It's been an eventful couple of weeks in our home,
with some fun things and some challenging ones.
We celebrated Terry's 70th birthday last week at home.
My plans for a homemade cake vanished as I spent
some three hours getting an unexpected flat tire fixed.
The tire store was slammed with people getting snow tires before a blizzard.
Now all four of my new tires have gone down with bead seal leaks,
something I'd never heard of before last fall.
But a delicious steak dinner with wine, cake, and ice cream
makes the world a better place!
Those candles say 70! Wow, Terry!
Thursday, March 11, 2021
Aurora, Colorado, USA
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
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I hope your wishes come true, honey!
Thursday, March 11, 2021
Aurora, Colorado, USA
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
The blizzard stalled and showed up a day late, beginning with bands of snow showers.
Snow Showers Move in ~ 1
Saturday, March 13, 2021
Aurora, Colorado, USA
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
Snow Showers Move in ~ 2
Saturday, March 13, 2021
Aurora, Colorado, USA
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
Snow Showers Move in ~ 3
Saturday, March 13, 2021
Aurora, Colorado, USA
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
Not a lot of snow had accumulated when we went to bed Saturday night,
and we figured it had been a case of forecasting hype.
We were both surprised when we woke up to a heavy snowstorm the next morning.
White Out
Sunday, March 14, 2021
Aurora, Colorado, USA
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
Heavy Snow
Sunday, March 14, 2021
Aurora, Colorado, USA
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
I am really grateful that we live in a townhome in a retirement community.
Yes, we pay homeowner association fees,
but they are so worth it when the snow piles up.
Actually, they're worth it at any season,
because Terry and I don't have to worry about anything outside.
The snow removal crew came by early Sunday morning,
and valiantly tried to clear our driveway.
Everything and everyone was sliding because there was a layer of ice under the snow.
HOA Fees at Work
Sunday, March 14, 2021
Aurora, Colorado, USA
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
Sunday, March 14, 2021
Aurora, Colorado, USA
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue All Rights Reserved
These guys are hardworking and amazing. They come out in miserable weather,
and over the years I've seen them working at all hours of the night.
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue All Rights Reserved
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue All Rights Reserved
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue All Rights Reserved
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue All Rights Reserved
After they were working around our house for about thirty minutes,
the storm became a blizzard, and they gave up.
About 10 inches (25.4 centimeters) of snow had fallen.
Blizzard
Sunday, March 14, 2021
Aurora, Colorado, USA
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue All Rights Reserved
Throughout Sunday another 16 inches (40.6 centimeters) fell,
but by Monday morning the skies were clearing.
Denver had just logged its fourth worst snowstorm in recorded history,
24.1 inches (61.2 centimeters) by Sunday evening.
Not so in Aurora. We only received 26 inches ( 66 centimeters).
I've experienced 42 inches (106.6 centimeters) here;
and once when we were in Thailand, a storm filled our driveway
with snow that piled up above our garage door and onto the roof.
The Morning After
Monday, March 15, 2021
Aurora, Colorado, USA
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue All Rights Reserved
Our snow removal guys came back Monday at noon with sturdier equipment.
They made one go at the driveway and then disappeared.
The Second Morning After
Tuesday, March 16, 2021
Aurora, Colorado, USA
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue All Rights Reserved
They returned late in the evening and cleared everything.
Terry wouldn't let me take photos through the window by the door,
and my attempt to shoot one from the kitchen didn't work.
But the guys were out there hard at it in the cold and dark.
Finally ~ In the dark of night they finish!
Early Wednesday, March 17, 2021
Aurora, Colorado, USA
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue All Rights Reserved
Yesterday we had to drive to Castle Rock so Terry could get his second Covid shot.
Our street was an obstacle course of huge mounds of snow, after two days of melting.
Off for the final Covid shot!
Wednesday, March 17, 2021
Aurora, Colorado, USA
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue All Rights Reserved
When we returned several hours later, the sun was pouring down
and the big melt was on.
Blue Skies and Solar Heating
Wednesday, March 17, 2021
Aurora, Colorado, USA
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue All Rights Reserved
I've been struggling during the last few weeks,
and I've had trouble focusing on anything.
I think it's the weight of a year stuck in the house
and not being able to see any family or friends since last summer.
Never have I gone nineteen months without seeing
any of my brother and sisters or the rest of my family.
We saw Terry's sister Noreen for about two hours early last July,
and that was it for his family in over a year.
I have not given up on blogging or my blogging friends.
I'll get on top of things again.
Just two weeks from yesterday and Terry will be fully protected.
Then, perhaps, we can break out of this house!!!
Oh happy day!
Meanwhile, I've got my own birthday to celebrate tonight.
How did I hit 71 so fast???
Till next time ~
Fundy Blue
On the Bay of Fundy
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
Happy Birthday to your husband and you! It's been a hard year for me too being so isolated. Hope you'll be able to see some of your family once you're both fully protected.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Natalie! We'll be able to see Terry's sister and husband. However the border with Canada is still closed to nonessential travel, so I can't see mine. Fingers crossed that things will improve soon! Have a good weekend, my friend!
DeleteWow, what a huge blizzard! So much snow! And Happy 70th to your Terry. He's lookin' damn good for being so young!
ReplyDeleteYes, the blizzard was a good one. We're going up to 53ºF (11ºC) today, so we'll lose a lots of snow. Terry has aged well ~ It must be my good TLC ~ LOL. Have a good weekend with your Rare One, Debra!
DeleteThat looks really cold. Yikes! And Terry--he looks a lot younger than I used to think 70 looked. That's my next year, too, BTW. I like to think 70 is the new 50.
ReplyDeleteI think we are much younger at 70 now than people used to be. We've learned a lot about how to care for ourselves better. Have a happy weekend, Jacqui!
DeleteHappy Birthday to you both! My husband and I are a year apart in age, but our birthdays are close so we usually celebrate them together. And for a few days, we are the same age. :)
ReplyDeleteI do not miss snow. Not at all. :)
Thanks, Madeline! Snow can be a pain, but I'll take it over hurricanes, tornados, and floods any time. Terry and I are the same age for one week ~ Then he gets to be younger than I am. We've often celebrated together with family, but usually we usually have little celebrations for each other at home.
DeleteI hope you have an enjoyable weekend!
Belated birthday greetings to Terry, hope he had an enjoyable day despite the situation of the world. Hope your birthday will be great. Mine is not until May.... all the 7's this year.
ReplyDeleteMy you had some snow, thank goodness we had none.
Do keep safe and well and happy.
Yvonne.
Thanks, Yvonne! We enjoyed our birthdays, and I was grateful to see my brother and sisters on FaceTime, although I desperately wanted big, long bear hugs from each of them. The isolation really crashed down on me when I hit a year in the house, but some "freedom" is on the horizon. I worry about another surge of infections here, especially with the UK virus circulating and people throwing caution to the wind. But I take hope in the facts that more people are becoming vaccinated, and many people are making responsible, caring choices. You stay safe and well too, my friend. Sending you a big hug!
DeleteThat's a lot of snow. HOA do have their benefits!
ReplyDeletehttps://fromarockyhillside.com
Yes it was, Jeff, but the big melt is accelerating! I have tremendous respect and gratitude for the people who take care of the grounds throughout our community. Have a good weekend, my friend!
DeleteHappy birthday to you and to Terry. That was quite a storm you had. Another friend in Colorado said the snow was slow in arriving but she ended up with 3 feet.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Thanks, Janie! I was quite happy with only 26 inches, thank you! Take care!
DeleteWhen I was a child on our farm, there wasn't any snow, but often total power outages. We were the last farm for that power company to come and repair the lines, then my Mum made then hot tea, toast and scrambled eggs. Years later Hugh bought me, for a birthday, of all gifts, what we then called " County Council Yellow Raincoat", as those slick raincoats in bright vivid yellow were what all the workmen wore. We were always so thankful, so I can truly realise how thankful you both would be to get that driveway cleared. What a dumping, Soon visits will be back on schedule, and the horizon will look sunny and bright with real hugs. Meantime, Happy Birthday Greetings to you both, a wonderful milestone, and for me at 80, I think mine is the new 60!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing, Jean! I always enjoy your childhood memories. Hugh's choice of a CCYR as a gift was creative and thoughtful. Kudos to him! Sending you both a big hug. My computer has gone wonky, and now my Fundy Blue icon has disappeared, but this is me!
DeleteAnd now it's back! I swear computers are going to put me over the edge! Have a great weekend, my friend!
DeleteHappy birthday to Terry. I know you made it special for him. That was quite a blizzard. How nice to have the HOA take care of it for you. We hire someone to come and do our driveway since Don can no longer work the snowblower. But with global warming here in Bradford we have had much milder winters than usual.
ReplyDeleteI know just how you feel. It’s hard not to see family. I have only seen my Tennessee grands just once ina year. So hard but we FaceTime every Sunday. We have both had our second shot but a bad shoulder is keeping me home now. I can’t wait to get on the road again. I hope soon that you will get to spend time with your sisters. Spring will make everything better.
Thanks, Peggy! I'm sorry to hear that you have a bad shoulder. Not only is it painful, but it's inconvenient. I hope you get out to see all of your family soon. I'm excited because I've just booked my first hair appointment and mani/pedi appointment in a year! By Tuesday afternoon I'll be a new woman! Hugs to you and Don. Take care!
DeleteHappy Birthday to you both! That is great that they come and get you out the best they can. Yeah, even at my age I don't want to shovel the crap. I'd hire someone to do it if wasn't it a crummy apartment. Screw that. Only time I shoveled this year was when I got stuck in a crummy side road that the crummy plough skipped. But it still beats woodticks lol
ReplyDeleteI've been a slacker blogger at my sea, so meh, blog when you can indeed.
Thanks, Pat! I don't miss shoveling for sure. I've done way too much of it in my life. You've been very busy on Instagram if not on blogger. Thanks to your cute westies, I'm getting every bestie post in instagram world ~ LOL. Enjoy your weekend, my friend!
DeleteWow, that's a lot of snow!
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday to Terry.
Thanks, Alex! We needed every bit of that snow and more. We've been in a drought in Colorado, and a number of downstream states depend on our continental divide water. So, let it snow. We won't be safe until after Mother's Day. Have a good weekend, Alex!
DeleteHaven't gotten much snow here in CT for the winter season. Glad you were able to get dug out. Also glad to hear about a positive experience with HOAs (been watching too much YouTube with HOA horror stories from Reddit) for a change.
ReplyDeleteHey, G.B. Thanks for visiting and commenting. One thing our HOA does really well is take care of our grounds. Believe me, at my age, I appreciate it. Have a good one!
DeleteHi Louise, nice pics.
ReplyDeleteWe haven't seen snow since we moved here as we are right on the edge of the Irish sea. As far as how did you get to 71 - life is like a puff of smoke, so just make the most of every day. Happy birthday to both of you.
Thanks, Brenda! The "edge" of the Irish Sea" sounds so romantic! I recently reread Shelley's "Ozymandias." That poem always speaks to me about the transience of life. I hope you have a great week, Brenda!
Delete