I have not used this for a couple of years. I am just checking to see if it still works.

We are finally melting out of the storm here in Oklahoma.

Our ice is down to about an inch and a half on all the undisturbed surfaces, and that inch and a half is spongy so it isn't dangerous to walk on as long as you are careful. We are even getting mail on a daily basis again.

The ice storm has been really bad. We ended up with about three inches of precipitation. About half of it was ice pellets, but some of it fell as freezing rain which just made for a very slick layer of ice. The kids couldn't even do much sledding. It took forever for them to get the roads cleared. The ice was so thick that the snow plows could not clear it from the roads, they ended up getting out the road graders. They were able to pry the ice off the road and the snow plow following the road grader pushed the piles of ice blocks off to the side. All of the main roads are now fringed by hills of dirty ice-blocks. They didn't even try to get to the side roads until Friday so there wasn't any question of opening school. That said, we were very lucky as the areas South and Northeast of us got about an inch of ice on the trees which then fell onto the power lines and many of those people are still without power.

I finished my return to full time teaching a week ago Friday. We had a weekend away planned and then . . . . I was greatly looking forward to having my house back to myself. The first of the storms came in on Friday. Saturday we canceled our trip to the lovely cabin on Lake Keystone. By Monday it was clear we were going to be home for a long time. We were out of school for the whole week and my lovely week alone turned into a week with my husband. Oh joy.

The teaching job was a real stretch. I am a pretty good science teacher but math is something else again. The good news is that they were able to hire a teacher who is certified at semester. She is about Anna's age and just out of school. She can't be any worse than the English and History teachers they hired. She is getting a different classroom (with a DVD-VCR!!) and she won't have my science class so it should be easier for her. My classroom is going to the new chemistry teacher also straight out of college. The athletic director-environmental science teacher dropped dead in our first snow storm and they did this major reorganization of the science department and hired a replacement for him. She is getting a new DVD-VCR also. I am trying not to be irked. Periodically, my students would inquire whether we could watch a movie for some special occasion - such as say . . . . "Wednesday." I would say something about had they seen my lovely VCR? They would look at the television and recoil in horror when they noticed that if had no equipment attached to it. Needless to say, I didn't rank too high up on the totem pole there. Oh well - I'm gone and they are still there!

Anna was home for about five weeks at Christmas time. She worked in the same pharmacy in Claremore that she worked in last summer. It was a long commute but she liked that store a lot better than the one down the street. Something about fewer needles sales I believe. She left Thursday morning right before the storm.

After it became clear last Saturday that we weren't going to be able to get out to Lake Keystone, Paul decided that he was going to stress about the age of our mini-van. After all, it had almost 100,000 miles on it, the air conditioner didn't work too well, the roof was going to need repainting for the third time and worst of all it had begun to leak oil. He headed off on the ice for the post office to mail some packages and about the time I got worried about him he called from the car dealership to say he was "looking" at vans. Apparently, he had decided that since the van had two inches of ice on the roof and it was twenty degrees outside all of its bad characteristics would be undetectable.

He called back some time later to tell me that he was buying a gold dodge mini-van to replace my car. He was the only customer at the car dealership which hadn't sold a car for two days. They were making him a good deal. They took the blue van as a trade in without even looking at it. He came home to get me to sign papers. He gave me a little lecture about not describing the blue van to the car salesmen. We slid over to the car dealership and they seemed quite bemused that we had no interest in taking the new van home that day. There was no way we could have gotten it up the hill on our driveway. We took the blue van over on Tuesday and brought the new van home. I finally drove it today. It is really nice. It even has a DVD player so Paul and I will be able to watch movies while we are camping if we want to.

I have about six weeks of work to do before I will be caught up around here. I was able to get the house plants inside from the front porch last fall but they have been neglected and it will take me some time to get them all watered and pruned. I took several plants to school and those look better than the ones that stayed home. I got the amaryllis in before the snows first hit but they are all in the basement waiting to be planted. All the frogs are well and happy and waiting for their tanks to be cleaned. The birds and the squirrels are happy I am back home so I can feed them more often. The possums are no where to be seen. I have lots of things to sew and of course there is the neglected diet to get back to. Oh well.

Snow Days!!

We are here in the house for a second day. This is our second snow day this week. Snow days are like found time, since you didn't know they were coming you didn't arrange anything to do, and since you can't go anywhere you just get to hang out around the house, eat too much food and be generally lazy. Of course, Paul goes absolutely nuts when he has to stay in the house and he has to be gently reminded that organizing his wife is not an acceptable option. Okay, sometimes the reminder has to be other than gentle.

This all started Wednesday. We have had abnormally warm weather. We have been outside on our patio enjoying an evening fire almost every night since September when it got cool enough to be outside late in the evening. It was about sixty degrees Tuesday night. We sat outside in front of the fire, toasted sausage and had a wonderful time.

We headed off to school the next day, the weather people on the local stations had been predicting a storm for about a week. Their predictions began with a 20% possibility of snow. The percentages went up as the week proceeded and eventually it was a 100% possibility of snow. Then they started predicting the amount of snow. Although predicting snow amounts is really difficult, this was their opportunity for their 15 minutes of fame.

The temperature fell drastically as the day lengthened Tuesday. As the temperature fell the inches of snow predicted went up. The one to two inches that we began the day with were four to eight inches by the time we left school. About noon it began to rain and we had about half an inch of rain before we left school. Now, we are in the midst of a drought so any moisture is a welcome thing even if it is very cold rain. Paul and I never even gave a thought to the possibility that school would be closed. The rain changed over to a sleet mixture about the time it began to get dark. It sleeted off and on all night.

Those of us who had told our students that the ground was too warm to allow anything to stick were proven wrong. When we got up the next morning there was about an inch of icy stuff on the ground. The puddles from the previous evening had frozen and the sleet was in a nasty but still crunchy layer on top of the ice. School was cancelled sometime in the wee hours. The weather people were on the television continually. They no longer announce the sky is falling. They get out their charts and describe to us over and over exactly how the sky will be falling. The BIG STORM, they breathlessly told us, wasn't even here yet. We would still be getting six to eight inches of snow to go on top of the now rumored to be one to three inches of ice that was on the ground. We were all told to STAY HOME!!!!

Paul regards icy roads as an opportunity to get out and go shopping without crowds. There has never been a snow storm which caused him to stay inside. We didn't go anywhere all day. He was roaming the house looking for things to do. He talked with Irene at least twice. She was getting the same weather that we were, just a bit later. Then he decided he would run the floor cleaning robots and most of the day there were a small round things roaming the floors. Ralph and Alice, the Roomba and the Scooba, have become like family members. Family members that clean without taking back!!! My favorite!!!!

I decided I would take the leftover popcorn out to the animals. I feed the birds and squirrels and I don't even mind feeding a possum or two as long as they stay out of the house. I couldn't get the kitchen door open because there was a drift of ice pellets in front of the door. So, I decided to go out and get into the back yard through the gates. Both gates were frozen shut. We have no access to our back yard.

It continued to sleet off and on until it began to change over to snow in the early afternoon. The weather people had taken over all the local stations and were gleefully pointing out bands of yellow and purple on the radar loops and making wild predictions of up to 20 inches as they congratulated themselves on their wonderful predictive abilities. They even issued a blizzard warning (the first in the history of Northern Oklahoma) for the counties just to the West and North of us. Those of us left at home were considerably less gleeful about the entire thing.

The school system gave up about four in the afternoon and cancelled school for today. We got 10.4 inches of snow. All three turnpikes have been closed. But the sun is shining and there is plenty of snow for the kids to go sledding. Paul is over at the other computer working on some curriculum scheme and I plan to use the day to catch up on my lesson plans for the week after next and, of course, I will do some sewing.

I have attached some pictures. One is a view of our inaccessible back yard taken through the picture window in our kitchen. The other is a view down the street from the front porch.

Sneaky Strikes a Pose

This is sort of a "Where's Waldo" picture if you look

carefully you can see Sneaky scampering off

into the distance

Sneaky isn't the least bit happy aboout

his forthcoming trip

to the Historical society

Santa Possum?

Well I thought the battle was over,

Last night we were sitting around in our pajamas watching a new episode of "Without a Trace." I was contemplating the joy of returning to my classroom. (I am one third finished - you know you really aren't excited about a chore when you have it divided into parts and you eagerly look forward to the next fractional part being over)

Out in the kitchen I hear some rustling. Not loud, but definitely something. I asked Paul if he heard anything. Of course, he said "No."

I heard it again - I assured him that there was indeed a noise in the kitchen that wasn't natural. I put the television on "mute." I, once again, assured him there was a noise in the kitchen.

We briefly plotted our attack. He would go in through the hall door to the kitchen and I would take the den door. He moved through the hall, stopping only long enough to empty the laundry which was in the laundry basket into a pile on the floor. I flipped on the light and advanced from the other side. We were going to get that thing cornered!

Paul noticed the noise was coming from the kitchen trash can. The possum spotted us and he climbed up the inside of the trash can and leapt from the top. Paul caught him in mid-air in the laundry basket. The possum was startled and not the least bit amused about being in the laundry basket. Paul yelled. "Get the lid!"

Now, I had been organizing the kitchen and all of the camping boxes had been stored away, most of them in the garage. But one, just one, was in a cabinet in the kitchen. I drug the box out and removed the lid and slammed it into the laundry basket.

We peered into the basket. Sure enough, it was a possum. We named him Sneaky - keeping with the "S" theme here. He was about 50% bigger than Snarl and Stretch. Paul says "I've got to get this guy's picture." So, he proceeds upstairs to get the camera and leaves me holding down the lid so the critter can't escape.

Pretty soon he returns with the camera. We crack the lid and take a look at him. Paul takes his picture several times. He doesn't like the flash - too bad. He growls at us. You know, this was the first Possum language I had heard. I must say it was not pleasant. He growled at us several more times. Oh well.

Paul headed off to get his car keys. We briefly considered changing out of our jamis - but as we know the route so well we decided against it.

We headed down to the historical society and put the laundry basket with Sneaky in it into the monkey grass. I took the lid off so he could climb out. He just sat there. Finally Paul turned the basket on its side so he could get a picture of Sneaky ambling into the monkey grass. Sneaky took off like he was a Possum with a mission. Paul took a picture, and if you look carefully, you can just make out Sneaky running as fast as his little legs can carry him.

We get home, "Without a Trace" is now over - I missed the ending and I am just hoping that the possum population is going to be among the missing in my future. We retire to our patio to watch the fire in our new outdoor fire bowl and contemplate from where this new underground insurgency is assaulting our home. I question whether they could be getting in through the roof. Paul assures me that is impossible. However, perhaps they could be coming down the chimney. There is a hole in the flue from the gas heater but it just seems "too far" for a possum to have traveled. He will look at it later and see about bricking up the hole.

Now, you see, this is another story. Lo, many moons ago, we purchased a gas water heater. It lasted way beyond its predicted life. It never really made enough hot water, which made for many family arguments, but it was reliable and there never was a good reason to replace it. Several summers ago, just as we were leaving for Tahiti, it began to leak. Not aggressively, but enough that it was certain that we were going to have to replace it.

Paul called the plumber, then he left on an errand and told me to purchase a LARGE gas water heater and have the plumber's guys install it. The plumber came out and just shook his head. It seems as though the water heater was vented into the brick chimney, which was perfectly safe, but the chimney had to be lined to meet the current code which had been updated after the war. I decided it would be best if I didn't inquire just which war he was referring to. He recommended an electric water heater. Where, he inquired was our electric box? He collapsed in a fit of giggles upon seeing our electric box and gave us the name of an electrician. It seems the electric codes had also been updated, same war I am sure.

After we came back from Tahiti, we had the house rewired. Then we got an electric water heater and our problems were solved. No one ever thought to block the opening into the very tall chimney.

So, this evening, I decide I will go down into the basement and check around and see if I can find this hole. Sure enough it is about four inches square just right above the new water heater. And there. . . . . . . . on the top of the water heater are . . . . . . possum prints!!!!!! At last, we have found out how they are getting into the house. They are climbing to the roof, entering a brick chimney and climbing down 35 feet, coming out into the basement, climbing the stairs to the kitchen and searching the kitchen for snacking opportunities. Now, that's determination!!

I call Paul and tell him there are possum prints on the water heater. He comes down and agrees with me. He rummages around and finds some mortar and blocks the hole. I hope we have solved our problem.

So that is where we are. The next possum is going to climb down forty feet and be disappointed. He will then turn around and return to the environment. At least that's my hope.

Theeeeer're Back

Your favorite pest

Just when we thought it was safe

Sneaky was discovered raiding the kitchen trash cans

He is now history

Story and pictures to follow

later . . .

School tomorrow

maybe much later

Mission Accomplished

When I last wrote I had cornered a possum, snacking on refried beans, in the trash can and I was waiting for Paul to get up so we could deal with him.

Paul came down the stairs earlier than usual. He was bleary-eyed but determined. He said we had to deal with the possum before we went to school. I was sure we could wait until that evening. But, Paul assured me the possum would cook in the trash can during the day and then we would have an even worse problem. I was persuaded to get dressed so we could launch into possum retrieval and delivery mode.

We went out the door. I removed the step stool from the top of the can. Paul peered in and questioned whether there was even a possum there. I assured him that one was in there when I put the lid on the can.

He got out his gloves and began removing the now moldy remains of the trash that hadn't come out of the can the last time the trash men had emptied it. He was almost to the bottom of the can when there, under a pineapple top, was a possum. He grabbed him and put him in the laundry basket and I clamped on the lid. I am getting good at this! We named him Stinky.

Paul went inside and got the car keys and I headed for the car. Of course, by now it is getting light, and I am worried about being seen making a possum delivery at the historical society. I suggest that perhaps we should go to Maple Park which is closer. Paul assures me that Stinky will want to be with his siblings. So the three of us head down Peoria Avenue. We check out the early walkers at the arboretum, find a sheltered spot and I manage to open car the door and sling Stinky into the monkey grass in one swift motion without being seen by anyone. Thank goodness they don't have one of those observation cameras there. (we checked) We returned home and got dressed for school. I had to wash out my laundry basket because it was well . . .stinky.

We haven't seen any possums since then. I put bread on the floor one night and it was still there the next morning so we have either been abandoned or been taken off their nightly foraging routes. I am a happy camper.

In speaking with our neighbors we have discovered that the lady two houses down had been troubled by a possum outside her house. She got a live trap from the humane society and trapped a large adult possum. Apparently she was the mother of our little guys. After she left the neighborhood they began foraging for themselves. We simply became the unlucky hosts.

Every morning as Paul and I drive to work, we go down Peoria and drive by the historical society. I always wave to Snarl, Stretch and Stinky, or as I refer to them, "The S Squad." I hope they are happy and healthy in their new home.

If you looked you may have noticed I titled this entry "Mission Accomplished." I intentionally chose the same title that our President chose to announce his victory in the invasion of Iraq. Although I looked, I could not find any clipart of possums flying jet fighters. I am still concerned that I will have an underground possum insurgency. But, I am confident they will not learn to make IED's or car bombs. Victory is ours!

At least until I see the next one.

Stevensons 6 Possums 2

We haven't heard much from the possums since Friday when we took Stretch to the historical society.

I know we have to figure out how the critters are getting into the house. I have gotten several suggestions for places to look. But, as I bring up each suggestion, Paul assures me it is impossible. I go for the logical option - they are here - therefore they are getting in somewhere. Silly me.

So, Saturday I went out and looked for possible entrances to the house. I checked out all the places that had been suggested. The area where the dryer vent was blowing out of the house looked suspicious to me. I checked the lint that had gathered in what was formerly a window well. There was a linty folded up dollar bill there. I picked it up, unfolded it and took it in to show Paul. My reasoning was that if a dollar bill could get through whatever opening there was, it might be large enough for a possum to traverse as well!

Paul looked at the bill, took it from me and calmly folded it up and put it in his wallet. No, he didn't think that indicated a possum could get in there and he launched into an involved story about how the vent pipe led here and there and it just wasn't possible. I was not having any of that argument. He finally agreed to think about how to block the vent. He found a plastic milk carton box we had and with the help of a brick blocked the vent to all but small creatures. He assured me the holes in the box were too small for anything to pass through. I wasn't so sure. To mollify me he got some duct tape and blocked the handle holes.

Saturday night we put some flour on the top edge of the stairs that lead from the basement to the kitchen. We figured that if we saw possum prints there in the morning we would at least know which area of the house the critter was living in. Paul went on up to bathe and I put out a slice of bread to check and see if the possum had been there.

As I get up Sunday morning, Paul rolls over and tells me that he was up about two a.m. He mumbles that there wasn't any bread in the kitchen so he put out a piece so we could check for footprints. He figured that I had forgotten. Sure enough when I got down stairs the second piece of bread was missing and there we lots of little prints in the flour. I guess the thing enjoyed two meals that evening.

Sunday and Monday evenings were uneventful. Didn't hear anything, didn't see anything. Wonderful!

However, this morning I woke early and came down the stairs. I could hear a noise but I couldn't figure out where it was coming from. Everything that could possibly be edible is in cabinets with the door shut or in the refrigerator. I have even gotten onto Paul about the box of small cheeto bags in the breakfast room, I make him keep the top flaps of the box tucked in. I looked all around, checked all the cabinets, checked all the corners of the kitchen - no possum. Next I went down stairs to check the basement - not that if I spotted a possum down there I would have any chance of catching it among the stuff that is stored down there. The noise became more faint. I decided to check the kitchen again - nothing.

After some thought about where the noise could be coming from I decided to check outside the kitchen door where the trashcans are stored. The noise grew louder. I got the flashlight we keep by the back door for emergencies and looked in the first can - there was almost nothing in it. Except a to-go box from Senor Fajita's where we ate on Saturday and a possum doing his best to get into the box to finish off some refried beans. Ah ha!!

I didn't think he could leap up the yard or so between the bottom of the can and me so I figured I had a bit of time to consider my actions. I rummaged around and found a lid for the can. I wedged it on trapping the possum inside. Then, I thought that I wanted to make sure the thing couldn't push off the lid so I got the kitchen step stool and put it on top of the lid. I went up and told Paul that I had captured another one and that we could deal with it in the morning. I think he heard me.

I just went out and checked again. He's still there - dirty and smelly though - so getting rid of him is going to take some figuring. That's Paul's problem. We are in the throes of a final blast of summer here and if we just leave the possum there he will probably cook so something will have to be decided before we leave for school.

More to come.