The Big Snow

So it started snowing Friday. Amelia was in her jammies and Pooh slippers and found her way outside. I took a picture before getting her back in - I loved her delight in the snow. She just couldn't wait to get out in it. Later in the morning we did go out and play and then I went to work. It had stopped snowing and started kind of raining on my way to work. By 12:15 pm it started snowing again, though, and we closed the office around 3:30 p.m. The wetness of the rain (which turned to ice) coupled with the heavy snow would lead to trees falling and power outages.

We found out Saturday morning that Nana lost power Friday night around midnight. She had woken up to go to the bathroom and wound up building a fire and staying up the rest of the night adding a log every hour. We told her that if her power wasn't on by 4 pm, we would come and get her. Our power went out at 11 am. I took Amelia out to play in the snow, since I had promised I would. Then, being a veteran girl scout, I took a candle and heated leftovers for lunch in a metal mixing bowl. David built a fire in the fireplace and Nana called (the landline) to say she had power. So now, if WE didn't have power by 4 pm, we would go to Nana's. We left the built fire unlit since the house hadn't yet gotten cold and we didn't want to leave a smoldering fire. We left the house shortly after 4 pm and made it up the newly paved road that leads to Nana's driveway, but Nana's driveway was blocked by downed trees so we parked, got our luggage and walked the rest of the way up the hill. We enjoyed lights, heat and warm food. (We brought some food with us, but I think Nana was slightly offended. I tried explaining we were afraid it would spoil.)

Right before bedtime for us (and a couple of hours after Amelia had fallen asleep on her sleeping bag along the outer wall of the house) there was a loud noise and the house shook - a tree had fallen right next to the house. The top broke off on the deck. The deck saved the heat pump from damage, too. I couldn't sleep most of the night worrying one would fall onto the house, especially the side Amelia was sleeping on.

David went out Sunday morning to get some things from the house, check on the cats and take a few pictures like this one. (I am thinking it might be our Christmas card next year.) However, he couldn't get back up the paved portion of Nana's road and had to park about 1/2 mile away because there wasn't any place to safely park the Jeep along the main road.

It looked like we would be spending a second night with Nana and getting to and from our vehicle was a trek. Amelia was also getting cabin fever. Her friend Livia still had power so we decided to go over there for a play date. Her daddy came and got us at the main road so we just had to walk down the driveway and the hill. Daddy went with us since he decided he needed to go back to the house and find his combat boots since his shoes had gotten soaked from all the walking in the snow. I had the camera and took a picture of Amelia walking with her daddy. Amelia was a trouper and did such a great job walking back up and down in all the snow. Here she is Sunday night, still happy to be in the snow.

These guys down the street from us had power the entire time, and creativity! David took one picture when he was out Sunday taking pictures, and then I took another picture this afternoon when it was all finished. I LOVE the coordinating shopping bag!

Our power is back on but we aren't staying home to enjoy it. We are off to KY to see a basketball game!

[pictures dated 12/18-12/21/09]