Sunday, January 5, 2014

This Week at Iten's Acres: Frigid!!! January 5, 2014

I'm a little worried. I know, I shouldn't be--but minus 14 on Monday with 25 mile-an-hour winds. And a high on Tuesday of minus 1 with the same winds. What's that? A wind chill of minus a million? Cold. Worry.
I worry about God's creatures. I know He has them well-equipped, and they've been doing fine for centuries--but still I worry some. I find it difficult to believe that feathers can be that warm. How do the chickadees, sparrows, finches, and Cardinals stay warm? My sheds are all open, but I doubt if they use them--or would all fit. We do have tons of those little things out here. And I worry about Gus and Bonnie. Gus more than Bonnie because Bonnie has a lovely little warm place prepared for her by Dennis. And she has a coat a polar bear would be jealous of--thick and luscious. And she has brains. Knows enough to get out of the cold. I'm not sure Gus has those brain things. I'm sure he has a shed to go in to as well. I just don't know if he has the sense to do it. Many a night I've heard him out there barking at everything that moves. "Gus! Go inside dummy!" Hey, I even worry--a little--about the venison, I mean deer. I'm sure they spend all winter fantasizing over eating my flowers next spring, but, who can blame them? (Other than me, of course.) I'm sure they'll hunker down in Aaron's pines and be fine. The squirrels? Freeze to death you tree rats! And take the chipmunks with you!.
I, also, worry about my flowers and shrubs. Especially the Yankee versions of those Southern beauties--azaleas, hibiscus, rhododendron, hydrangea. Have they really been so toughened up--winterized--that they can take minus 14 and a wind chill of a zillion? (I know, worry always makes things worse.) We had a minus 24 the first winter I was taking care of Mom. Some things didn't come back. Dennis' hollies took a hit--but I think they may have recovered at least somewhat. Anyway spring with out the beauty of azaleas and rhododendron; summer without the beauty of hydrangeas and hibiscus. Don't want to think about it. Those tears in my eyes are not because of the wind.
Finally, I'm worried about my seniors. If it's that cold (a gazillion degrees of windchill), will they cancel school? I mean, they've already gone two whole weeks without my presence. Can they take a day or two more without me to ridicule them, pile on the schoolwork, give them more tests and quizzes? I seriously doubt it. (Even the not quite human freshmen, sophomores, and juniors in my speech class are probably worried about not being able to do their speeches for me on Monday--possibly.) Even now, just thinking about the possibility, I'll bet the seniors are on the verge of tears. Two more days without Mr. Iten--even worse, without English. Sigh. Maybe they can do one of those group text or group skypes or group twits or whatever it is they all do and have a group hug and a group cry over missing more English? Poor things. Don't worry gang. I'll just give you more work when we get back to make up for it!
Oh well, all I can do is worry. You know what they say: "You can't fight mother nature." Hang in there creatures. (Gus use your brain no matter how small it is.) Plants--be tough. Please! Seniors (and other sub-species) be brave. We'll be back together soon.

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