Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Snow, snow, snow

Today is December 14.  7 more days until the official start of winter.  I have typically been a fan of snow, however as I get older, I really dislike it.  I especially dislike it this year because as I'm now a homeowner again, I'm responsible for the snow removal!


Let's see, so far this year..  first snowfall 8" wet and heavy.  Second snowfall 4". Third snowfall 9".  Fourth snowfall...21.5".  That's 42.5" of snowfall and we're only halfway through December!


Am I being punished for something?


I was out of town in warmer weather during this last storm.  Thanks to some very wonderful friends Josh and Laura they watched the cats, and took care of the snow for me too!  I owe them big!  Here's some before pics.  Poor kids, had a lot of work to do!  I came home from work tonight and shoveled some of the snowbanks... yes, the snowbanks, to make some room for the next snowfall.  And I had to shovel through 4 feet of snow alongside the house so I could get from the front to the back.


That's a 3 foot retaining wall that Josh is standing next to.  I love that lonely little branch sticking up from the snow...crying for help in that first picture.
Here's how it looked last night when I returned from my weekend vacation.




In this last picture...that's a 4 foot fence under that snow pile from the driveway.  I have no idea what I'm going to be able to do with any more snow that we get this year.  I'm not going to be able to lift it that high!  The same can be said for that first picture of the front sidewalk.

Oh well, at least it's pretty.  No, wait... I just heard on the news that we've got another 3-5 inches coming Wednesday night!  ARGH, stop the insanity!!!

We've been under a Snow Emergency since Saturday.  Minneapolis and Saint Paul schools have been closed for 2 days because the buses can't make it through the streets to pick the kids up.  Saint Paul has a terrible plowing system.  I'm on a day route.  For example, that snowfall with 9 inches that came Friday night...the first plow didn't reach my street until Sunday morning at 9:30 am.  Because that snow emergency was issued on Saturday, they started with the main roads, then did the night route, then the day route, meaning no plows for me!

Anyway, I better stop or I will keep rambling on and on.  I hope you're enjoying the winter weather more than I am!


Tis the Season!

Well, everyone seems to be posting pictures of their Christmas tree.. so here's mine!
It's not the best pic, but it works for now I guess.  I wanted to put it in front of the window, but I just didn't want to rearrange the furniture, so it's in the corner of the dining room.  Still pretty.



I really like Santa and Snowmen ornaments.  I have lots, but I'm starting to diversify.  As you can see, there's a reindeer above in gold, and a silver one somewhere too.  I love my new Frosty ornament though!

I may change my mind about the snowmen idea though...after all of my recent experiences with snow.  I'll write about that in just a minute!

Tis the Season!  Have a Merry Christmas!