Snow, snow and more snow, January 15 - 30, 2021

On Monday the18th, MLK Day, it was warm and sunny - so warm that after our hike, we sat out front in the sun and had a drink.  Patty even took her shoes off

The next morning, we had a stunning sunrise before the storm brought snow - less than 24 hours from when we sat in the sun.

And then the snow came.

They had an unusual way of plowing, making snow banks six feet tall where they pushed the snow.

On the 22d and 23rd, we had another storm with about 6 inches of snow.

Cars could not make it up the hill behind us.

The big storm came on the evening of Sunday the 24th - it snowed continuously until midday on Tuesday the 26th.  The official report said 31 inches at the airport with as much as 47 inches in various locations.  We easily had more than 30 inches - I shoveled 8 times over three days, each time there was 4 - 8 inches of snow.  The snowbanks out front were chest high.

Cars in the HOA near us where buried.

On the 28th, while walking the dog after lunch, I was called by the VA - I was number one on the standby list.  I brought the dog home and got there in less than 20 minutes.  I got the first dose of the Moderna Vaccine and have an appointment for the second dose on Feb. 25.  On Friday the 29th, it snowed again, between 6 and 8 inches.  

Covid numbers are still bad, with Arizona being the worst in the USA, while the USA has the worst numbers in the world.  Had I not stumbled into this opportunity with the VA, I would be like Patty and many of our friends and neighbors, searching constantly for an appointment for the vaccine.  Even with the vaccine, I now wear two masks when I go to the store or medical appointments.  And as before, I continue to go at times when I have limited exposure to others.

A New and Larger Desk, Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021

Since we moved my office into the guest bedroom, I could have a larger desk.  Now I have a file drawer and supply drawer to my left and an area to store notebooks and large books to my right.  Center drawer over the kneehole has a built-in surge protector. But the desk came unassembled.  We could have paid $80 for assembly - but not us.  The 90 pound box arrived Thursday morning.  It took the two of us to carry it into the garage.  I then made about twenty trips upstairs, carrying several parts per trip.  There were three pages for the parts list and 29 pages of assembly instruction.

But we worked carefully and took our time, resting when needed.

Finally we finished and now I need to get organized.  I have ordered a clear plastic cover to protect the top of the desk.  And I am now using my new desk.

Hiking the Red Mountain Trail, northwest of Flagstaff, Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021

It has been an exceedingly dry winter, and while we had cold weather with lows of 5 - 6 degrees and some days with highs only around freezing, we are also have warm sunny days with highs in the upper 50s.  Wednesday was one of those days with a high of 58.  So we made the 45 minute drive out to the trail head and then the 3 mile round trip hike out and back.  There was one other car in the parking lot and we met them later, a mom with her son who appeared to be about 9 or 10 years old.  A very pleasant break while we continue to deal with Covid-19.

We came across these very small cacti - still do not know what they are.

The trail is virtually clear of all snow and ice.

I had to search some shaded side areas off to the side of the trail to find snow.

Once we got to the end of the trail inside the volcanic cone, the last 100 yards was the only part of the trail which still had some packed snow on it.  We had Yak Trax with us but did not need them.

We had fun exploring a few of the hoodoos, sat and had mini-muffins and water, and then headed back out to the car and on to our home.

Another week at home with Covid-19, Jan. 5 - 12, 2021

We moved my office from the small space in the hallway into the guest bedroom.  One part of that was moving these pictures to the blue wall.

On of the gifts Megan gave me for Christmas was a New York Times crossword puzzle calendar - each day I get to do one of the crosswords and it makes me think of Megan.

Patty ordered some new baking dishes, including this ceramic pie pan that she used to make a scrumptious apple pie.

To make more room in the guest bedroom for my office, we converted the hinged doors to sliding doors.  This involved removing the hardware from the doors.

While letting paint dry, we hiked in Picture Canyon.  There was no snow except for the shaded north side of things, and even that was very minimal - did I mention this has been one of the driest winters ever?

Here are the sliding doors finished.

Here is a closer look at some of the new dishes.

On the 12th, there was beautiful sunrise but it was only 6 degrees when I took the dog out - this required a sweatshirt and coat, both with hoods up over the winter hat with flaps down over the ears.

An hour later and more than two miles along, it was warm enough to lower both hoods, roll up the ear flaps and partially unzip the coat and sweatshirt - it was a toasty 15 degrees!

We continue to avoid people and when we go out, it is to hike.  If I must go to the store, I am there when they open at 6:00 and I get in and out as fast as possible.  Whenever possible, we order online and have things delivered.  The numbers of infections, hospitalizations and deaths continue to rise and Arizona stays at or near the top in the USA.  I had my first telemedicine visit - my annual physical with the VA was done using their video system.  I am on the on call list for Covid-19 vaccine - if someone at the VA cancels or if they have an open bottle of vaccine that needs to be finished, I will be called to the VA for my vaccine.  Locally, they are vaccinating group 1B which includes people age 75 and up - Patty and I are both in group 1C, people age 65 and up.  My guess is that we will get vaccinated in the next month or so.  We continue to wear masks, sanitize hands and maintain distance form others.  This, too, shall pass.