Snowpocalypse 2010 Round 2 - The Clean-up after the Storms

Well, round 2 was certainly interesting with the blowing snow. It was reminiscent of blizzards I remember when I was a kid.

The whiteout conditions that existed looking towards the end of the driveway. I took this about 4 PM yesterday (10 Feb) as I was talking myself out of shoveling the driveway.

And in the aftermath of the storm, we find blue skies. And snow. It almost seems pretty. Pretty cold!

The two blobs are the Patrick's broken Honda on the left and my beloved Kitty on the right. We may not find them again until summer at this rate.

We did lose a tree--one of the Junipers couldn't take the weight of the snow and wind and gave it up. Funny thing is, the top of this tree was broken a few years ago and I successfully put it back on--but now, the tree is a total loss.

But life goes on and we'll plant something there to replace it. And, I get to use my chainsaw!

New Olympic Sports from Snowpocalypse 2010

Well, it has come to this.

As we all sit around watching the nothingness which is television, our minds begin to wander to sports and the Winter Olympics which start in two days.

Here are some new sports which are being talked about on Facebook:

Poo patrol...This is where you have to get your dog to poo in a blizzard in the quickest amount of time. It involves shoveling out a large area and path and then having to rescue your dog when he deviates from the path and gets stuck in 4' of snow. The 300' X 30' driveway shovel should be kick ass... The 5' (snowplow just went by) mailbox dig... great stuff.... I'm darn sure we have a better luge on my street than they do in Vancouver! "Find the Fire Hydrant" event and don't forget the ever popular Dig the car out of the ice mound without getting killed by on-coming traffic event (I mean it has to be better than curling)

Snowpocaplyse 2010 Round 2 - Makayla

At least one member of the family enjoys being outside in the snow. And I love taking pictures of her in the snow.

Maybe it is her silver and black coloring against the snow. Who knows.

But she is so cute.

At least I can smile about something from the snow.

Snowpocalypse 2010 Round 2 Starting Point

As the second round of the storm begins--this is the condition of one of the main roads we must traverse to get out to US 1.

Ugly.

Makayla enjoyed the walk though and Chris snapped the picture.

And there are two streets in worse condition between us and this one. More fun as we hunker down waiting for the no kidding blizzard conditions to come upon us.

And after the walk?

What happens to Makayla as she dries off and the snow melts off her. Well it is into the basement to dry off for a while. Of course she keeps a close eye in the action.

Snowpocalypse 2010 Round 2 - It Begins

Snow is falling--we got about 4 inches overnight with about 10 inches more expected during the day in what is being called Blizzard conditions.

We did get out to visit with the family yesterday. We did some sledding down a hill with Ethan and Jax and then looked at a house that Nicole and Jeremy are considering buying and subsequently went to dinner with them and of course the newest grandson--Lucas.

So as I looked off the porch this morning as Round 2 begins, I was confronted by more of the same: snow falling from the sky. Although I do like the reflection of the flash off the falling snow flakes. It is important to note that the truck was free of snow yesterday--and so it provides a record of the snow which has fallen overnight.

Oh--that blob behind the truck is my Jaguar. And the one behind that is Patrick's disabled Honda waiting for better weather for us to get it ready to sell.

I'm not sure we'll see either of them again until May--at the rate snow is falling. At least Kitty, the Jaguar, has a car cover over top of her.

As we drove around yesterday we were shocked by the number of trees which the round 1 of the storm brought down.

On the other hand--we have been really pleased to see our whole community pull together to help each other dig out.

Everyone knows--this is the fault of that woodlands weather forecaster--right? We need to put a contract out on Punxsutawney Phil.

Now here is the serious part:
- Gas stations are running out of gas (we had to go to two stations last night to fill the car)
- Grocery store shelves are beginning to get bare (Safeway was out of eggs and orange juice and was nearly out of milk yesterday.
- The isn't a snow shovel to be had in the region (both of mine need to be replaced--but I've repaired them for the next round)
- The roads in some places are a mess--even the main roads change from two to one open lane without warning and many secondary roads are snow packed and barely wide enough for two vehicles to pass.
- Many cars and streets still waiting to be freed from the previous snowfall
- Snow removal equipment trying to find creative places to put the snow
- Drivers who have not changed their technique to accommodate the reduced visibility at corners and lack of on ramps on the highways.

But we are OK and expect to persevere.

Snowpocalypse 2010 - The Next Assault is in Sight

Just in case any one wondered--there is another major winter storm coming to visit us. I'm calling this Snowpocalypse Round 2.

Yes--later today, another 10-18 inches are waiting to increase misery in the region.

If I really wanted this much snow, I would have decided to live somewhere north, like Montana.

Ugh--I'd rather be on a beach. Like this one--Blowing Rocks Park on Jupiter Island, Florida. By the way--the forecast high for today there is 79 degrees compared to our 35 degrees. Maybe this will warm me up a bit.

And I heard on the Today Show this morning that they are still trucking snow into Vancouver for the Olympics. Amazing how they haven't contacted me yet--I have extra--lots of it.

Snowpocalypse 2010--Just 60 Days Away

One of the pictures we took the other day was of the flowering cherry tree in our yard.

I thought about this tree--and I could remember what it will look like in about 60 days as Spring gets into full swing.

It will not be snow covered until then, will it?

Surely we will get some relief. I feel confident of that.

Ok---I hope?

Snowpocalypse 2010 - Scenes from the Frontline

This image drove it home for me--the amount of snow piling up everywhere. Of course, the railing cannot hold all of the snow that fell--but as the wind was blowing off the rail I was presented with this shot of how high the snow was piled.

And it is piled this high everywhere. Trudging through the snow is just that--trudging in every sense of the word.

I found this definition in the Merriam-Webster on line dictionary:

: to walk or march steadily and usually laboriously as trudged through deep snow

they even used what we are going to do later today to define the word.

Monday Musings - February 8, 2010

1. Heard on TV: Pigs have flown, hell has frozen, and the 'Aints have won the Super Bowl.

2. Amazingly--our street still has not been plowed.

3. Snow-mageddon is another name for the snow experience we are having.

4. I hear the airport is going to open for passenger traffic today. I wonder if anyone can get there?

5. We had a great Super Bowl party last night. Four of our neighbor families came over and we all gathered together. It was a party planned in four hours and it was great. At least we didn't have to worry about anyone having too much to drink and then driving.

6. I am amazed at how differently people deal with the reality of being trapped by snow--some chill while others rail against the elements.

7. Despite all of the angst the snow causes---it is pretty when set against a blue sky and as it paints itself onto the tree branches.

8. Hey--speaking of snow--the Winter Olympics starts this week in Vancouver. I heard they were trucking in snow to have enough. We have extra! Free for pick-up!

9. Even the dog is going crazy with the snow--she can't decide where to do her business.

10. Hey--don't tell anyone, football season is officially over! Pitchers and catchers report next week.

Looking out of the crystal window--Another view of Snowpocalypse 2010

Standing in my entry way looking out the window on the front door--I got a very different perspective on the world this morning.

It almost seemed pretty with the stunning blue sky, and the pure white snow accented by the melting driveway and the air cleared by 16 degree temperatures.

Still can't go anywhere--but the scenery gives new meaning to the phrase, "It's a marshmallow world."

Look out, I think the Sta-puff Marshmallow Man has been by!

I had to look at the house on Google Earth to remind myself of how things look when they are not covered with snow.