By Don Quilici
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Elaine Quilici taking a break from shoveling that deep snow. Photo by Don Quilici -
Don walking past his pickup, many years ago in Carson City. Photo by Elaine Quilici -
Not a good day for barbecuing in the backyard. Photo by Don Quilici -
Looking across the street from the Quilici home Photo by Elaine Quilici -
Hey, my feet are cold! Photo by Elaine Quilici -
Don snowshoeing to the Quilici cabin. Photo by Elaine Quilici -
Almost to the cabin. Photo by Elaine Quilici -
The patio table on the cabin’s deck. Photo by Don Quilici -
The barbecue also on the cabin’s deck. Photo by Elaine Quilici -
Oh no, it’s snowing again. Photo by Elaine Quilici
It’s safe to say that we are now ready for winter, here at our home in Carson City and at the Quilici Cabin near Davis Lake in Plumas County, Calif. Forecasters are calling for a winter storm to blow in Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. It takes quite a bit of time and effort, but each year a whole host of activities take place at both locations in anticipation of Old Man Winter’s arrival.
Here’s what I mean:
Home:
Lawn mowed and trimmed for one last time for the year.
Tree leaves raked from the front and back yards.
Annual flowers, tomato plants, squash plants and other summer vegetable plants pulled up and put in the trash.
Air conditioner turned off and covered with a waterproof tarp.
Lawn mower, electric trimmer and hand trimmers put in the storage shed.
Sprinkler systems turned off and water boxes insulated and sealed.
Water hoses and hand sprinklers put in the storage shed.
Lawn decorations (gnomes, dwarfs, etc.) and chairs put in the storage shed.
Patio table turned upside down and placed on the covered air conditioner.
Air vents closed under the house.
Rain gutters cleared of all the leaves that fell off the trees.
Summer shorts and short sleeve shirts put in the back of the closets, and long sleeve shirts, long pants and sweaters put in the front sections of the closets.
Cabin:
Air conditioner turned off and covered with a waterproof tarp.
Gas barbecue covered and turned off.
500 gallon propane gas tank topped off for the winter at 85 percent capacity.
Outside sprinklers turned off and water boxes insulated and sealed.
Water hoses and hand sprinklers stored away.
Air vents closed under the cabin.
Pantry and refrigerator freezer stocked with all kinds of “goodies” for when we snowshoe to the cabin during the winter months.
Window blinds opened part way to let in sunshine during daylight hours.
Furnace set to run at 50 degrees for when we are not there.
Outdoor decorations stored away for the winter.
Little Red Four-Wheel-Drive Pickup:
1. All of our fishing equipment (fishing poles, fishing reels, tackle boxes, fishing vest, chest waders, wading boots, miscellaneous fishing gear, folding chairs, etc.) has been taken out of the “Little Red Bomber,” and stored away to only be used occasionally for Cutthroat Trout fishing at Pyramid Lake or ice fishing at Red Lake or Caples Lake in Alpine County, Calif.
2. The truck is loaded with: A flashlight with spare batteries, a spotlight with spare batteries, snow sled, regular shovel, snow shovel, snowshoes, snow boots, heavy coats, hooded sweat shirts, sweaters, neck scarves, woolen gloves and waterproof gloves. We are now ready for winter driving.
Finally:
I think that we are as ready as we can be at home, at the cabin, and with our little pickup for winter’s cold, snow and ice.
Now, we need a long, monster winter to break our prolonged drought.
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!
I sure would like to see lots of deep, deep snow, as in the old days, right here in Carson City, up at our cabin and especially in the mountains.
Deep enough and long enough to require lots of shoveling of sidewalks and driveways, constant plowing of streets and highways, tire chains on vehicles, and even having to snowshoe to get around.
That would be the perfect winter for yours truly. Let’s hope it happens!
Bet Your Favorite Pigeon
Bet your favorite pigeon that he can’t tell you the most snow we have had in one night at the Quilici Cabin (elevation 6,000′).
If he grins and says, “Don and Elaine went to bed on a Saturday night and when they woke up Sunday morning (Mother’s Day in May!), they measured 35.5 inches of snow that fell during the night,” he could be one of the many visitors to the cabin.
— Don Quilici is the Outdoor editor for Carson Now. Don’s wife, Elaine, is the Outdoor photographer. They can be reached at donquilici@hotmail.com.
