Perhaps, in life, the first step is always the hardest step. Or perhaps it's true only at the log house, where the first step off the front porch leads onto a beautiful stone stoop unearthed from our land, positioned just so by an artist with a backhoe. The flat-topped rock serves as the head of a procession of stones winding down the center of our gravel path to the driveway, a warm invitation to our home.
Except in the winter, when water dripping from the gutter freezes on the cold stone, transforming that rock into a treacherous, ice-coated plateau, requiring red shoes just to get on or off the porch.
And so, the mat.
Not a thing of beauty, but this Heatrak heated carpet mat kicks off just enough warmth to melt the icy drips and radiate heat into the stone stoop. Made for outdoor use and designed to stay plugged in all season, the mat I bought cost right around $100 (a couple of years ago), and has been worth every penny.
No matter how much snow and ice lies ahead, the mat makes that first step easier. And, even in winter, the stoop, clear of ice and snow, beckons visitors to our home.
That drippy gutter doesn't scare me anymore.
It's all so beautiful to this So Cal person -- I've never lived where it snows but know there is much work to go with that beauty.
Posted by: kelly | February 11, 2013 at 01:10 PM
Kelly, it's beautiful to me, too. And then we have to shovel.
Posted by: Lydia | February 11, 2013 at 01:33 PM
Love that mat.
Posted by: Kalyn | February 11, 2013 at 02:04 PM
Kalyn, it's a life saver. (Maybe would come in handy in the Utah snow, too.)
Posted by: Lydia | February 11, 2013 at 02:07 PM
Beautiful photos: log "cabin", pristine snow, perfect icicles, and a blue sky. I can almost feel the cold snap in the air. And then there is the mat: Safe, warm and functional. You do live in a magical place, Lydia.
Posted by: Christine | February 12, 2013 at 11:05 AM
Christine, I am lucky, I know. Every now and then, especially in winter, I envy my California friends!
Posted by: Lydia | February 12, 2013 at 11:10 AM
I had no idea such a thing existed, but it's brilliant! There have been a few times when we've had ice storms that $100 would have seemed like a small price to pay for some "solid ground." I knew about heated water dishes for dogs so they have fresh, unfrozen water, but not about these mats for humans. Must remember this, Lydia. Thank you for sharing and so glad you have one to help keep you and your hubby safe!
Shirley
Posted by: Shirley @ gfe & All Gluten-Free Desserts | February 12, 2013 at 12:18 PM
Shirley, it really is the little things that make life so much more enjoyable. It took me at least 10 years to realize that a mat could help with the ice dripping from the gutter. I can't believe I didn't think of it sooner!
Posted by: Lydia | February 12, 2013 at 12:28 PM