Dec 19, 2016 3 min read

Did anyone else venture outside in that ice storm this weekend? I know few cars whizzed past my house for several hours during the worst of it, and they were traveling far slower than normal.

I was out early, as I had offered to bring firewood inside the night before. Of course, I had promptly fallen asleep and failed to so, and when I awoke before dawn, I used the last few sticks that were inside to keep the coals glowing red.

It sounded like rain was falling, so I didn’t think too much about pulling on my husband’s coat and boots for the trek across the yard. And, I made it about halfway before I began performing a strange, uncoordinated version of the Ice Capades behind my garage. Perhaps I would have been more graceful had I been wearing the proper size footwear, but I kind of doubt it.

I slipped and slid, clung to the back side of the garage, and clawed my way to the barn. Finally, I reached it and paused to catch my breath. The plan was to fill the bed of the utility vehicle with firewood and drive it to the back door. I figured that the weight of the UTV would crack through the ice and find the grip it needed to make the trip safely across the yard.

What I didn’t figure on was finding the machine outside the barn and covered in ice.

The kids had done the feeding the night before and failed to pull the UTV back under cover. The windshield was covered in ice. Keeping the driver’s side door open (for visibility), I quickly backed up as far as I could go. I then began tossing firewood into the back as fast as I could.

When it was full, I hopped back in and began the trip across the yard. Still unable to see out of the windshield, I drove with the window down and my head sticking out, looking like the family dog (sans tongue).

A third of the way there, I slid sideways, nearly hitting the only tree in the yard. I came to a stop inches from the bark and breathed a prayer of thanksgiving before continuing forward. Two-thirds of the way there, I slid again, and came to rest several yards farther downhill than intended. Close enough.

As quickly as I could, I unloaded the wood into the house. The first armload went straight into the stove and the rest into the ring that keeps it contained in the mudroom.

Then I climbed back into the UTV and headed down the hill to the driveway. Feeling more confident after only a small slide, I gave it some gas and attempted to make it back to the barn. Nearly there, I hit some significant ice and slid backward until I hit grass again. I gave it some gas and rocketed up the incline, icy rain pelleting my face that still hung out the window.

Finally, I came to rest in the top of the barn and shut off the engine. I slipped and slid my way back across the yard to the house and peeled off my outdoor gear.

But with a cup of hot coffee next to the fire, I knew it had all been worth it.