4 January

Inside The Storm Bomb They Call “Grayson”

by Jon Katz

The storm the meteorologists are calling the  most significant and explosive winter storm of the  century, and perhaps ever, has arrived, we are on the Western Edge, a couple of hundred miles to the West of the center, which is mostly out to sea. The early reports are that the damage will be severe along the New England coast, especially from Boston to Maine.

Here we are getting strong winds, drifting snow, the roads are covered in ice it is already too cold for salt to work, and tomorrow night, it will be just about twice as cold, that will be the test. We’re not getting the brunt of it, but what we are getting is quite impressive.

As of this morning, we had four more days of this weather before it breaks down a bit, pipes are bursting everywhere (so far, not on our farm). We are keeping the burners and wood stoves going round the block, we’ll have a whopper of a heating  bill.

We are well aware that millions of people have it much worse than we do. I hope our legislators can stop eating one another long enough to pay attention, a lot of people will be needing help after this, it has the whifff of yet another natural disaster, Mother Earth is speaking to us.

I just got back from the pole barn, everybody is dry and sheltered, we opened up the inner stalls to the sheep and the donkeys if they wish to get inside, even further from the fierce winds expected tomorrow and through Sunday. Wind chills may get down to -45 during the gusts that are expected.

I understand that I can’t be outside for more than five minutes at a time, I did some shoveling this morning,  it was not yet unbearable. But it’s close.

I’ll listen to Maria and mostly stay inside, but I will help her in short bursts when I can. I’m not content to just leave all of that to her.

This morning I met with Dr. Fariello to have a strategy session about Gus and his health. It was interesting. I’ll write more about it when I get back from the Mansion, where I am bringing some sweaters and a bathrobe for people who may need some extra warmth tonight and this weekend.

Then we’ll settle the animals in for a night. The cold makes me tired, drains me when it gets too far below zero. Hang on, this will be a wild  ride, nobody here has seen anything like this cold for many years, if ever. More later

3 Comments

  1. Hello, I was just given your book, “Saving Simon” for Christmas because my husband and I love donkeys. I love the book AND was so excited to find your webpage. You are such a wonderful writer and I so appreciate your taking the time to share your life with us. Please stay safe!

  2. I certainly understand what you are talking about when you say how the cold makes you tired and drains you. Me, too! Let’s all just hunker down and stay as warm as possible. Dira, my Airedale, is funny about the cold. She loves to be out in it, but she eventually comes romping back in through the dog door and jumps in my lap (she’s small for an Airedale – my first “lap Airedale”) to warm up her cold feet. We’re supposed to get a break in the cold next week here in SW Ohio. I hope that you do, too.

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