Cooperative Living January 2019 - 42

Margo's Winter-Weather Prep List
Rural Living | by Margo Oxendine, Contributing Columnist
I
t's winter, and you know what that
means: Time for me to wax
rhapsodic about my favorite season!
I love it when I run into someone
for whom winter is the favorite, too.
Instant kinship!
Are you ready for it? I sure am.
Here is my checklist to weather
the weather.
First, I have two snow shovels -
the flat one and the scoopy one. I have
no ice-melting crystals. I never got
into that when I had dear little
Brownie, because it might hurt her
delicate paws.
Now, I simply figure that, if there's
ice out there, I don't need to go
anywhere. I can wait until nature
melts the ice. I guess if it got too bad
- say, I ran out of coffee or library
books - I'd just take that container of
salt from the cupboard and sprinkle it
around on the steps.
I have my plow guy already lined
up. He knows that, unless there's 8
inches or more of snow, I won't need
him. My rutted, holey driveway is
thankfully rather flat. And, it is very
easy for me to decide I don't really
need to get out and about. Also, my
car has four-wheel-drive. I'll admit,
though, I have no idea how to make
it do that. I think it may just decide
for itself. But I don't know for sure,
and I don't need to know. It is, again,
quite easy for me to hunker inside
and let nature take its course.
I always lay in an oversupply of
what food I need: Cheese - grill it,
throw it into something, or even just
gnaw on it if the power is out. Half
and half: Can't have coffee without it.
And, of course, the supreme supply:
Plenty of coffee; more than I could
imagine using over the course of three
months. I have my mother's fantastic
40 | Cooperative Living | January 2019
English Muffin Bread recipe. It makes
two utterly delicious loaves. So: No
need for store-bought, as Mom used
to say. I also like to have brown rice
and black beans. And, that does it.
Except for the " fat back " - whatever
that is - my winter cupboard
resembles that of an old hermit in
the woods. That's sorta what I am,
I guess.
I make it a point to have plenty of
books on hand. I own hundreds,
which I am happy to read again if I
run out of thrillers from the library.
Or, maybe I could even read
those books I've owned
for years and not
yet opened.
I have one very
important necessity:
A headlamp. If and
when the power goes
out, I light a bunch of
candles, strap on the
headlamp and read away.
I'd advise anyone who
reads to get a headlamp
(L.L. Bean) and stock
up on batteries.
I try not to nap
on winter afternoons,
just in case I lose power.
Heaven forfends I should be sitting
there wide awake when the lights go
out at 9:30 p.m.
when you're parallel parking (just wait
for the bump!), but it does leave room
for the frivolous picnic table.
I keep a decorative blanket
festooned with flamingos in the boot.
That's a good idea in the winter. I do
not keep any snacks whatsoever in
there, though. Somehow, the mice
have discovered the wonders
of my car.
Whenever I
place a no-see'em
trap out
I simply figure that,
if there's ice out there,
I don't need to go
anywhere. I can
wait until nature
melts the ice.
I am thankful I have a car with
heated leather seats. I make certain to
always have a full tank of gas in the
winter. If things get too bad inside,
I can take my book and some water
out there, and sit in the cozy car and
read. Not that I've ever used any of
them, but the car also has 12 electrical
outlets. At least, I think that's what the
salesman said. And, the seats lay back.
Shoot - I hope it never comes to this,
but I could actually be homeless in
that car. It even has a fold-out picnic
table hidden under the boot. Most
folks have a spare tire there, but mine
is tacked onto the back of the car.
It makes it difficult to judge distances
there, there's
" someone " inside
the next day. Once,
a mouse scurried across the floor and
under the passenger seat, while I
was merrily driving along. Gad! I cut
my trip short - drove straight to the
nearest store and bought more
no-see-'em traps.
So, I am completely ready for
winter. Bring it on! 
To order Margo's book, " A Party of One, "
call 540-468-2147 Monday-Thursday 9-5,
or email: TheRecorderOffice@gmail.com.
co-opliving.com
http://www.co-opliving.com
Cooperative Living January 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Cooperative Living January 2019
