January 15 – One of those blasted deer jumped in front of me and I couldn’t avoid hitting it–destroyed the front end of my car–$3,000. damages! They ought to have a longer hunting season–shoot all of them! The repairman said that all of the underside of my car was beginning to rust out from this stupid salt they use on the roads. There ought to be a law against it. Am wrapping my hands with bandages before shoveling, and still getting blisters. Did you know you could get blisters on top of blisters?

December 29 – That brat next door wouldn’t come back and shovel again, so I had to get out, bad back and all, to shovel not once…but twice, as once again that moron who drives the snowplow buried us. This time half of that rotten old tree in the yard fell on the roof and caused major damage! This house is like a barn–cold comes through the walls, the windows–why did they ever make a house with 56 windows? I couldn’t believe the thermometer…it registered 5 below at noon today! Just call me “Sergeant Preston of the North” out here in the frozen tundra…oh no! Our pipes froze last night because the electricity was off two hours and the electric heat tape didn’t work!

December 2–It snowed last night. I awoke to the usual, wonderful sight of everything covered in a white blanket–the oak is breathtaking. I’m sure people are out taking pictures to make into postcards. The air is crisp, clean and cool. We swept the steps and driveway, had a snowball fight(which I won), and swept the driveway again after the snowplow went through. This is nature in harmony!

December 9–It snowed again last night. Every night this week. We got to shovel snow each day–twice…once before the snowplow went through; again after he blocked our driveway. I don’t like to complain, but! Some of our beautiful hardwood flooring buckled from the snow that melted after we tracked it in. Bought some rug runners. Fuel bill was much higher than I anticipated. Old houses have creaky floors–if that doesn’t wake me every time someone goes to the bathroom, the clunking of this old plumbing does the trick. I should have bought a new house. We closed off the upstairs as best we could.

Diary of an Iowa Winter

August 12 – Moved into our spacious new home in Bonaparte. It is an old Victorian with gingerbread siding, hardwood floors, pocket doors, grand staircase and natural woodwork. The hils and river valley is so picturesque. I have a beautiful old oak tree in the front yard. This is truly God’s country.

October 14 – How gorgeous–all the bright, autumn colors! Walked through Lindsay Wilderness and saw a white tail deer. Such a beautiful creature–and can you imagine–people want to kill these creatures. There ought to be a law against it. This must be paradise. I hope it snows soon.