random thoughts – Day 2,144 (Thursday) – snow clean

During Wednesday’s late afternoon shovel-the-front-stairs adventure, it was observed that the snow was the perfect dry and fluffy consistency for cleaning rugs the very old-fashioned way but the late hour made it less feasible. Today, dressed for the snow and bitterly cold weather (officially 16 degrees - feels like 5 degrees) in snow pants, layers, snow coat, heat reflective liners, and snow gloves, I went outside to check out the day’s snow situation.

Digging to the shed,
snow-cleaning rugs.

The shed doors were still blocked by two feet of snow, holding captive the snow shoes I neglected to retrieve the 1,000 times I thought about it since December. The sun had been shining in a blue sky all morning and by 11:30 the snow in the front yard was wetter than Thursday. Not wet and sticky enough for building snow sculptures but just wet enough to be not useful. At the side of the house near the carport, it was still shaded and the snow was dryer.

The three runners (laundry, kitchen, hallway) were retrieved from inside and set atop the snow. The larger rug that really needed the refresh lives closer to the front door/front yard and is just too large enough to be paraded through the house alone so it wasn’t dragged out back.

Dry snow was tossed on the runners, then I took a few minutes to start blazing a trail to the shed doors. One by one the rugs were swept free of the snow (and dirt), flipped, swept on the backside, then hung on the porch rail and swept again. Unlike the last time I did this on different rugs, the swept-off snow remained relatively clean around the rugs. Either I’m doing a better job with routine cleaning, rugs are cleaner without two dogs, or these new runners are magical. My money is on the absence of dogs, but I would take dirty rugs all day any day to have Moose and Winston back.

The snow shoes were successfully retrieved from the shed and set into the tiny cargo compartment of the Jeep. Most of the car’s length is under the hood, and the so-called “cargo” space is minimal in the Renegade if the back seats are upright. For now, it’s full of snow shoes and a set of ski poles, a large umbrella, and various household items intended for donation. I couldn’t fit a bag of groceries back there if my life depended on it.

It was much more pleasant outside today then yesterday. The sun was shining, a neighbor stopped by to chat, and tasks were accomplished. Remembering I own reflective glove liners was helpful and my fingers didn’t get cold during the shoveling and sweeping.

Once back inside, a modification was made to the dance costume. Brocade trim was hand basted along the back neckline and pressed using the tailor’s ham and it looked okay until I tried it on and saw that the neckline no longer lays flat. Did it ever? Suddenly I don’t know. But Houston, we definitely have a problem, but it’s now a Friday problem. Sometimes sleeping on it delivers the solution.

My necklace for the costume was located, ending a day long search. That is what happens when I “organize” things, like I did in December after our last performance – they end up being set someplace “logical” which I unfortunately can’t remember when I need to (lifelong affliction). After looking for the tenth time in various jewelry boxes and travel cosmetic bags used for transport to performance, the necklace was found today in a clear plastic bag on a closet shelf with many other dance accessories. Perfectly logical, right next to the storage bag of troupe performance coin belts and veils, except for the part where I might wear the necklace for non-dance purposes, making it also “everyday jewelry” which lives elsewhere. Clearly, a better system is needed.