Wednesday, January 5, 2022

SNOW DAY.

This is how it looked when we got up last Monday (January 3rd).  The weather has been mild for this time of the year, and we have been able to keep the windows open.  It was 50 degrees F. the day before.  I am looking at the weather through the screens.
We still have the Christmas trees up.  I enjoy them for as long as I can and traditionally take them down on 12th night.  
I have had that little artificial tree for more years than I can remember.  I keep saying we should replace it, but I'm rather attached.  Sentimentality may play a part.
Anyhow, according to our local weather people, we had more than 14 inches in some areas.  Ours was more like ten.  
It started snowing around 3.00 a.m., dropping three to four inches each hour, and stopping in the afternoon at approximately 3.00 p.m. 
That is when the skies began to clear, and the sun started shining.  
It certainly was more snow than we have had in over two years.  Ten years ago, my dear other half was driving home (this being long before his retirement), and it took him 11 hours to drive 12 miles.  On Monday people were stuck on the roads again and it took some almost 15 hours to get home.  
Another time we had visited family at Christmas and, hoping to get home before the expected snow, it took us by surprise.  We couldn't even get off the freeway to find a hotel overnight.  Many of the exits had cars stuck on them, and there were a few trucks that had jackknifed with their cargo. We also passed several cars in ditches. We were at a crawl, driving ten miles an hour down the freeway.  Thank goodness the windscreen wipers kept going, even though they were having a hard time keeping the front window clear.  
 I remember it vividly.  The journey was a nightmare!  On reflection we should have stayed down south one more night.  Foresight is a good thing!  Foresight was missing obviously, and we were hoping the roads would have been kept clear.  But it took everyone by surprise, and we were young.  It took over ten hours to reach our home.  Do you have any snow stories you would like to share?
During and after this snowstorm, half a million people were without electricity.  This was on Monday (1-3-22).  We were fortunate but are still keeping our fingers crossed.  It was 19 degrees F. last night, 15 degrees F. tonight.  We are being told to stay off the roads as it is not going to melt for a while, and roads will be icy.  

Added note: I just read a story about a trucker on I-95 who offered a hot bowl of food and a drink to a man in his car with his mother.  He had brought a three-day supply of his own food to eat on the road, and what he gave away was his 2nd day meal, a Jimmy Dean bacon, egg and cheese breakfast bowl that he heated up in his microwave, and a cup of fruit punch.  At that point he and these people in the other lane ahead of him, had been stuck in place for 7 hours.  Does the heart good to hear stories like that.  There are good people out there.
A Dark-eyed Junco took me by surprise.  As sometimes happens when I look on a larger screen after downloading to my laptop, there it was.  I also noticed this morning when I went outside, another Junco stayed at the feeding station.  They usually fly away but this one's head turned in my direction and he continued to eat for several minutes.  It didn't leave until several minutes after I had gone inside.  The other species of birds fly away immediately. 
As usually happens I have more photos, but I will put them in a separate post.  
My last photo is of a few of my teddy bears. Only part of my collection, they come out every year at this time.  The throw rug and pillow were a gift from my son and daughter-in-law a few years' ago. I love them, not only for the fact that they are pretty and festive, and have wonderful sentiments, but more because of who gave them to me.   
Safe travels to those who have no other choice but to be on the road, and I hope our family, friends and blogging friends are safe out there.  




40 comments:

  1. the snow is beautiful, i am still waiting!! gifts from our children are always so special!!

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    1. They are indeed Debbie. I will be paying attention to your weather forecast up there :)

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  2. Sounds like you are having the same weather that we are. That makes sense, since we live reather close to each other. We have this exact same couch!!!! It is very old now, and in the rec room downstairs. But still holding up real well.

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    1. Ours has melted a little since yesterday, but roads are very icy, probably your way too. What a coincidence us having the same couch :) Ours is pretty old too but like yours, still looks good and very comfortable.

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  3. It is hot and humid here. I cannot tell you how much your snowy pictures mean to me. Thank you.
    I love your bears too.

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    1. Thanks Sue, and I'm happy my snow pictures helped :)

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  4. The snow sure is pretty but that's way too much to get at one time. Of course around here it wouldn't be a big surprise if we did get that much. Lucky for us we haven't had any big snow storms yet this year.

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    1. Yes it was a lot and it's hard for people to keep up. We have so much traffic around here, one little hiccup can deadlock a highway for hours and hours, as happened yesterday. This weather made for treacherous driving. Hope your luck holds out for a no snow year :)

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  5. Hello,
    I have seen on the news the traffic backed up on I-95, I felt sorry for those people sitting in their cars in the cold for so long. I love your teddy bear collection. Cute shot of the Junco. Take care, have a happy day!

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    1. Me too Eileen, it sounded awful for people. I have been reading all about it this morning. Glad you enjoyed my teddy bears and that cute little Junco. You take care and have a happy day also :)

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  6. Love the soft, cuddly, teddy bears. Your snow photos are truly picture post card perfection!!!
    Snow day stories? Living in the Colorado mountains forgive decades? I'd be able to talk 'tilthe cows come home!
    I'm back from my blogging break and posting again. Happy 2022!

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    1. Being a collector Anni, I am happy you enjoyed mine as I do yours :) and the snow photos. Living in the Colorado mountains before you moved to Texas, I can only imagine the stories you have to tell. Looking forward to reading your post and I'll be over your way soon. Happy 2022 to you also.

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  7. Very pretty! That amount of snow we are used to.

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    1. Thank you William, snow can be very pretty and yes, I am sure it is. I look forward to your photos when the Rideau River freezes and people start skating :)

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  8. Heavy wet snow is the worst you can get. Be careful. Stay safe. Stay home. Yesterday we had a minus 49 C wind chill.

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    1. I agree, and thank you Red, we will be careful and stay safe :) Oh goodness, I won't moan about our wind chill after seeing what you have to deal with :0

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  9. Yes, I heard about the snow stranded drivers in Virginia. How nice of that man to give hot food to the people in the other car. Glad that you and Gregg are well and warm. Take care and Happy new year!!!

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    1. Thank you Gigi :) We have read that there is more snow on the way tomorrow evening and Friday morning, hopefully not quite as much. Quotes from one of the local channels: "A winter storm warning is in effect for parts of the Blue Ridge and Appalachian mountains, where up to five to nine inches is possible along with wind gusts to 35 mph" and "A fast-moving storm system will sweep through the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast on Thursday night, probably laying down about one to three inches of snow in the Washington and Baltimore areas."

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  10. no snow stories, i have never driven in snow. i did ride with my dad driving in snow when I was age 10 through 15, but have not seen snow since 1959 and hope to never see it again. i am Florida girl to the bone. I love our winter, we have had more than 2 months of perfect weather. i don't care for hurricanes but they are a few times a year to scare us silly. power outages are The Worst and can't imagine stuck in a car on a highway. hope I never find out. I know that happens in FL due to hurricanes. your snow photos are magnificent! all of them. the trees are beautiful.

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    1. Thank you Sandra, trees covered with snow is a magical sight :) It's great that you are happy where you are. I am too and don't mind cold weather. In fact, I would rather have it than the high humidity of our summers. Before getting married I went on a couple of winter holidays with snow a lot more than this and loved it. Of course, that was when I was young, now I prefer to look at it through the windows. I can't imagine being stuck in a car either, only did it that one horrible journey and thankfully have not had anything like it again. Hope everyone stays warm and safe out there.

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  11. Beautiful snow! I want some. 😄❄️

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    1. Thank you Sandi, wish I could send you some :)

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  12. Lovely winter photos, I wonder the same about replacing my old tree but it is fine, really.

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    1. Thank you Christine, I guess we'll stick with our old trees :)

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  13. Very nice photographs and how lovely to see the Dark-eyed Junco.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Glad you enjoyed Jan, thank you and all the best to you too :)

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  14. Denise, your photos are quite lovely of the heavy wet snow that blanketed your area. The storm certainly was a doozy! I love your sweet tree and all of the pretty ornaments. Your bears are darling all lined up on your sofa. I'm quite sentimental like you and find gifts from our loved ones to mean the most to our hearts. We are so glad to have our electricity restored today after losing it early Monday morning. And are certainly thankful to have gas logs for warmth and a gas grill for cooking! Take care and stay cozy.

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    1. Hi Martha Ellen, it certainly was a doozy! I am always happy you enjoy what I share. I am also happy your electricity was restored, and happy to hear you had the comfort of your gas logs and grill. You take care too. Looks like we have another storm coming, stay warm :)

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  15. That is really gorgeous, Denise. It's a pain. But it's a beautiful pain! I'm so glad you weren't part of the I-95 blockage, but I'm sure it triggered that memory of your past travels to Chicago. I hate driving in this weather. That incident reminded me it was time to put the blanket and a few granola bars and some chocolate in the car trunk, along with my emergency light and a good book, because at this time of year, you never know.

    My tree is up too and probably will be for a bit more, though I'll start taking the big one down this weekend. I'm replacing Santa with Snowfolk but I can't quite let go of the season yet. I think it's the lights. I need those lights in January! Stay safe and don't hurt yourself shoveling!

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    1. Thank you Jeanie :) I really felt for all those people snarled up on I-95. Yes, the memories started coming back, and I am fearful of driving in bad weather. I think we need to do the same, replenish our emergency supplies. A good book is a great idea! Yes, you just never know. Sounds like we will be taking our decorations down the same time as you. Good idea on replacing Santa with Snowfolk, I'm holding onto the season also and seeing the lights are very comforting. I have a few neighbors who still have theirs up and they always make me smile. No snow shoveling for me, just can't do it for safety's sake. Too many falls in years past in icy weather and I am starting to feel their effects now. I have learned my lesson. You stay safe also, and warm!

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  16. We still have our Charlie Brown tree up!

    Such a mess of snow. All those poor folks. We don't usually get that much here. We did in Muskoka, 150 cm (1.5 yards) in some spots!

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    1. I love Charlie Brown trees, especially Charlie Brown's :) I have some old Snoopy and Woodstock ornaments on my tree too. Wow on that snow in Muskoka!

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  17. More snow pictures, beautiful! I love the teddy bears on the couches. My Mother loved teddy bears, and when she passed away, each of us got one of her teddy bears. There's just something about a cuddly teddy bear, isn't there?

    ~Sheri

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    1. Thank you Rose and I am so glad you have one of your Mother's teddy bears. Such a treasure! I couldn't agree more with you about there being something about them, so true!

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  18. Beautiful photos...I love that you worry about both the feathers and the fur. When I feed the birds I always throw in the ground for the squirrels, too. I don't have any personal snow stories like yours, but I remember the blizzard of 78. Roger had bought a 4-wheel drive truck, back before they were so popular. He went to take someone home that lived out in the country. The road they were first on went one direction...but they had to turn right...that road was blown till the snow was higher than Roger's truck! We worked at Columbia Records....and they were even closed completely down for 2 or 3 days.

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    1. Hi Rose, thank you! We are kindred spirits as the squirrels get fed around here too :) That's quite a story about Roger. I am glad he got home okay.

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