BLIZZARD

It has been snowing for 23 hours.

The 12-hour forecast says either "blizzard" or "heavy snow" or "snow/wind" that apparently isn't letting up before 2AM (that's as far as the 12-hour can predict for now).

This is on top of the 14-18 inches (more, in some spots, due to drifts) we got this past weekend.

This is WILD.

We live on Main Street (literally, not in that "White House Joe" way) and there are NO cars on the road. NONE. It's weird, almost eerie.

Earlier, some guy across the street was trying to get home and he turned on to our street and got STUCK right by our cars. Like could not move. Several people shoveled him out and pushed his car and tried to clear a path for him. About 25 minutes later, he had driven about 30 feet.

It's crazy. We've been watching the snow get deeper and deeper.

Our fenced-in garden is almost completely covered. It looks like a snow swimming pool.

Our swings aren't swinging any more since the snow has piled so high; the seats of the swings are now sitting in the snow.

Our picnic table is piled HIGH with snow. And you can no longer see the benches. The snow has covered them that much.

You can't distinguish between the grass, sidewalk, and road. It's all a big, huge, white world out there.

Our front fence is totally covered. In spots, you can't even tell we have a fence at all.

And visibility is LOW.

Yesterday, right before the storm started, it was strangely dark in daytime. The sky looked HEAVY like it was about to just open and let its contents pour down. And that it did.

Waking up this morning, it was brighter-than-normal . . . the kind of brightness you get from the whole outside being so white that light reflects off of it, twice as bright as usual.

It is CRAZY! We haven't ever seen this much snow since moving here in 2003. And, from what I understand, this may be the most snow this area has ever gotten like this. Some kind of record.

We must have at least 3 feet and counting out there.

I'm so glad we're inside, safe and warm. I'm grateful we don't have to be anywhere but here right now. So grateful.

And I'm grateful we haven't lost power. Because we have no alternate heating source, so no power = no heat. I would LOVE to install a fireplace or wood stove. For peace of mind. And for heat. And ambiance. Someday.

Between these 2 storms, we took our kids and some friends to a local hill to sled. Over TWENTY of us had a great time sledding and playing in the snow!

I like seasons. And, though I much prefer summer and am not a fan of snow and absolutely HATE driving in it--refuse to drive in it, I love snow days. We're kicking back. We're reading. We're playing. We're writing. We have books, games, and fun stuff to watch.

I kind of like storms. When we can be home like this. Love it.

This is out in front of our business.
Since taking this picture, you now can't see the fence at all.

That is our garden.
See the tippity top of the garden fence all around?
A snow swimming pool.

See how the swings can't move now?

Kids can hardly walk in it.

Another fun thing about snow days!

Scout loves the snow . . . usually. It's a bit deep for her.