Yap Island and Dr. Rosemary: 01.28.2026. It really snowed a lot!

It snowed for over 15 hours on Sunday and let us with 18 inches of snow to shovel. And then it snowed again on Monday, and we ended up with 4 more inches! There is now no place to move the snow in preparation for the next storm. It had been snowing much lesser amount over the previous week, so I have been out there multiple times preparing for the big storm. We did have a week's notice. I had to shovel all of previous snows wide and far to make room for this recent delivery. We were lucky - it was light and fluffy and caused us no problems. We had power the entire time. That means we had heat and water! A very big deal as it was still in the single digits temperatures. Now 2 degrees in the morning seems like the new normal!

As per our routine, Gunnarr goes out at night before bedtime. So Sunday night I bundled him up in his wool coat and let him out on the porch. He looked at the deep snow and wanted to come back inside the house. Since we would only be repeating this scenario after midnight, I bundled up myself and shoveled him a path. Yes, the snow was taller than he is tall.

The next morning was no different. Neither Gunnarr nor Shorty were too excited about venturing in the snow. I was a bit surprised as we usually depend on Shorty to make a path. So now I had to shovel paths for them and begin clearing paths around the car and a path to the oil tank. And I had to shovel the upper part of the driveway and a bit of the driveway outside of the gate. So I did not take many pictures as I had no time or energy to clear a path to the main yard.

The car was the major challenge, and I cleared it a little at a time. Fortunately, I did not have to go to the office on Monday.

Not sure where to put all of the snow. After a while the snowbanks are so tall I cannot reach over them!

Birdbath.

Even after clearing a nice path for all of us, they are not too eager to jump off the porch. But as I cleared more of the driveway and kitchen porch, they are moving about a bit more freely. If you noticed in this picture, the car is moved to outside the gate. It was easier to clean it off there as I have more room for the snow. Twenty inches on the car is a bit of a challenge!

Even though it is too high for them to play, Shorty likes to stick his nose into the snowbanks.

As an aside, while I am typing, all of the pictures in my study started shaking on the wall. I think we might have had a small earthquake. Will need to check on that. It lasted only a few noticeable seconds, so I don't think the house is having an issue like settling. And the roof is still intact!

Gunnarr is wearing my favorite coat for him. He is standing in the spot where the car was.

I finally shoved a path from the kitchen door and porch to the driveway. As you can see, the paths are only the width of a shovel. No sense overdoing it I guess. We are supposed to receive more snow on Sunday again, and if the snowbanks are too tall, I will never be able to clear a path of any size. And I am sticking with that rationale for not clearing a wider path!

Shorty is peering at me from behind the snowbank. I'll try on another day to get them through their gate to play in the yard. I don't keep them out too long as it was just 2 degrees when I was out there with them. It will get warmer and we will have more chances to run in the snow.

What is the reward for being good outside in the bitter cold? Treats! Gunnarr and Shorty are enjoying their
treat in their own special places.

After a treat, it is nap time!

It is still not the same without Fionnegan. I noticed that Shorty does not chase Gunnarr, probably because he is getting older and probably because it was Fionn he chased since he was smaller.