Bernie…
Not quite enough snow here at the moment to call it a blanket—more like a sheet. I didn't make the long run across town, but I went to the library, a few miles up the road, for a fresh batch of novels and a dozen or so CDs. The roads were fine.
George…
Took my new printer put of the box, plugged it in, put about half a pack of paper in the tray, connected the USB cable from my Wi-Fi Airport, turned it on, and without loading the new software or anything, hit the print button and the thing spat out pristine copies. Ain't technology grand!
Hey'll I'll do better than this for a Christmasy image. And I chickened out on the across-town drive, not because of weather, but because I'd have to face a lot of commuter traffic on the way home. Just wasn't up for it.
Jain…
Hey, technology problems aren't my favorite topic, either…so I completely agree. I understand trees and bugs, birds and wildflowers, rocks and clouds and wind over the big bluestem, rivers and critters (including such critters as Myladylove and Moon the dog, though don't tell them I said so) but computers and the infernal combustion engine, and all the rest of the high-tech stuff which permeates our daily lives, is about a foreign and impossible to grasp as the game of cricket; you might as well try to make a possum understand calculus.
I'm with you on welcoming snow and winter!
Jenn…
Never thought of Freecycle, though I've heard of them. I'll have to see if they're around here.
I figure I may run across someone who wants a free printer and could make it work. Which probably means a 12 year old kid with a screwdriver and about 15 spare minutes—all the time and tools it would take if you knew what you were doing.
KGMom…
Okay, I'll definitely see if I can't find someone from Freecycle around here. That sounds like the perfect solution. Jenn also mentioned them. Two good votes constitute a majority in my book when it comes to advice like this.
You got to remember, Best Buy and all those other retailers have a vested interest in you NOT getting your stuff repaired, regardless of how much they charge to tell you it can't be fixed. Although, I will say one salesman at Office Depot told me how to isolate the problem and what—and how very easy—the fix would be if the USB port was a separate component attached by screws (which it wasn't, alas) and said that if not, I'd have to put in a new board (way above my abilities) or buy a new printer…my $244 solution.
Ah I see that Jenn beat me to the FreeCycle suggestion. I think they're just about everywhere.
I just love that photo.. you've captured the magic of the first snowfall. We had a few flurries here this morning but nothing much.
Hilary…
I've already looked up some of the FreeCycle info this morning and will see if I can get my old printer into someone's hands soon. But I thank you for thirding—Jenn first, KGMom second :-)—the suggestion.
As snowy as the scene looked, the snowfall itself didn't amount to much—not sufficient to cover the ground. But it was still the first snow I've seen this time around, which makes it special.
HI GRIZZ-
Oh my, YES! The joy of that first snow is so exciting and energizing. Ours has yet to arrive. The picture of the risen river and snow coming down was breathtaking. "Thank you". And Grizz, if you haven't yet, please go over to my blog and "meet" Elisa, k?
Love to you
Gail
peace......
We had a dusting of snow yesterday, too...just enough to put some black ice on the roadways and cause some fender benders. But it was pretty coming down. I can't say that winter is my favorite time of year, but it can be awfully pretty.
Gail…
Today, the river is down a bit and the snow has disappeared. Still cold, though—and more snow flurries are predicted for the weekend.
BTW, I did drop by and read about Elisa…just didn't comment because I read it on my iPod, in bed, sometime in the middle of the night or early morning (still dark out, anyway). Not a good excuse, I know, but I did read your post—honest.
Linda…
Winter isn't my favorite season, but it's better than summer. However, it's just gray and cold here, and heading toward twilight. We've been out Christmas shopping all day, and I now have to head back downtown for my monthly Board of Directors meeting of the regional community health centers—so I can't even sit by the fire and watch day turn to night and listen to carols and such on CD.
Yeah, I know—the real problem is I'm tired and lazy and feeling really sorry for myself…
I just can't get over that photo.
There is just something about it that I really love.
Oh yes, Grizz, that wonderful nexcitement of the first snow! Time to get Wind in the Willows out and read about the wild wood!
...beautiful capture of the snow. Everything always seems just a bit more beautiful down on the Little Miami. I enjoyed the snow flurries too. Rick told me substantial accumulation isn't out of the question this weekend!
Deb…
One of the things I really enjoy about doing this blog is how it regularly reminds me that I'm not nearly as smart and astute as I think I am.
You and several other readers mentioned how much they really like the post photo. When I put it up, I thought it was—at best—just a so-so shot. Not quite capturing the scene and feeling I got as I watched snow pouring down through the sycamores along the river.
However, the image obviously touches something in many viewers. And I don't mean that in the sense of "there's no accounting for taste."
I was wrong. I don't know everything. What it tells me is that I simply failed to recognize the subtle beauty and power within this image. Which, I can assure you, wouldn't be the first time.
One of the things I learned early-on re. writing and feedback from readers is that you'll always be kept both honest and humbled. And I do appreciate that; I can always use the occasional yank on my chain.
Raph…
Ha! You read my mind. Just about the first thing I thought when I saw the snow pouring down through the woods along river was that as soon as I got back from my Board meeting, I'd get out my copy of WITW, cozy up by the hearthfire with a cup of hot cocoa and a few of the oatmeal cookies I made the other day, and read the chapter about Ratty and Mole finding their way to the home of Badger and spending the night.
Unfortunately, it was 11:00 p.m. when I got in…so I went straight to bed. But it's supposed to snow more over the next few days, and my copy of WITW—the one with the Ernest Shepherd illustrations—is on the mantle, ready and waiting…
Kelly…
Snow along the river—any river or creek—is always a magical sight. Yup, your hubby is right, more snow is predicted over the next few days and I'm looking forward to it!
This photo looks like a painting, almost like the imagination took over...
Teri…
Thank you. I was lucky in getting a nice snowy looking shot.
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