I stand corrected...

I lied - according to our thermostat, it was 4(!) flippin' cold degrees here!!

I'm still here...

Well. It has been an experience. I don't believe I've ever seen quite this much snow at one time here. Truly an awesome sight.





The National Weather Service recorded us at 27" on Saturday afternoon, which brings us upwards of 50 inches for this winter. That's one heck of a lot of snow! This now ranks as #4 in the Top Ten storms of all time for this area and depending on what happens Tuesday, may be this area's second snowiest winter ever. Woof! History-making weather.

We fared better than I feared - I fully expected to lose power. Even though our utility lines are underground and in no danger of falling under the weight of snow, they're well over thirty years old and in dire need of repair/replacement; we lose power far more often than we should, especially in bad weather. We experienced a momentary hiccup at about 1:00 am Saturday morning, but that was it.

We have suffered some plant damage and loss. At least one, probably two, rhododendron snapped right off at the base, and my pretty little weeping Japanese maple appears to have lost several major branches. *sniff* The lilacs may have some breakage, but they'll recover. Surprisingly, my two ornamental cherry trees that had me worried appear intact. I'm grateful the damage wasn't more extensive but most of my azaleas are still buried, so we'll know more as this stuff melts.

Now, it's just a matter of digging out ... so we can start over again on Tuesday! And then, there's that little matter of plummeting temperatures... it was 6 flippin' cold degrees here last night!!

And still it falls...

Oh.my.god!! We have a looottt of snow... tons and tons of wet, heavy snow. So far.

It's still coming down as I type and isn't expected to end until sometime this evening. A picture is worth, etc., etc...







We have about two feet now. It's like a scene from Dr. Zhivago...

Still more of the white stuff...

Oh lordy, I am so not looking forward to this one. We're in for a massive winter storm that promises to out-perform what we had on December 19-20. Apparently it's going to be another one for the books. Oh joy!

They're talking a real nor'easter blizzard here, with one to two inches of snow/hour and 18-24" when it finally stops sometime Saturday evening. Along with crippling ice.

It's been the #1 news story in these parts for days now, and the entire area is closing down in anticipation of this thing. The whole region has gone into storm preparedness panic mode. The schools are closed, businesses are closed, airports are closing, snow equipment is already on the road with salt and liquid deicer and it's not even expected until early tomorrow afternoon! Grocery store shelves are empty and people are fighting over snow shovels, for crying out loud! (Folks get a little crazy around here when it snows... it's traditional.)

If it does what they think it's going to do, it will be a storm of a historic nature, making it one of the Top Ten of all time for this area. Which will, in turn, make it two Top Tens in one winter since December's storm was a book-maker too.

And then... and then... if all goes according to plan... the snow gods will give us some more on Tuesday!!

Send the St. Bernards if you don't hear from me by spring...

One of those days...

... meant to be spent curled up in front of a warm, cozy fire, slurping a hot cuppa coffee, and catching up on old episodes of Survivor while the snow continues to cover the surrounding fields, hills and valleys.



This is what 1-2 inches would look like in my corner of MD... if I believed the weather man. It's actually about 4 inches and still coming down.

Lots better than December's storm, and yes, it's pretty and fluffy and all that stuff. But I still want spring. Now. Today.

Winter is not my favorite season... ya think?

Weathering the weather

I have trouble enough breathing in normal weather, but during the winter months I tend to hibernate indoors and don't go out too much. Mainly because I simply can't breathe out there in the frigid cold. Cold air constricts the bronchial airways and really makes it difficult for us lung-challenged folk.

So usually, when I do go out, I make sure to cover my nose/mouth with a warm scarf or stick my face in my open coat while I scurry out to get to the car. I also try to breath more through my nose, which helps because it warms the air somewhat before it reaches the respiratory system.

Anyway, while browsing the internet yesterday, I discovered something that might make winter excursions a bit more doable...a "cold air mask." It's a fleecey kind of thing with ear loops that covers the nose/mouth/cheeks and allows your hands to be free instead of holding on to a scarf (which would have been darned convenient when I was trying to take photos outside last winter!)

Duh huh! Why didn't I think of this before? Probably because I didn't realize such a thing existed, but now that I do, I have got to get me one of these! I may look a little strange doing it, but I just might get me some snow pictures yet!

Prognosticating...

"As I look around me, a bright sky I see, and a shadow beside me. Six more weeks of winter it will be!"

So, the chubby little rodent stuck his furry little head out of his hidey hole on Gobbler's Knob the other day and handed out his annual proclamation. Phil, of Punxsutawney fame, has been predicting the weather since the 1800's and apparently, the little beast is never wrong.

Alrighty then - it could be worse... we could be out west under all that snow!

Winter comes

The snow the grandsons were so excited about last night is visting us today. We usually get a doozy of a storm when it comes up from the south, but so far, this one is just a pretty, fluffy, gently falling snow.


Enough to keep me from venturing too far from the warmth of my cozy fireplace... unless, of course, I was throwing snowballs with two grandsons. ;-D

Fluffy white stuff...

It's a little early, but we've got our first snowfall of the season.



This was taken earlier so there's a bit more on the ground now and it's still falling. It's peaceful and it's pretty, but I plan on keeping my bones toasty warm and enjoying it from the inside looking out. Had me a nice, hot bowl of oatmeal this AM and am toying with either soup or pot pie for dinner. Maybe our first fire of the season too.

Ta da! I'd say winter has arrived and I be ready!

Brrrrrrr...

Holy crap!! We got winter now! From the 50's and 60's for the last several weeks to the 20's - 30's today! Jeez, it's cold out there! What's that song?... Take My Breath Away. I'd turn into an icicle out there - guess who's not sticking her nose out the door?

However, it's almost the end of January... that means February and the groundhog aren't far behind and that means c'mon Spring! We've been spoiled rotten this winter, but I can handle being spoiled like this on a regular basis.

Now, if we could just figure out a way to cool down the summers around here!

Thursday Thirteen #Six: 13 Things it's possible to like about winter...

13 Not-So-Bad Things About Winter

Not being a winter person, it's hard to think of many, but there are still some things I love about the season:

1. flannel sheets - nothing better than crawling into nice warm ones on a cold winter night

2. quilts - and then snuggling under one of these

3. fleece throws - my sister-in-law made us the softest, warmest ones to ward off the chill

4. warm, cozy fires - ranks up there with flannel sheets for warmth

5. blankets of untouched snow - my backyard and the field behind my house are just glittery gorgeous before the critters - the 4- and 2-legged variety - leave their footprints all over

6. wet snow/ice on trees - I love when snow clings to the branches or ice freezes around them

7. soups - nothing warms my innards better than a hearty bowl of home-made soup - baked potato, taco, vegetable beef - good stuff

8. red Isotoner gloves - my favorite pair with my winter white coat

9. fuzzy sweaters - the soft, warm ones

10. turtlenecks - layered under a sweater or shirt

11. Christmas decorations/greenery - bright red bows on dark evergreen branches and holly

12. cardinals and snow - nothing says winter like that flash of bright red on brilliant white snow

13. mulled cider - with cinnamon stick, allspice, cloves, a dash of nutmeg and bit of brown sugar simmering in a crock pot ... mmm, yummy

~ ~ ~

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