...end?
While we were away visiting Grammy and Pa in Maine during school vacation, we received about 6-8 inches of snow here at home. Upon returning, I found that much of the rink was still covered in a white, fluffy snow that was easy to shovel off. But roughly 1/3 of the rink was covered by a thick, crusty layer of snow that melted in the direct sun and then refroze into 'crap' ice (why use fancy words when plain ones will do?). So, I shoveled the snow and then used an ice chipper to hack the layer of 'crap ice' off the 'non-crap ice' (why use real words when made up ones sound better?). I was left with a somewhat level and smooth sheet of ice. I then flooded it with the garden hose and as the temperature dropped into the low 20's overnight, it froze nicely.
Danny and I put on the skates just before 8am this morning and spent an hour before school on the Four-em ice. We skated hard, passed, shot, and played around until Debbie made us get off (someone has to keep the boys in line). Just before we left, I took Danny out to center ice and gave him a hug and told him I loved him - 'cuz I do - and that's how we say good-bye to the ice at the end of the year. Since Caroline was at school, I had to wait until she got home and then I took her to the center of the kitchen floor, gave her a hug and told her I loved her - 'cuz I do.
By 11:00am the ice was puddled and soft. 40 degrees in late February does a lot more damage to ice than 40 degrees in January.
There are warm days and cold nights ahead, as well as more snow, sleet, and rain. I hope we can say good-bye to the ice at least one more time this year.
While we were away visiting Grammy and Pa in Maine during school vacation, we received about 6-8 inches of snow here at home. Upon returning, I found that much of the rink was still covered in a white, fluffy snow that was easy to shovel off. But roughly 1/3 of the rink was covered by a thick, crusty layer of snow that melted in the direct sun and then refroze into 'crap' ice (why use fancy words when plain ones will do?). So, I shoveled the snow and then used an ice chipper to hack the layer of 'crap ice' off the 'non-crap ice' (why use real words when made up ones sound better?). I was left with a somewhat level and smooth sheet of ice. I then flooded it with the garden hose and as the temperature dropped into the low 20's overnight, it froze nicely.
Danny and I put on the skates just before 8am this morning and spent an hour before school on the Four-em ice. We skated hard, passed, shot, and played around until Debbie made us get off (someone has to keep the boys in line). Just before we left, I took Danny out to center ice and gave him a hug and told him I loved him - 'cuz I do - and that's how we say good-bye to the ice at the end of the year. Since Caroline was at school, I had to wait until she got home and then I took her to the center of the kitchen floor, gave her a hug and told her I loved her - 'cuz I do.
By 11:00am the ice was puddled and soft. 40 degrees in late February does a lot more damage to ice than 40 degrees in January.There are warm days and cold nights ahead, as well as more snow, sleet, and rain. I hope we can say good-bye to the ice at least one more time this year.
1 comment:
So sorry that the elements have been unkind to you. You must not take it to heart . . . just remember all the fun you had in Maine.
Post a Comment