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It's just that kind of weather

By PAT WICK

© Another Day in the Country

It's just that kind of weather — when at the drop of a snowflake your world changes. And then this week — it's like spring!

Last Tuesday the snow and sleet descended, eventually wrapping the world in white. The phone rang. It was Tooltime Tim.

"I'm on my way home," he said. "No work today. Too cold for the machinery at the quarry. So, what project do you want to do?"

This is where I have to admit that the thought of making progress on any project absolutely drove every other thought out of my mind. It wasn't until at least 16 hours later that I jolted into awareness. I hadn't written my column. I'd completely forgotten that weekly Tuesday morning commitment. Sorry!

All I could think of was, "What project do I want to do? " What woman doesn't want to hear those words? I've got projects. I've got millions of projects. In fact TTT has a list as long as his arm of things that I want him to help me with and his call only signaled that he wanted me to name the order.

In winter, it's always inside projects that rise to the top. Remodeling the kitchen at the Ramona House was at the top of the list as Christmas approached. "Why don't you let me tear it all out while you are in Florida?" Tim had suggested. "I can have it dry walled by the time you get back." Stellar idea!

He did just that, too, calling Key West as we lounged by the pool in our bathing suits, "I've got everything out on the porch. Your yard looks like redneck territory — junk everywhere." I could only imagine the sight. I came home in a snowstorm and laughed at the old kitchen cupboard all drifted with snow.

By Tuesday morning this last week, we were ready to hang the wallpaper. The new flooring was down, new cupboards were already in place, the countertop waiting. For sure, the glory of the new look absorbed my full attention and thought of spending my snowy winter morning writing a newspaper column didn't even surface.

Experiencing all four seasons was one of the drawing cards that made my heart yearn for the Midwest. How magical to have winter again with white snow covering the ground and a Christmas card view out every window. Of course, what I didn't take into consideration as I sat in 60-degree California winter weather, was how cold COLD could really be! And it's COLD. Pipes were freezing last week. The chickens were huddling. The cats didn't want to step off the porch. "Five below wind chill," said the newscaster, "It's cold." I looked out the window and more snow and sleet was descending. The bare trees stood stiff and brown. I felt for them. Even their roots were cold. I know how it feels.

I wonder if trees dream of spring, remembering the glory of change, new growth, bright colors — the way I smile inwardly at the changes in my kitchen. Before we know it, winter will be over, warmer weather already on its way and instead of bunching a rug over the cracks of my uneven kitchen door, I can throw that door wide open and relish the warmth of spring.

Meanwhile, seed catalogs are arriving in the mail and I'm dreaming of gardens with unreasonable hopes of perfection. In winter, I make fantastic plans, unfettered by weeds or my capacity for hard labor. With snow covering the yard, I see a blank canvass onto which I can paint all the zinnias and tomatoes I wish without any grasshoppers in sight.

It's another day in the country and all of us gardeners (and farmers) are enjoying this off-season reprieve because in a few weeks we'll be planting and plowing and chasing the very mystery and miracle of life.

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