Saturday, January 07, 2006, 21:20
The Moon and the Stars
It is cloudy again today. This makes the 19th day in a row that we have not seen the sun. If this lasts for two more days, it will be a full three weeks since we've had sunshine.
So, when Randy and I took the dogs for a walk before supper Friday night, I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw that the moon was out. True, it was only a half moon, but it was the moon.
It has been a long, long time since I've seen the moon.
It has been quite a long time since I have seen a sunset, as well.
Later on, after we came home with the dogs, we looked up in the sky and were surprised to see that the stars were shining, too.
Unfortunately, the moonlight and starlight did not last long. Only a few hours. And then the sky clouded over again.
And now that the weather has turned cold, after the days of warm temperatures in the 30s and lots of fog, the driveway is icy. So is my path along the hayfield where I take the dogs for walks sometimes. And my path through the neighbor's pine plantation. And my path out to Isabelle's pasture. And the path to the barn. And the area around my mailbox.
It is slow going, walking on ice. I do not object to slowing down. But I have to keep looking to see where my feet are going so that I am not stepping on glare ice. When I have to keep watching the ground, it makes it difficult to see what else is around me!
Here's hoping for a sunny day in the not-too-distant future.
LeAnn R. Ralph
Friday, January 06, 2006, 19:35
Let There Be Light. . .
The repairmen from our electric cooperative showed up here at a little before 8 a.m. on Thursday. I called Monday afternoon to report that our dusk-to-dawn light was not working properly, and the lady I talked to assured me they would be out 'before the end of the week.'
We must have been the first on their "to do" list for the day on Thursday.
Randy goes to work later on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so, seeing as he had not yet left for work, we both went outside.
"I don't know if I can get the truck in there," the man said, looking at the position of our dusk-to-dawn light.
The light is at the edge of the east side yard. The east side yard is quite steep between the upper driveway and the lower driveway -- or at least, it's steep when you're trying to back something up or down it.
"You could come in from below," I said, "you could back in by the LP tank."
The man considered my suggestion and then shook his head.
"I probably wouldn't be able to get the truck out," he said.
The utility truck parked in our driveway was, of course, quite large.
"It looks like it would go anywhere," the man added, "but it doesn't. I'd probably get stuck."
"And I don't think our tractor could pull you out," Randy added.
The man nodded. "We'll just climb the pole," he said. "It will be much easier."
Randy and I went back in the house, and a few minutes later, I looked out my office window to see one of the repairmen up on the pole and the other standing below with a long line up to the top. The man on the pole slid the light fixture down along the line and the other man caught it.
A few minutes later, the truck backed out of our driveway.
Last night the dusk-to-dawn light came on at 5 p.m., like it always does, and during the time that I was outside feeding the horses and walking the dogs, I didn't see it flicker once.
Later on, I kept watch to see if it would flicker, but it didn't, so I am hopeful that the light is fixed and that it won't be flickering anymore.
I still can't quite get it over it, though.
The dusk-to-dawn light was repaired only 3 days after I called.
And I didn't even have to fall in the culvert this time to get it fixed!
LeAnn R. Ralph
