Frozen

Saturday, January 20, 2024

Wild birds frequently clustered around my horses’ heated watering trough in yesterday’s deep freeze and drank. From their perches atop the fence, watch birds observed to warn of intruders while awaiting turns at the water. By moving too quickly, I became the intruder several times, and all the birds flew away. Soon, however, most returned and continued drinking.

The frozen day was hard on living beings. My horses were either slip-sliding or standing still in their dry lot on its frozen ground. The sheer ice forced skating. My shoe cleats, which always work well for walking in the snow, were seriously inadequate for safety on the glassy ground.

My barn is downhill from my house. I worried about walking down and up, to and from my outside animals. They need feeding several times daily, but my property felt too dangerous. Sometimes, namely yesterday, my brain locks into place, and I can’t consider alternatives. In retrospect, I might have gone out to buy a set of ice crampons, but it didn’t occur to me.

Facebook helped me. Friends mentioned ice crampons, and that unlocked my brain. I went and explored a dark space in my garage, discovering long-neglected hiking boots–with strapped-on ice crampons! The boots still fit, and off I went, walking steadily on little metal spikes gripping the ice. I walked safely downhill to the barn, fed the horses, and then hiked up to the house.

So far today, all’s good, but I will test the roadways later. I’m scheduled to work and will give driving there a jolly good try.

Dear Friends: Oregon remains in deep freeze; if you’re outside, be extra careful! Diana