–27 degrees F predicted tonight

There is something in Blaska that loves a good storm. (Your average armchair psychiatrist could have fun with that.) The Squire is a tad disappointed at the snowfall Monday. We recorded 5.5 inches here in the SW side of the Emerald City, not the armageddon that had been predicted. Even so, plenty of work for the 24-inch, two-stage Ariens snowblower, which also visited our elderly neighbor. Good work to the city street crews; their plows were prompt considering how little-traveled is our street.

As we write, the hatches are battened at the Manor in anticipation of bone chilling cold, so we’ve got that going for us. Temps overnight will plunge to 27 F degrees below zero. Wind chill values between -45 and -55. That’s some serious …. School’s out, even here in Madison, which is just and proper but causes working parents to scramble for daycare or call in for parental leave.

The servants are closing the venetian blinds and the quilted shades at night, opening them promptly in the morning for that solar gain. One gain: the indentured kitchen servants have extra cold storage — the garage works nicely.

The unlettered field hands have put out safflower seed for the finches and cardinals, suet for the woodpeckers. (Wonder if the birdbath heater can keep up.) Stale bread will nourish the squirrels. Do wish we could do something for the mailman. Perhaps a bottle of J. Henry bourbon on the bench next to the mailbox? Otherwise, if you’re on our street you either live here or you’re lost. (And some of us who do live here …)

We think of our dairy farming friends and neighbors; milking is 24/7 no matter the weather. Remember climbing up the silo chute on the coldest day because that is when the silage unloader froze up. Silos? Pretty much yesteryear’s technology, nowadays. Bitch all you want about the mega-dairy operations, many of them have heated floors and warm water from electricity produced by manure digesters. And the cows are covered and inside. So are the farmers.

Reading somewhere that the brutal cold will do a number on emerald ash borers. Goodie! Our empathy for the lower species extends only so far. We do hope no human being is found outside on a grate downtown. Plenty of shelters but some folks aren’t thinking straight, which is what puts them on grates in the first place.

Police Chief Koval is still reporting car thefts — one on Dorchester Street Monday from the house garage! So many of us learned from our parents to keep the car running for a good warm-up. Like I said about empathy … So please, kids, obey the law. Show some heart. Don’t make the nice police officer get out of his/her squad car. On the other hand, we presume Dane County is still heating the juvie center.

The engine block of our tiny, urban assault vehicle is plugged in to the garage alternating current, should we need a fast getaway. (Garage doors closed tight.) But plans are to shelter in place until the worst has passed. We’re running our campaign for Safer Schools = a Safer Community by remote control, for the moment. (We never promised a warmer community; just safer.)

Do visit our website at www.blaskaforsaferschools.org. We’re also on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BlaskaforSaferSchools/. Send money. It’s so heartwarming.