Today marks the start of the 7th annual Slice of Life Story Challenge (SOLSC) facilitated by the amazing ladies over at Two Writing Teachers. This is the fourth time I’ve participated in this challenge, and I can’t wait to get started! If you’ve ever visited my blog before, you may have seen the Student Slicers Link-Up Posts that would accompany my daily writing. This year, I’m returning to writing individually, in hopes of adding it back in as a classroom challenge in 2015.
SOLSC isn’t the only thing different this year. The weather for one has been the oddest combination of record-setting low temperatures and high accumulation of rain, snow and ice. Last Thursday, I looked outside to see swirling snow squalls, a flash of lightning, and then heard a huge rumble of thunder. And just yesterday, we woke to subzero temperatures that combined with the wind chill to feel like a whopping 34 degrees below! In lieu of the 12 snow days we’ve had (neighboring districts are as high as 15), I’m very grateful to have survived the thick of winter in relative health, with the exception of my two sweets who are snuggling on the loveseat today fending off what we hope will be a short-lived encounter with the flu.
As if “the ick” wasn’t enough, we attempted to do a nice hot load of laundry earlier this morning, only to discover the hot water line to the washer had frozen. My ever-patient husband, began working to get things flowing again, and flow they did! Never has a trip from the basement felt like it’s taken longer than when you know a hot water host is spraying all over the laundry room! A few gallons of water and a reattached hose later and we were back in business…or so we thought.
With towels turning in the washer, we attempted to bathe our sweet girl, after she’d gotten sick, only to discover brown hot water. What else would we want to do on a 20-degree Saturday, but flush the water heater! That’s precisely what my darling husband did. A good 100+ gallons of water later, we were back to running clear.
Days such as this remind me why, despite our share of difficulties, this little family we’ve created works well together. Somehow, we rarely have “those” moments at the same time. Giving just the right smirk or silly comment at the right time, we often keep each other balanced on that precarious edge of sanity.
Here in Chicago we’re experiencing the crazy cold as well. We still have over 2 feet of snow in our front yard, and I feel like it will still be there in June. #sooverwinter!
Here in northern Indiana, it is also several feet of snow and icy cold weather…with more to come tonight and tomorrow! My husband and I each picked a date as to when the snow would be completely gone. I’m thinking at least the first of May!
What is with this weather? We’ve had many of the same challenges this year. Snow has covered the ground for most of the last two months. Like you, we’ve had to battle to keep our pipes from freezing. Just when we thought we might be done with all of this, we have reports of 6-10 inches for tomorrow. Ho hum.
It’s sounds like you had quite a day at your house. I’m glad you’ve worked through it all and hopefully everyone – and everything – is on the mend.
Happy slicing,
Cathy