Tag: snow

Prepare For the Worst – Part II

~ JodiLea

All week, I have been doing just that. I secured my garden stuff on our deck, tucked in my avocado trees, and put my snow shovel by the front door. Stocked up on pantry and freezer items earlier this week. As long as the power stays on, I have 2 quilts to finish. If (when) the power goes out, I have knitting needles and crochet hooks.

Since last weekend, I have been bombarded with our county warning system alerts about a severe blizzard hitting our county and surrounding areas. These have come over our landlines, our cellphones, and emails. White-out conditions, hurricane-force winds, snow coming at 2″-4″ per hour, accumulating 27″ in one day. From Friday until Sunday, this will be going on.

Heavy snow is one thing, but the strong winds are the scariest thing in the forest. The sound of forceful wind beating the trees causes the imagination to go wild with visions of tornadoes and cows flying through the air.

Last night, we had strong wind gusts and rain. The temps have dropped dramatically into the snow zone. We may wake up to a winter wonderland. Or not. Either way, we are not supposed to be in the white-out, so we are not going anywhere except our chairs by the wood-burning stove.

Our sweet Bernese Mountain Dog, Ziva, is 9 years old now and NOT a fan of weather of any kind that has a sound. She loves to watch and play in the snow, which normally is quiet unless it arrives with a blizzard. Even when I give her anti-anxiety meds, she paces (trots) from room to room, outside and in. No one is going to sleep well this weekend.

The rain is thickening and slowing down as it turns into snow. I can see this while I watch out the window in my office. I say a little prayer, asking that the trees surrounding my house have deep, strong roots.

I wish you a less exciting weekend wherever you live.

TTFN

The Snowplow Stops Here

~ JodiLea ~ 2 Comments

Icy flakes have been floating steadily and piling up for two days. I can stare out a window in every room of my house and watch the heavens sift powdered sugar to the earth. It’s gorgeous and hypnotizing. I don’t get many chores done when it is snowing.

Mountain House

The winds are picking up and swirling white flakes around. This morning, the measurements were made in inches, but this afternoon they switched over to feet. There is no stopping in sight. The low temperature is predicted to be 23 degrees F. The High is 30 degrees F.

The family room is finally warming up. The fire has been stoked up and blazing for hours I will stay in my snow outfit (thick leggings, turtle neck, with tee-shirt, all under my large SF 49ers sweatshirt,) because it just got warm where the fire is, all the other rooms are icy. I fear that someday, my butt will stick to the toilet seat because it freezes.

Hah! But seriously, can that really happen? Like the tongue on the metal pole? If it can, it will happen to me. Just wait. If not that particular thing, something else is bound to.

I don’t believe in luck – good or bad. The strange things that happen are only that – strange. The cake thing was heartbreaking because I wanted it perfect looking for a celebration. From pouring the batter into the pans to trying to cover the mess with frosting, it was one stupid thing after another. Bottom line: I will have to use a different image in the cookbook I’m writing.

The kitchen is not the only place strange things happen. Or anywhere in the house for that matter. I am the common denominator in every strange thing that occurs.


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White Christmas and Then Some

~ JodiLea ~ 1 Comment

It began snowing in the wee hours of Christmas morning and did not want to stop. As expected, we lost power later that day, but the generator was full of gasoline and it was not too bad. The household was at 6 people and 2 dogs for a few days.

Between the two storms, 2 more couples arrived, 2 kids and a dog. We were all here together! A very rare occurrence. Of course, it was chaos, noisy and crowded. 12 humans & 3 dogs snowed in, without power. Hours of shoveling to make a path for vehicles to get onto the road, so we could navigate to town and get cell service. A generator will power a house, but not the internet and telephone services.

I needed to book a hotel room by the airport if I was to make my flight out Thursday morning. Weds afternoon would bring the second big snowstorm and no way was I going to miss my flight out of here! The airport was a 2-hour drive away and at sea level, so safe from snow. With that chore done, we climbed back up the hill and had leftovers for dinner.

Now I had to pack. Ha! My brain was absolutely not ready to do this a day early. It took me hours after dinner and before lights out to get almost packed. Then the next morning while the overnight snow was shoveled out of the way, I spent another few hours making sure I had enough of my diabetic supplies, meds, and undergarments. The house was cold (except in the front room where the wood-burning stove was.) I knew it would be a warm 80 degrees in Texas, so I had T-shirts, a bathing suit, long sleeve shirts, and a sweater. I forgot to pack my capri pants. I forgot to pack a skirt. No sunscreen. Oh well. They had stores in Texas and I could not pack anymore. My suitcase and carry-on bag were stuffed to the limit, and I was done.

I kissed and hugged all concerned and happily left the chaos. Sure, there were a few twinges of guilt, but I got over them. Hubby and I rode with our oldest son in his 4-wheel drive car. When we got to the lower elevation, the rains pounded us all the way. A quick hug and I was dumped (their word) at the hotel and they needed to hurry back before the heavy snow started.

And so, on Dec. 29, at 2:30 pm, the adventure begins…