Winter has set in now. It was 5F this morning when I went
out to feed the horses, but at least yesterday’s howling wind subsided. It blew
away the 7 inches of snow we got here so there is just enough left to act as
filler between the blades of frozen brown grass. I try to take a short walk on
these mornings just to get the circulation going and see what’s what around the
farm. Lots of fox tracks and a few deer tracks, although it is hunting season
so I suspect most of the deer are in hiding from the Pumpkin People (orange
covered hunters) wandering around the forest.
My garage has been converted back into a place to park cars
again after a summer of alternative uses. This is handy as it usually stays
above freezing in there, except during a long cold snap. It fools the vehicles
into thinking that it isn’t winter until the doors open and we back out into
another climate. At least there is no scraping of ice and snow from the
windshield and the block heaters don’t need to be plugged in.
Now for the potential TMI part of this week’s entry. I have
had an ongoing battle with a little bit of skin cancer. Back in July of 2016 I
had a chunk of my scalp removed to get rid of the basal cell carcinoma that was
making a home there. The treatment wasn’t terrible and most of the offending
cells were removed, but these things are not always completely fixed. A little
has come back so I have been treating a larger area around the original chunk.
After three weeks I get to stop putting on the fluorouracil 5% which
is sort of a topical chemotherapy. Now the healing begins. It has been covered
and will remain so as it is kind of unsightly red burn looking thing. In a few
weeks or months I will be beautiful again!
Next week is the Winterer’s Gathering (based on all those who have decided to winter here) at North House Folk School which is sort of an early winter celebration with activities, films, a winter gear
swap, and a dance for which Over The Waterfall, including yours truly, will be
playing the music. I really will post a song at some point when someone records
one and I figure out how to embed it. I have been saying that I will do this
for some time now and I really will. Maybe this will be the time I can pull it
off. Keep your fingers crossed.
you are ALWAYS beautiful! snow already? you can keep it!
ReplyDeleteAwww shucks! Yeah, it is noticeably winter now.
DeleteI can't even imagine snow in November. I'm in a bit of a warmer clime.
ReplyDeleteHope your healing goes well and quickly. If you're not beautiful now, well, you have some time to experience how the other half lives!
Yes you are. Do you even get snow down there?. As the Beatles once sang, "How does it feel to be one of the beautiful people."
DeleteHaha. Yeah, we get snow about once every 3 years.
DeleteI don't envy you your snow, especially as I know it's an early warning sign that ours is on the way, too. The wind is howling here today, the trees are bare, and the temperature is going to drop tomorrow and all next week. Blech.
ReplyDeleteI hope your self-chemo has been effective in wiping out the invaders. Maybe a little blush and lipstick will make you feel even MORE beautiful, eh? :) (We'll need pictures.)
Yes, I am a harbinger! A warm up is coming, but not until later next week.
DeleteIf I wear makeup someone else will have to apply it, but if that happens I will post pictures. The shock value alone would be priceless!
I feel the shock value would double or maybe even triple if you did it yourself :D
DeleteI hope your chemo works. Himself recently had some more basal cell carcinomas burnt off, and I think he needs to go back again.
ReplyDeleteI also hope your winter is gentle.
I hope it does, too. I did it in another spot last spring and it had very good results. We vikings are tough, but some of us need to stay where it's cold and dark. The sun has an effect on some of us not unlike Vlad the Impaler.
DeleteHappy spring to you down under!
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ReplyDeleteWe are just getting into Fall and all of us Desert People are enjoying the cooler weather.
ReplyDeleteI hope your chemo is working and the Viking that you are can yell into the snow storm again.
cheers, parsnip and badger
Cooler is a relative term, isn't it? Your cool is probably my sweltering.
DeleteThe wind would drown my screams, I'm afraid.
Ditto to Anne Marie’s comment! Stay beautiful!
ReplyDelete(Cold and dark is good for us and our skin.)
I'll try my best!
DeleteIt's terrific to be able to park a car in the relatively warm and dry through the winter. The shock comes when you have to go somewhere and park outside, then have to get into a freezing cold snow covered car. Keep an eye on that cancer, oh I forgot. you can't. it's on the top of your head. I had a small nasty on my leg, had it removed, fingers crossed that it's gone for good.
ReplyDeleteI don't want to talk about snow. We had some over the past 3 days, some has melted but there is more to come, unfortunately.
The end of a cold work day in January is the worst. Hoping the car starts is something you never get used to.
DeleteWinter is here in Maine also; but not quite as cold and not quite as much snow - but the winds do chill. I love it.
ReplyDeletethe Ol'Buzzard
It's not that different where you are, but I am jealous that you are so much closer to fresh seafood.
DeleteI don't envy you the snow or the skin cancer - here's hoping the former is tolerable and the latter is gone, never to return.
ReplyDeleteCold and dark is my skin's preferred environment, too. Every now and then the doc zaps a spot or two with liquid nitrogen, but so far that's been enough to do the trick. Needless to say, I wear sunscreen every day, even in the mid-winter murk.
I hope you manage to get your recording done this time - I'd love to see/hear it! :-)
I get the nitrogen zap now and again. At least I've lived long enough for stuff to happen, so it's not all bad.
ReplyDeleteAfter practice earlier today, I wouldn't be embarrassed about the music. We weren't too bad!
Jono--Last year we got no snow days. I need an occasional break from my students this school year. Could you send some of your snow to me?
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry about the cancer, but soon you'll be beautiful again? If only that was all I had to do to get to that state... ;)
Sioux, they rarely close school for too much snow,but extreme cold is a more likely reason.
ReplyDeleteBeauty is really just a state of mind. Of course, my mind is often in a state!
I was going to suggest a one word answer to your first two paragraphs: Florida! Then I read the rest of the post and have to expand my advice: No, stay north! I don't know your exact situation, but for the past ten years or so as I've been losing hair, I've been developing those precancerous growths on the sensitive skin on my scalp. I go for a skin check every year and get them frozen off ... and so far, so good. Anyway, best of luck with the top of your head. And don't forget ... always wear a hat!
ReplyDeleteI first "discovered" that I was follically challenged when I was 27, a mere pup. I have been wearing a hat most of the last 30 years, but it was a little too late for damage already done. My dermatologist makes sure that I do. I just thought of an old Janis Joplin (with Big Brother and the Holding Company) song, Piece of my Heart. I could alter the lyrics slightly and call it Piece of my Head and have some fun!
DeleteTake care of yourself, jono, do everything the docs say, and--yes--wear your hat!
ReplyDeleteI have to wear a hat so my little bald head doesn't freeze! That's most of the year in this part of the world!😁
DeleteI also really need to read Mormon Erotica. I still miss your regular writing.
DeleteHere's to this treatment working and getting rid of the skin cancer for good. FIVE degrees??? My co-workers and I were all excited about the chill in the air today - it was in the high 60's. From what I understand, we do get the occasional snow flurry around here. They call it "angel dandruff." Ha!
ReplyDeleteHigh 60's would feel great! I think there are about 4 or 5 months I would be comfortable down there.
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