It Just Keeps Snowing

We have had an amazing amount of snow this year. We had our first snowfall on November 2, 2022, then eighteen days of snow in December 2022, twenty days of snow in January 2023, and four days leading up to a huge snowfall today. Utah County was expected to get 2-5 inches of snow, but as is evident in the picture of the snow covering the outside patio table, we have had eight inches at our house. At the end of the storm we had last night into the today, Provo received twelve inches. It has been wild. This winter season we have received as much or more snowfall than we did in 1983, the year we had so much runoff, there was a river that ran along Main Street in Salt Lake City and everyone filled sandbags. I was thirteen then and vividly remember filling sandbags with other youth from my ward and stake. We will likely be filling them again this year.

Post edit note: The snowfall was outrageous this year. An article in the Deseret News on April 9, 2023, reported snowpack was at 183% of normal levels, Salt Lake City received 87 inches of snow, the snow water equivalent surpassed 30 inches, the highest snow water equivalent since 1983 when a historic flood swept through Salt Lake. The Great Salt Lake has risen three feet since November, and Bear Lake is expected to rise 10 feet. Several ski resorts were open into May because the snow didn't stop falling until then, we know several people with cabins in Midway who were not even able to get into them because the snow was so high. It was a wild year!

A Trip to Sam's Club

I had the day off of work for President's Day, and for a change of pace, Mikayla and I went to Sam's Club. I've never been to Sam's as I have a Costco membership, but Mikayla does. We went to check things out with Freya and Thea along for company. We bought lots of foodstuffs, several non-food items I don't really need, and had a fun outing together.

 

Mouse Mess

We have had mice in the basement throughout the winter. I have seen them scurrying around, and I have seen the terrific fecal mess they have left all over our food storage shelves. It was gross and the storage room smelled like mouse urine. 

A couple weekends back, Kent and I, together, tackled the mess, cleaning and reorganizing as we went. The mice had been into foodstuffs that were in flimsy packaging including pasta, ramen, oatmeal, flour-based mixes, and other stuff. They had left pee trails and lots of poop all over shelving and food. We have three large shelving units with food storage and all of them needed cleaning. We took down a table to work off of, masks, gloves, cleaning rags, and a bucket of warm soapy water which we had to refill numerous times. We took everything off each shelf, cleaned the shelf thoroughly, then washed all the jars and cans, wiped off every package, and rearranged so that any food not in a jar, bottle, or plastic container was on a rolling metal shelf a mouse couldn't get at easily. 

The whole project took four separate days working three or more hours a day. It was overwhelming and disgusting. I am on a rampage when it comes to mice. I want them ALL dead! By the time we finished, I was so pleased with how good everything looked and how mouse-proof I think the shelves are. At least, I hope they are mouse-proof. While a mouse could still run across them, I'm confident there is nothing on any of the shelves they can reach that they can eat. 

Here's hoping we can get through the rest of winter without having any more rodent issues.

Part of the cleaning we did was to vacuum under the bottom shelf of each shelving unit. I lifted up one shelf and discovered a dead, desiccated mouse stuck between the wall and the shelf. I don't know how he got stuck there, but I was glad he was a dead mouse, not a live one. 

Sunday Napping

I'm not sure that they are really napping, but Brandt and Moo Moo certainly look comfortable snuggled up together on the couch. And on a Sunday afternoon, why wouldn't they nap?

Galentine's Dinner

Kathryn Seamons, Stacie Mason, Briahna Bushman, 

Dakin Stovall, me, Andrea Blad, Mikayla

Mikayla and I threw a Galentine's party this evening, our second year in a row. We had a delicious dinner, talked and talked and laughed and laughed. It was fun to be with friends and I was delighted to host with my sister who loves to party.

Tiny Helper

I had a small person help me with my chores today. Freya was over and willing, even enthusiastic, to help me mop the laundry room floor. She's a joy and delight!

Coupe de Jour

Isabella got a super cute haircut today. It's really short but gets all curly. Short hair suits her so well.

Bad Dog

Moo Moo has been a very bad dog the past two days. 

On a walk as I was taking Mikayla's children home from a visit, Moo Moo attacked Ellie Mason's dog Grizzly. They don't get along. Freya was walking Moo Moo when we rounded the corner and Moo Moo saw Grizzly. She tore off, yanking her leash out of Freya's hand, and then the dogs just went crazy at each other. I was walking several yards behind, bringing up the rear, and so they snarled and nipped before I could get Moo Moo's leash and pull her away. 

We walked home through the park which is covered with snow, and rather than fight Moo Moo while trying to stay in other people's footprints, I let Moo Moo go to have a bit of a run through the park. She took off way far away and wouldn't return, even though I cajoled and pleaded for her to come. She did, eventually, but I was almost out of the park before she came back. 

Brandt, Kent, and I went to a dance production at BYU last night and Isabella went to the movie with a friend, and when we returned, we found a package of hamburger buns at the top of the stairs. They had been chewed into; only one and a half buns remained. When setting the table for dinner, Brandt put the newly purchased buns on one of the bar stools, then we all dashed out for our activities. The buns were at Moo Moo level, and she took advantage. She ate six and a half buns! 

At 2:00am, she woke me, whining at the side of the bed.  She was somewhat frantically running around our bed whimpering, and I worried she needed to poop, what with all the carb consumption. So, I hobbled downstairs with her, and she ran right out. She was out long enough to do business, then we returned upstairs. I had a terrible time getting back to sleep. I was probably awake until 4:00am. Grrrr.

Then this evening we let her out and after a time, called her in. She came out from the dark shadow of the bushes, leapt up the stairs into the house, and then dropped the body and legs of a dead bird at Brandt's feet. She found a decapitated quail and wanted not to leave it outside. SO GROSS!! If she weren't so cute and cuddly, I'd consider getting rid of her.

80 for Brady Movie Night

Brandt went with Ruth and Deez (Landon) to see 80 for Brady this evening. Apparently, there was nothing else appropriate or appealing to see. Brandt reported it was funny, but his enthusiasm was not such that I wanted to rush out and see the movie myself. But he had a great time with Ruth and Deez.

Brandt Works Away

Brandt is spending more time doing sound engineering with Alan and his weekend, he went to Farmington for a gig. They stayed overnight at Alan's dad's house and Ruth came along too. They were providing lighting for a wrestling tournament championship thing. In Brandt's words, here is what they did.

We set up an archway with a bunch of lighting. The kids came through the archway when their name was announced. The lights would flash, the kid would do their "look at me!" showoff moves, and Ruth and I would spot them. When they announced the next kids, Ruth and I would spot them. We fogged the heck out of the place (as evidenced in the picture). 

We stayed at Alan's dad's house. He's a super interesting guy who collects all sort of stuff. He has antique guns. He's got such a cool house filled with cool stuff. We stayed one night and I slept on a couch.

Samurai sword hilt

Best Buddy Freya

Today was Best Buddy day at Freya and Thea's pre-school, and Freya selected me as her best buddy! I was thrilled to be able to attend the darling program they put together. The kids sang "I Love You, a Bushel and a Peck" and another song, their teachers read each Best Buddy fill-in-the-blank paper and we tried to guess who it was (quite tricky!), and we all got to have brownies and milk together. I loved it! Freya and Thea loved it! All the other buddies loved it too! Freya would be my top choice for Best Buddy, too.

A portrait of me done by Freya.

It looks just like me!

Naturally, Freya got all the answers completely right. 

Two best buddies.