SABRATON – Rachel Wattick made purposeful strides to the counter at Bruceton Farm and Home on Friday afternoon.
She had that looming winter storm in mind that’s expected to start dumping a foot of snow or better on the region beginning Saturday, depending on which warnings you’ve been seeing.
The South Park woman had one item at the ready for purchasing: a sturdy snow shovel.
“For the sidewalk,” she said.
Other than that, she wasn’t too rattled by those predictions of snow-globe snow and temperatures that might make Yeti himself reach for the electric blanket and mug of hot chocolate.
“I’m actually hoping we get every bit of snow they’re calling for,” she said.
That’s so she can go cross-country skiing on her street – a Nordic deal that doesn’t always happen in her neighborhood.
“We’ll see,” she said.
In terms of meteorological magnitude, the likes of the storm that has weather forecasters excited and worried at the same time doesn’t always occur either.
This one is set to tear a swath from New Mexico to Maine, with all of the Mountain State in-between.
Relentless snow.
Plummeting temperatures that could be lethal.
Aside from looking forward to the potential novelty of skiing in South Park, Wattick, she said, is taking the weather warnings seriously. Should she venture out, she will be dressed accordingly, she said.
From the looks of the empty shelves all around her, her fellow frequenters at Bruceton Farm and Home have been heeding it, too.
“Yeah, we can’t keep propane,” said Bobbie Jo Leighty, a Bruceton Farm and Home floor manager who grew up on wintry Snake Hill.
“We got a truckload of rock salt the other morning – and it was gone by that morning. We’re now completely out.”
Friday was busy there – “But we’re always busy Fridays,” Leighty said.
This particular Friday may have come with a little more (metaphorical) tail-wagging, however, the floor manager said, as people were watching, waiting – and employing some urgency with their shopping.
Tail-wagging of the literal kind Mr. Rico most definitely knows.
He’s a spirited Beagle-mix pup who was there as part of an adoption event by the Doddridge County Humane Society, which has been making the rounds at Bruceton Farm and Home locations across the state in recent days.
Today is a work day at the animal shelter there no matter what, said Lillie Triplett, the society’s director.
“We have to be there for our animals,” she said, cradling Mr. Rico. “Like this guy. Huh, buddy.”
Bringing your pet inside during bouts of extreme weather is always going to be preferred, she said.
If that’s not possible, or say you have a stout canine breed that can take the temperatures and cries if he isn’t outside, there is a fur-hack, Triplett said, you can do.
“Petroleum jelly on their paws,” she said.
“It keeps them from cracking open and getting irritated. It works.”
Mr. Rico let his tail do the talking in agreement.
