The Back Door at 40 Below

My sister kept writing me to warn that a "Bomb Cyclone" was forecast for my area in a couple days, and the temperature was predicted between 30 and 40 below zero.  I couldn't imagine that was the truth, and pretty much ignored her--particularly because it was currently between 40 and 60 outside.  The day the storm was to hit I was outside somewhat believing her a bit more---but it was still a warm 45.  I arranged the big bales in the barn for a protected area for the animals, and felt prepared.  I was getting the last bits arranged when all of a sudden the WIND hit, incredibly hard.  The temperature fell about 60 degrees in a period of about fifteen minutes.  The animals panicked, and would NOT go into my protected area.  I stood trying to think if I could help them any more, and I could feel my toes burning.  Finally inside I just stood at the window watching in horror as the wind whipped the snow horizontally.  The temperature stayed in the -40's for two weeks, eventually hitting -42.  It remained extremely cold for the rest of the winter, with several heavy snows.  I hung up blankets for doors to protect the goats in their little huts, and the donkeys remained hunkered down in their open barn.  Amazingly, everyone survived--except my toes which were pretty badly frost nipped...a pain I feel constantly now, years later.   The sound of that frozen door is what I used to create all the sounds of this Part 2.  You can hear it here by scrolling down to "Frozen Door...." and it's almost precisely what you hear opening the piece.  For more on how I wrote these, go here.

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