Frozen

After the heavy snowfall last week, the average low was 10 degrees, and the average high was 30 degrees.

The extreme low temperatures didn't allow for the snow to melt, it just turned everything into ice...

 Just before going grocery shopping on Monday,  I spent a good 30 minutes running in and out of the house refilling my bucket of hot water,

defrosting and then chiseling away the blocks of ice stuck in wheels of the car.

 

The ice covering our front porch was quickly getting thicker.

I mentioned to Jay how dangerous the porch was.

He then pointed out that the icy porch wasn't the only thing to be concerned about...

Between the icicles sporadically falling, and the sheet of ice covering the entryway, leaving the house became a bit dangerous.

Finally on Tuesday, we took action.

After many pots of boiling water and trips back and forth from the kitchen to the porch, I cleared just enough stepping space.

Then Jay took care of a few icicles with a football.

Just before leaving to take Jay to school the next morning [Wednesday], I found that our door was frozen shut. UGH.

We were successful in opening it with a few buckets of warm water, and Jay and I on each side of the door using all of our muscles!

It's a viscous cycle...
The sun shines on the side of the house in the late afternoon, melting the snow on the roof.
The melted snow drips down to our door and entry way, then freezes once the temperature drops for the night.

Luckily we have awesome landlords- Tiff and Nate, they spent a lot of time using a sledge hammer and salt to clear our porch completely.

It's still freezing cold and icy everywhere you go, but at least now we are safe to step through our front door!