I was sitting here at the computer drafting an email when the wife and little maskless heeler came into the room.

"Do you know what you forgot to do?" she asked.

A look at the tiny speckles of glittering moisture in her hair, and the still white flakes on the heeler told me, right away.

Get the snow shovels out of the garage.

It was 3-4" already, and still coming down. Grabbed a winter coat (the one without gloves in the pockets, naturally) and went out.

Bet the pickup won't start. And I have a meeting in Lander tomorrow.

Disconnected and hauled the last remaining hose to the garage, and retrieved the shovels. Shoveled the path back to the front door. Snowshoveling is my best, most effective exercise. I'm already 13 pounds lighter than I was last year at this time. Should come out okay if we get enough snow this winter.

Tried the truck. Not even a click when I turned the key. Not surprising, since I haven't driven it in a week and the cell phone has been on. Usually drains the battery in just four days.

So, cleaned the windows on the Explorer, drove it out onto the street and parked the wrong way facing the truck.

Town cop cruised by and said nothing except hello.

Then dug out the cables and gave the rig a jump. And left it running while I returned the Explorer and went inside.

So, glad the eldest son got a ride back to college this a.m. Wife got worried by the bad road reports, but they were back by 16:00, and missed it all.

Just checked their campus livecam... all snowy there now.

Weather forecaster was calling for 1-3" in our part of the country.

Got news for you folks, we're past that and climbing.

They're recommending no travel for our country and that around Elise. Good, maybe the meeting I didn't want to attend will be canceled.

Had to go back out to shut off the truck. Another half inch down. Heeler sisters were thrilled, and wanted to play (no can do... masked one is still on leash when outside). Their mother looked really disheartened. Winters are getting too long for her.

Suspect the humidity and snow will be good for the Cmas tree leaning up against the north side of the house. Probably help to freeze the bison head in the back of the truck, too.