Got Some Snow Shoveling Done

Above, after snow shoveling. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today, we were supposed to have our usual Saturday coffee/breakfast down at Denny's, but I couldn't make it due to the head cold I have. Well, I could have, but I would risk passing it on to the others.

As it turned out, only one showed up. 

Later, I needed to get some bottled water out of the garage. But the walkways needed shoveling (we got around 3" of snow last night). So, I did do some shoveling of the walkways. I managed to get it done before I started gasping for air. 

I got six bottles of water out of the garage and into the house. Once that was done, I poured myself a cup of coffee, which helped clear up my air passages. 

I'll sure be glad when this cold is over and gone.   

Thawing Already

A little bit ago, I did some snow shoveling before the snow on the walkways turns into ice.

Fortunately, much of it has already melted and the road in front of the house is about 50% thawed.

I cancelled my cardiologist appointment and will have to reschedule. I probably didn't have to anyway as the transportation department and State Police closed Interstate 40 at the first exit in Gallup. 

After shoveling, I took these pictures:

 

Shoveled Snow Before More Arrives

A few minutes ago, I went out and shoveled the walkways and the garage ramp.

The snow is about 2-3" deep in spots. We're supposed to be getting more this afternoon.

While I was out, I took a few photos:

 

Done Snow Shoveling

Above, after shoveling the walkways. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since is is now about 20°, I figured I'd better put on my boots and shovel the walkways before it turns into ice.

Above, the GOCO Beast Barn from the front yard. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

So, I shoveled the walkways and a path on the driveway in front of the garage.

Interstate 40 had some accidents overnight (one local had a 7-hour wait to get home from Albuquerque as semi trucks were stopped and blocking the highway. And this was the next exit to the east of us at Coolidge. Also, semi trucks were stopped on the westbound exit, blocking it.

Above, traffic on eastbound I-40 is at a standstill. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Now, it looks like westbound I-40 is moving, albeit slowly. But traffic is still at a standstill eastbound (I can see the highway from my house).

Above, the mesas in the background. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Well, at least I got my walkways all shoveled. Now to relax for the rest of the day.

That's it for snow for at least this week. It will be cold and sunny, but no more snow this week.

The National Weather Service forecast:

Today

Sunny, with a high near 31. North wind around 5 mph becoming west in the afternoon.

Tonight

Increasing clouds, with a low around 19. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southeast in the evening.

Monday

Mostly cloudy, with a high near 42. South wind 5 to 15 mph becoming west in the afternoon.

Monday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 18. West wind around 10 mph.

Tuesday

Sunny, with a high near 33. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph.

Tuesday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 12.

Wednesday

Sunny, with a high near 38.

Wednesday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 18.

Thursday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 45.

Thursday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 23.

Friday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 38.

Friday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 18.

Saturday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 39.

Snow Day

Above, a view from the kitchen. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Just as the National Weather Service forecast, snow arrived in Jamestown last night and it is still snowing as this is being written.

I took a look (and a few photos) of the snow and it looks like at least three inches have fallen since last night.

It appears that I will be staying indoors today, except for some snow shoveling before it turns into ice.

Above and below, behind the garage. Photos by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a different view from the kitchen. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In Gallup Today

Above, Earl's Family Restaurant with its Christmas decorations. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After our morning coffee today, I headed into Gallup to get some things.

First off, I headed over to Harbor Freight to pick up a set of towing chains that were on sale. The chains are good to have anyway, but I got them as I managed to bend the hooks on a pair of straps when pulling the mower a couple of times with the Jeep when it got stuck.

At first, I couldn't find the chains that were on sale, but thanks to a cashier, a clerk managed to find some in the stockroom.

Next, I headed up the block to Tractor Supply to get some cat food. They seem to be the only place in town that has big bags of Iams Cat Food. P.K. and her kittens have been eating like horses and I needed to get a bag. Sierra doesn't eat quite as much.

Above, snow shovels at Tractor Supply. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

While there, I also picked up a snow shovel for one of my friends in Jamestown. He just moved into the community a few months ago and didn't have one. Since I was going to Tractor Supply anyway, I would get him one if they had any. Luckily, they had two left.

After my shopping, I found myself hungry. So, I headed to Earl's Family Restaurant on Historic Route 66. I had some chicken enchiladas. I have been confining my meals to oatmeal for breakfast and something for dinner (usually chicken or salmon). Since I had the big meal of the day early, I stopped at Flying J to pick up a cinnamon roll at Cinnabon for later (so I can take one of my meds).

I got back home around 2:00 and proceeded to conk out on the sofa. 

Snow: Round One Has Arrived

Above, the view from the back door. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Round One of three storms expected to hit Jamestown this week arrived last night.

Just before 10:00 last night, I heard noise of something hitting the windows. Sure enough, we had a snowstorm. It looked like a blizzard.

Above, the yard behind the garage. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This morning, from what I was able to see since it is still dark out, it looks like about two inches of snow fell during the night.

Above, the snow shovel ready for use. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Earlier in the day yesterday, after I put the Jeep into the garage, I grabbed the snow shovel and brought it into the house. It appears to be a good thing that I did.

Burned A Few Calories

Above, a "trail" to The Beast. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A little while ago, I finished doing some snow shoveling. It was 20° out.

Part of the deck, the front yard walkways and a "trail" to The Beast got shoveled. That was a lot of snow. I took my time as I would get a little winded and I have to be careful as people have been known to suffer heart attacks while shoveling snow.

Above, the top portion of the big chunk of petrified
wood peeks out of the snow. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

But, the task is done. So all I have to do is to drive The Beast out (and hopefully not get stuck) and go to the Flying J.

Above, the "trail" from The Beast to the house. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Yep, I burned a few calories doing this.

The Storm Done Departed

Above, the front yard after some shoveling. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It is now sunny out with a few clouds.

Above, the snow has already has melted off the mesas. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The storm that left about a half inch of white stuff has left the area and already the snow is melting. I just finished shoveling parts of the deck and the walkways. It is actually nice outside and in the upper 30s.

Since the storm only left about a half inch, I went to Denny's at the Flying J to meet up with the gang.

Above, the new Good Sam directory. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I am actually glad I went as the 2019 Good Sam RV Travel & Savings Guide was waiting for me at the post office.

Above, before shoveling the walkways. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The next possible precipitation event will be this coming Monday, if at all.

Snow Shoveling Was Easier

Above, the first walkway completed. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The clouds have parted and the sun is out. It is about 40° outside.

I figured this would be a good time to do some snow shoveling before the snows begin again (as they are forecast to do).

Above, the second walkway completed. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It is a lot easier to shovel snow when it is still fresh and soft (I was told that this would be the case). I shoved the deck a little and the walkways in the front yard. I also made a path to The Beast.

Above, a pathway (left) to The Beast. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the pathway from The Beast to the gate. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I'll have to do some more tomorrow. I'll have to make a pathway through the driveway to the road so I can wheel out the trash container on Tuesday.

Snow Shoveling and Heart Attacks

Above, the new snow shovel. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Ever since my "little" heart episode last summer, I have been careful in watching my diet, taking my meds and getting some exercise.

After the New Year's blizzard hit New Mexico, I went and bought a snow shovel. Last winter, the snow wasn't enough of a hindrance to warrant getting a shovel. But the New Year's blizzard dumped 14" of snow in the area. There's still plenty of it left on the ground, even though almost two weeks have passed.

Above, the mesas following the New Year's blizzard. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Shoveling snow has led to heart attacks, some of which had hit otherwise healthy people.

According to AccuWeather:

As winter kicks off and snowstorms strike across the country, an unsuspected risk arises when performing outside activities like shoveling. 

“It has been shown by many, many studies that there are more heart attacks in the December-January timeframe,” Doctor Samin Sharma, director of Clinical and Interventional Cardiology at The Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, said. 

While intense cardio exercise certainly puts a strain on the heart, cold weather is an exacerbating factor which leads to an increase in heart-related failures and fatalities over the winter season. 

These factors can even put an otherwise healthy person at risk. 

Cold weather causes the arteries to constrict, which then raises blood pressure and pulse rate. These increases put additional strain on the heart.

That's why I do snow shoveling a little at a time.

To read more, go here. 

More Shoveling Needed

Above, a pathway on the deck. The snow is about 5" deep. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Tomorrow is trash day and my trash hasn't been picked up for two weeks.

Last week, it wasn't picked up due to the snowstorm. The week previous, it wasn't picked up as I was in California.

Above, the deck steps and the front yard walkways. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today, I rolled out the trash container and it wasn't easy. The snow on the driveway nearest to the garage is about 3-5" deep. Once I got the container into the tracks made by The Beast, it was easier to roll. It was about 40° when I was out shoveling snow.

Above, a path was shoveled beyond the fence. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

But, it was obvious to me that some more snow shoveling was needed. So I grabbed the snow shovel and started shoveling. I made a path from the tracks of The Beast to the gate next to the garage. I re-shoveled the walkways in the front yard and I shoveled a pathway on the deck.

Above, the front yard. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

All that was enough cardio exercise for one day for me. When I was done, I was pretty winded.