Always Learning

 Since I've never lived in a snowy climate before, I'm learning all sorts of things I didn't know about cold weather.  

The first huge learning was the day of J.'s hip replacement surgery when high winds (not at all uncommon here) blew very dry snow (also not uncommon) across the freeway.  The result was instant ice and lots of cars sliding all over the place.  I'd never thought of wind and dry snow creating a hazard but wow, it sure did.  So now, when there are wind warnings we'll know if there's a lot of snow on the ground, be wary about traveling anywhere by car. 

Today, another lesson.  I did get outside and with J.'s help, we worked on clearing a bunch of dirt (from moles digging around plants) and then applied the mole deterrent granules around all the plants.  The granules have to be watered into the dirt which creates a smell the moles don't like.  We know it works because our first Fall/Winter in the house, the moles were going crazy over on the other side of the house.  We got cocky and complacent and didn't keep up on re-applying.  We won't make that mistake again.  

It's good timing because the pest control company was here to apply the pre-emergent weed granules and those also have to be watered in.  We'd hoped for some rain to do it for us - but the weather is looking very clear for the next few days and we've already waiting close to 4 weeks for rain - so it's time to just water the product in ourselves.  

So I started watering....watering all the rock, all the plants, everywhere - so the pellets will desolve and keep weeds at bay.  We hope.  

There was a corner of the sidewalk where we have a pretty planter and I stepped on it once and slipped a bit.  Didn't fall - thank goodness - but had an 'what the heck' moment trying to figure out what was making it so slick there.  It happened again.  And again.  No bodily harm...but then I saw it.  Ice was forming on the sidewalk where some water had been applied.  I never thought it was cold enough to freeze - it's 45 outside right now.  But that particular corner gets very little sun and since it was very cold last night (our weather station said it was 12 degrees in the pre-dawn hours), the earth holds the cold.  Water + no sun + super cold concrete = ice.  Lesson learned.  

I steered J. away from walking on that corner and we carefully made our way back to the garage entrance from the side yard.  I'll finish up the other half of the yard tomorrow and then do the front yard on Monday.  I feel pretty stupid watering rock - but it's what the company said we need to do.  I'm not sure I'm giving it a huge drenching - I should - but we still have a few days to keep watering.  

J. headed to Lady Tamales to pick up lunch and dinner - pork tamales, cheese enchiladas and beans.