The snowstorm went on into the evening, leaving us with about a foot all told. It looks as though we have as much snow on the ground as we've had all season. Scott took the lead in shoveling us out this morning. (I'd done the driveway and back yard with the snowblower yesterday afternoon.) Sandra cleared the path to the wood pile and I took care of other odds and ends, including the path to the neighbor's house. Our neighbor has MS. We'd like to think that they can use the path to get the wheelchair out to the road. Mostly, though, the paper deliverers use it to go from our driveway to the neighbor's house.

Yesterday morning we went to Matt's basketball game. They won by a point in a very well-played game. These kids, in the 7th and 8th grades, have skills that match or exceed what I saw in varsity teams when I was in high school. They pass well, play great defense, and move smartly. Matt's got great stuff, on and off the court. After the game, he ran over and hugged us, thanking us for coming to the game.

Mike sponsored Matt's team. It was quite a challenge to fit Hakkarainen Contracting on the front of a kid's t-shirt.

Scott, Val, and Russell stayed overnight. We got to know Russell a bit. What a serene baby. He's just under nine months. Everyone got to hold him for quite a while. With my beard, glasses, and colorful pens in my pocket, he found plenty of things to hold his interest when it was my turn.

We again took the back roads to my father's house. Folks along this road were using all kinds of contraptions to clear away the snow. It would be generous to call some of them machines. They looked like creatures in the green room for War of the Worlds. Nevertheless, the snow was cleared away and people seemed to be enjoying the strong March sunshine.