Third Snowfall

Snowstorm named Fern

As almost half of the country was experiencing this major snowstorm, we got our share.  This photo was taken as the snow was falling. We were supposed to get 6 to 8 inches. What we got was about 5 inches and then over 8 hours of sleet!  We ended up with about 4 inches of sleet on top of the snow. So we had about 9 inches total precipitation.  We only had a brief period of freezing rain after that.

The Day After the Storm

We were thankful that we did not get very much freezing rain that so much of the country did. So there were no power outages in our immediate area.  But with the bitter cold temperatures that will continue for 11 days, not much melting will take place. The four inches of sleet we had has hardened into solid ice, and my husband had to take an axe to clear some of it. Schools have been closed for three days now, but we finally got three days of newspapers delivered today after our neighborhood finally got plowed and sanded.

Amaryllis

A bright spot in the house is a pot of amaryllis one of my sons gave me for a Christmas gift.  It has three buds so far, and I am looking forward to the flowers.  To escape the weather with single digits  and below zero windchills every morning, we are taking a long-planned vacation this coming weekend to Florida. Hopefully we will get out of here, as we are facing another winter storm this weekend!

Christmas Lights

 The only other bright spot around amidst the dark winter days are the Christmas lights on the deck that we have not taken down yet.  We can see them out of our kitchen and family room windows, and they do bring some cheer as we wait for more light-filled days and the promise of spring. Around mid February we will take them down.