Winter Wonderland

I woke up this morning to the sound of footsteps on the roof. Since squirrels usually jump from a nearby tree onto the roof, it wouldn't have been unusual except this was no squirrel, unless it was Arnold Schwarzensquirrel. It was someone from the electric company replacing the electric meter, so I figured it hadn't snowed yet and rolled back over for a few more z's. But he was too noisy and I got up and looked out the window to see the yard blanketed by snow. That was one gutsy man on the roof.

It's supposed to start a rain and snow mix soon so that will turn it to slush, but it has been absolutely gorgeous all day. For most of the day the snow has come straight down; big, fluffy flakes that balance on top of fence posts and coat every surface with a quilted blanket. Walking across it makes a satisfying crunching sound. Under the trees are bare spots where the birds congregate looking for a few morsels of food, and there are interesting little footprints scattered across the yard. The air is crisp and clean and a few neighbors have been out walking and building snowmen. Schools are closed and there hasn't been much traffic on our dead end street so it's been a quiet, peaceful, snow.

I fear some tree limbs may break in the night though. The snow is wet and heavy, and when it stops the temperatures are supposed to take a big drop. Until then, I'm going to sit with my mug of orange spice tea and watch the flakes come down.

It's been snowing all day and at last count we had a little over nine inches. Now before you people who get snow on a regular basis shrug and think that's no big deal, it is a big deal here. I can't remember getting more than two inches in the thirty years we have lived in this part of the country. They said on tv that it's the most snow since 1978. Most people here don't know how to drive in snow because we usually get less than an inch of snow once a year. We have ice occasionally, but even that is fairly rare. I don't drive when it snows or ices because even though I grew up with snow, I don't want to be on the roads with people who can't get it through their heads that they have to drive differently when it is slick. Hubby's boss sent out an email telling everyone to stay home tomorrow. Good advice.

I've been watching this tree all day, watching it droop lower and lower as the snow weighs down the limbs.







Then, a loud crack and the first limb fell.



Then another as it was getting dark. This is a better angle.



A loud crash, and the shed porch collapsed. It was totally dark when I took this picture and had to lighten it with software.



Hubby got home early and didn't have any trouble getting into the driveway and garage, but all our neighbors who have come home after dark are stuck in the street the end of their driveways. So far Hubby has pushed two of them into their driveways. At least it's better than hanging out into the street when someone loses control on the ice in the morning.

Until next time, may you have blessings and the glory of nature,
Marti