BIGASS Winter Storm is Here.....
BIGASS snow! BIGASS Wind! Blizzard!
I love it.
Thought I might do a Winter Blog this morning as until the Plow Person comes thru and plows Boss's driveway, I am not going anywhere else this morning. This is a kind of funny way of procrastinating, as I am AT work, and my work is not something I need to drive to, nor is it something that stops because of snow HERE, being all on the internet and phone and all.
I've been looking outside, which is kind of cool and trying to see it from a, say California point of view. (Or anywhere but the North view, really) There's a foot of snow, bigger in drifts, little snow tornadoes are blowing all over, can't see any sort of drive or roads, the pine trees are looking pretty darn spiffy all green and white, and the windchill is down below zero.
Yup. Winter. All very normal.
I am really glad about a couple of things, the first being that the dog is down in Florida with Boss this week. Walking him today would not be, uh, fun. Well, to be fair, great fun. For about five minutes. Then it would pale.
The other thing I am happy about is that I am HERE at work, and not at home. (tho I can't IMAGINE what the Bengals are saying, or doing breakfastless right now..) I did hire the Plow Person to come to my place, but my drive is on a kind of a small cliff, and I am meant to pull the car away from the actual drive so Plow Person can plow, but I am pretty sure I would be STUCK, if not going over the cliff, and anyone parking on the street is WAY plowed in and not going anywhere.
Instead, Prius is safe in a garage, next to the Snow Beast 4 Runner.
I am pretty sure Snow Beast 4 Runner could make it down the driveway here. (no mean feat) but not SURE. And not sure if the roads have been plowed. Or if it would matter as the blowing is moving all this around, and it is still snowing. No worries tho, because here in the North, we know how to Drive. It's not a surprise, we did know it was coming.
And We Know How to Dress.
Ever wonder why they make jackets that are rated to -30? Because we need them. Same with boots. Today is not so bad, windchill about -12, temp going down to -4, and here in the North we get a little lackadaisical about such mild temps, and people often don't even bother to DRESS.
But we know how to if we need to. Wait for January people. Real temps off minus 25, windchills down so far they no longer register.
I love it here. Can't say WHY. Love it more in LA where they have no snow. But there is something fun about BIGASS Winter Storm turning your whole life into Survival Adventureland.
Everyone gets really friendly, because who knows? You may be stuck and they may have 4 Wheel Drive, or a shovel. Or beer.
I do want to go and ride today, which has a good chance of happening, Snow Beast 4 Runner can make it easily if the roads are plowed, and I have to go out anyway to take Teenager to Friends. (it is understood that the Teens who drive are not allowed to in this storm in their beater small cars, but the parents with their Snow Beast 4 Wheel Drive things will be taking everyone to where ever on this snow day, fun doesn't STOP here in the North just because of BIGASS Storms)
Completely off topic, which I can do, it being my blog and all, doesn't Illicit Affair look great? He has gained weight, and looks happy, and I sure do love this horsie! (No doubt buried in snow horise, but ah well, it IS Adventureland)
Still need a barn name for him tho....
Love and BIGASS Winter,
Lorraine
88 Comments:
I'd prefer bigass snow to the sleet we have here. We'll be getting those temps later today though. I kinda enjoy it too. Until about February. Then it's "Enough of this already!"
IA looks so much improved. He must know he's yours.
Illicit Affair looks lovely :) Does he go out in the snow and get those monster snowballs on his tail? My horses used to get them, and I would cut them out so they'd stop hitting their back legs. Short winter tails.
I'm missing the snow today. We have rain rain rain in the city. Enjoy the snow day!
I'd rather have a foot of snow than the snow/sleet/slush/shit we did get. Especially if I didn't have to go anywhere.
Am experiencing bigass sunshine at the moment. I'm in LA and a little sad about missing a snow day at home. I love the quite sound of crunching through the snow.
I suppose Tiger might work as a barn name for Illicit Affair. You know, considering...
You could call him Romeo. Or maybe just shorten what he's got down to Licit?
I very much prefer bigass snow to Florida summers. Yay for no more Florida summers!
St. Germain!
IA does look great! I saw a friend's horses the other day and it made me think of him.:)
It's just really windy and cold here right now, though not near as cold as where you're at.(I'm in western Ohio) I never actually like the snow, it makes me feel trapped, and I'm really not a homebody.
I decided against Romeo, as I have never much liked the whinning wuss. Need something stronger, funner.
His tail is supposed to be tied up, I want it to get really long, and it just drags the ground now.
REALLY thinking about taking the Snow Beast 4 Runner down the unplowed drive and roads, just for some adventure....
Fred. Call him Fred. It's a nice, friendly name.
Or not.
15" here. 40+ mph winds. 4' drift in the back, can't see in the front. Snowplows pulled off the streets. People calling me (as HOA president) asking when they will be plowed out. 15" people - 40+ mph winds - is never soon enough for you? This is one of those times when you are forced to just sit still. Sheesh. Snowplow guy called and apolgized for not having the driveways cleared. Sheesh.
Think I'll unplug the phone.
Tybalt was the king of cats. Although, I'm not sure your particular bengals would want a horse as their king.
I couldn't do it. The dusting of snow at ben's school was gorgeous and enough for me!
I have low blood pressure, my hands and feet are cold in the summer. Dressed in -infinity snow boots, my feet still turn purple and go numb. I AM A WIMP..... Which is why I live here!
From a California (San Francisco) perspective? HOLY COW. It's been getting down to the mid 30s at night here, 40-something as a high during the day, and we're just PARALYZED with cold. Top story on the news, people running around bundled in what seems like every coat they own... it's pretty funny.
Yes, we're grapefruit. And wusses. And would pretty much roll over and die out there. I've only seen snow once in my life.
as i recall, snow was awesome as long as it was your choice to be outside playng in it. i also recall loving sitting in front of a fire watching the snow outside. oh! and sledding, i had the best sled, a blue metal round disc that would spin on the way down. it was totally a possibly death machine, and totally awesome!
what i did not like was getting the ice out of the dogs paws and shoveling the drive.
the pictures look nice, and cold.
Now is a bad time to mention that it's sunny and 55 degrees here, isn't it? And that I have the window open.
Don't worry. Tonight I'll get my wintery comeuppance.
That is an impressive lot of snow; the kids would love it!
It's pretty here and I get why people like the snow. I, myself, not so much.
IL looks great! I hope you have a nice ride. What about "Orlando" or "Ganymede"? JK. I know he will tell you his name soon.
I love snow. I hope it snows in New Orleans!!! (After I've driven into my comfy gated parking spot, of course.)
Apparently my AC leaking caused humidity to build up behind my desk and a little cabinet on it. When I pulled the cabinet and desk out to work on my super-moving-cleaning spree, a black mold monster stared me down. I think it may have won.
Wow. Just wow.
If you think you're feeling cold... these photographs from early Antarctic expeditions are simply amazing.
Jess, that's freaky. And wrong.
I live 140 miles east of Jess, and here it's 35F. That's a 20-degree difference! Worse, I usually get her weather a few hours later, and there's no sign of 55-degree weather coming here any time soon.
Ah: but you're up in the mountains, Phiala. I'm in a big river valley. I put it down the hills trapping a warmer air mass, or something.
Anyway, the balance is being restored as we type: the big, dark clouds are rolling in because I got cocky and flouted my local weather on internets. Looks like my Comeuppance comes RIGHT NOW.
Still warm, though! My browser claims that the temperature actually went up to 58 in the last ten minutes. Don't ask me! I just report these things.
wait, we DO have snow in LA, i mean, in the mountains and in fact the GrapeVine on i-5 was closed yesterday!
but i am still a little green over your bountiful snowfall...mmmreow.
you should see Selina Kyle's winter coat, she looks like a puffed up blowfish. will send photos---
and your photo of Horsey looks like you are standing in the most realistic horsesuit of all time...
He sure looks much more dapper (or would that be dapperer?)
Snow looks pretty (especially when seen from inside, with a nice cup of tea in hand). The squirrels must feel really miffed. And cold.
If you do manage to get on the road, I hope you will go by and feed the kitties (or else they might well feed on you next time you go home).
*bzzzt* Thank you for playing. Please try again later. Pittsburgh is higher than State College, according to Wiki (1223 vs 1154ft), or equal according to my favorite weather site, which reports Pittsburgh as 53F at 1107ft and State College at 39F at 1100ft (now only 14F different).
I stand by my previous explanation of "freaky".
Nick says the water is now out at home. Apparently there was a broken main somewhere in town. Not sure how - it's not nearly cold enough to have frozen it. Everything was working fine when I left the house this morning, and it was well above freezing by then.
Made it to the Bengals! Snow Beast 4 runner and I are like unto GODS!!!!!
Thinking the $$ spent hiring PlowGuy to do the drive, walks, and steps are the best $$ I ever spent.
I hope the Bengals are suitably grateful. All hail the mighty plow!
Hurrah for all-wheel drive vehicles! And fed bengals.
Phiala, how about this: I heard thunder about half an hour ago. What fresh hell is this??
Yay Plow Guy!!
We just have a dusting, but the wind is howling. I'm so glad I don't have to leave the house. Although it does take away the opportunity for snow days in general, unless the power goes out.
IA is looking good! He knows he's loved ;-)
It's like i tell everyone down here, (in Arkansas, where we DON'T know what to do with a foot of snow; driving-wise, on roads that is) all a 4-wheel drive does is give you a 50/50 better chance of getting out of the ditch once you slide into it. ^_^
actually down here, our problem is that it generally freezes rain for a couple of hours before it starts snowing, so, our foot of snow is on top of 2-3 inches of ice, which is ALWAYs Fun!
means i do like you and Maddy and stay in and have a DVD/food marathon with the kitties!!! Enjoy yourselves and stay warm! ^_^
All hail! Well done getting to bengals. Plow guy did a great job.
Now we have sunshine. Fast-moving weather out there, eh Jess? Thank goodness, because I lost both my umbrellas in the last couple months!
Heading to the airport...byebye family!!
Both Illicit Affair and the snow look lovely.
And both Spooky House and Boss's house are designed to have proper wintry icicles and stuff ;-)
We had a power cut at work today, but no weather that would justify it.
It came at about 4.30 just as it was getting dark...
And to think, I've been fighting the urge to hibernate with our highs in the 40s to low 50s (Fahrenheit), and lows around freezing, except for a couple of nights including tonight.
Wendy, New Orleans summers aren't going to be that different from Florida summers; winters aren't that different either. Might be wetter than Tampa, but no snow. It's weird enough that Houston got snow last week.
Hi, Brody! Welcome to Fiendom! Grab a white jacket and personalize it, though we have been asked to leave the buckles on. ;)
Loved watching the snow fall and scrunching through it this morning. Less delighted to shovel.
All Hail the Snow Conquering Gods!! Leads to slightly less peeved bengals.
I think IA's barn name should be Mal. (because I like Firefly and he's got a brown coat)
I'm on the other side of Lake Michigan and we don't have snow...yet.
We are also supposed to know how to Drive in it, but you know that every year a few unfortunate souls "forget" and then we have what I call Idiot Rodeo.
We're schedule to have our first Idiot Rodeo of the year tomorrow morning. Ugh.
This would be the night to make sure my gas can has gas in it for the snowblower....
I just imagined MN being something out of a Mad Max movie complete with Mad FabLo tearing up the streets in her Snow Beast 4 Runner, modified to the max for trouble, with Maddy hanging on for dear life while they drive over things like snowdrifts and cars parked on the wrong side of the street. All so the bengals can have their steak.
ariandalen: I have been assured that sometimes it snows in New Orleans. I've never seen it snow in Tampa, so I'm hopeful. Also, I'll be moving from an apartment with a small AC that doesn't really work and that leaks all over the floor most of the summer to luxury apartments (I can afford luxury in NOLA!!!!!!!) with 24 hour maintenance. And, since New Orleans has a good lot of history and is one of the country's cultural centers, I should be happy for quite a while.
Also, I don't have AC in my car. Once I get a job, I'll be buying a convertible with AC!!!!!!!!!! I need AC!!!!!! OMG.
Cannot see the entire post from this public computer but yes, I see Bigass Winter Storm and we sort of had the beginnings of a real storm here but it turned to rain. My mother said that this was a good thing in that she didn't have to shovel until her arms broke off but I shrugged and declared it more depressing than anything else.
PlowMan did an excellent job! Hurrah!
Sounds like an overall fun day. Snow trampolining- who'da thunk?
IA looks good. Mal is an ace barn name.
More name suggestions to run by Illicit Affair:
-Sheik (because he's an arab and who wouldn't want to run away with a movie star sheik),
-Oliver (Lady Chatterley's lover),
-Lovey (Alice's pet name for Gertrude),
-Henry (lover of June and Anaïs)
-Wallis (Prince Edward gave up the throne for her)
-Adam (you can give him all the apples he wants),
-Tony (for Anthony and Cleopatra),
-Chopin (loved by George Sand),
-Tristan (it worked for Isolde),
-Cyrano (he's got the nose for it),
-Rochester (I love Jane Eyre),
-Arthur (except Gwen left him),
-Majnun (new to me, a lovely Arabian folk tale),
-Valentine, Amour or Love (just for love's sake)
Maybe he'll prick up his ears at one of those. I had fun making the list.
Wendy, I LOVE that image of Quiche and Maddy.
IA looks so much healthier. You are clearly made for each other.
I am now off to dream about snow.
I miss snow so much. I spent half my youth in upstate NY, NJ and on Long Island. We used to have lots of wonderful snow. Then when we moved to MD we still got lots of snow, I went through several blizzards in my school years, then we just stopped getting decent winters. We got snow on the 1st and it was nice(and makes me hopeful for an actual winter), but we were supposed to have a bunch of snow then it got too warm and all we have had is rain. Meh.
It's doesn't matter what kind of weather we have here. People around here don't know how to drive in the sunshine. *lol*
Illicit looks wonderful. You look wonderful. The snow looks wonderful. The blog is full of wonderful!
Also, I would love to braid his tail. *grin*
And I say call him George! I rend to pet name things or people George when I haven't figured their name out yet or I want to be silly.
"I'm gonna love him and hug him and pet him and call him George." -Lennie Small 'Of Mice and Men'
Ahhhh, Cecile. One of my favorite lines!
And I get what you mean about the tail being braided...would look pretty darn good.
Any of you who want this 15" of snow, 5 degree air temp and -15 degree wind chills, come on down.
Bring your shovel, though, or you won't get past the 3' drift at the end of the driveway, or the 4' one at my back door.
Really, be sure you want what you'll get when you ask for things.
Wow! Illicit Affair looks great! Seems he is happy to be with you. I think we had less snow here in the city. They are saying we got 7 inches but it seems a bit less to me.
I totally agree with Phiala -- a foot of snow is better than the dreaded "wintry mix"! I was thinking yesterday that we were so lucky that there was not a layer of frozen rain under the snow. There so often is in the first big snow. Hope it does not go that way for those east of us.
Now bracing for the true cold that is coming. This will be the first below zero temps of the season. I am thinking that calls for the first mulled wine of the season.
My friend says that you should name him Alfie :)
This comment has been removed by the author.
Mmmm, I could handle some mulled wine right now Aleta. Send some over the Interwebs for me?
Buckets of rain, flood engendering, here, then sunshine, then clouds, and now clear skies and dropping temps....
Sleepy. Nice snow, in pics.
All i got tonight.
I'm sooo enjoying my empty of extended family house. And I have no food-making-energy or creativity left. I used it up. That's it. Tapped out. Saturday's dinner was epic and I can go no further.
I've got rice in the rice cooker. Spinach salad (which means a pile of spinach on a plate w/ a bottle of balsamic next to it) and I'm pan-frying a fillet of trout in butter. This meal has no chopping or slicing whatsoever.
Siri, one of my favorite places in the world is a little town in New Hampshire. All four seasons of it. Blizzards and all. I really love experiencing each season. Maybe it was being born in the Catskills. :-)
I will also echo the hate for the wintery mix. It is probably the most dangerous to drive in. Hell it's probably the most dangerous to walk in for that matter. Speaking as someone who has now fallen twice from slick spots in the rain over the last 6 months.
But Chantrelle: you're pan-frying trout. That's fancy by most people's standards. ;)
We had pizza. Leftover sausage-mushroom bolognese sauce, cheese, ready-made crust. Involved no pan-frying or sauteeing of any sort. Spread on crust, whack in oven.
Put pears and walnuts on the salad. I guess that was kind of fancy. But I didn't toast the walnuts!
I had kielbasa an sauerkraut. Reeeal fancy.
Apparently I can not type today. *headdesk*
Okay, I know I'm not the only one who wants to move in with Chantrelle. I would eat so well! No more tuna, ramen, and expensive nights out at Chipotle for me!
I'm utterly drained by the family visit...i think it was the suppression of screaming over the continuous fox news on my television that did me in. It's 9:30 and I'm heading to bed.
Good night you wonderful fiends!
Ah, Fox News. Or as I like to call it, interactive TV (because I end up yelling at it). Mercifully, we only get a couple of hours of it late at night, and I only see it due to insomnia and/or sheer desperation.
I have to say every day is an Idiot Rodeo on the roads around here. We can't even blame the weather unless you count the odd howling gale. Not that I'm wanting put anyone off visiting NZ or anything. Honest! *Waves to DragonSally from across the ditch*
And now I'm skiving off home. Good night, fiends!
Chantrelle, you're simple meal sounds delicious. I made mushroom risotto last night - also easy peasy and very nice.
I'm thinking of doing a chestnut & nettle one for my veggie friends when then come next weekend - I do want to think of something which is suitable for vetarians but a bit more interesting than the old staples of quiche or roasted veg & feta chesse, but which doesn't need too much preparation as my kitchen is too small to allow people to hang out & be socialble while cooking.
Any bright ideas from any of the vegetarians here?
Cecily - I like George as a name, too. Although timakes me think of Joyce Grenfell and "George, don't do that"
In our family, Fred tends to be the generic name for things that don't have names, after my grandparents cats, who were almost all called Fred (except Ginger, who was called Ginger, and Perkins, who was called after an engine)
At least one Fred had kittens.
Lasagna with pumpkin and almonds?
Pasta with a cream of asparagus?
Eggplant, rice and cheese pie?
Wow! What a set of recipes to read before breakfast! I want some of each, please.
Will have to settle for yogurt from the happiest cows on the planet, and homemade granola. No cause for complaint there...
Just learned my son will be home next week, about a week earlier than I expected! We haven't seen him since August, so I'm excited. Of course, it means I have to get the 400+ books off his bedroom floor. Good thing we built bookcases last weekend. Sometimes the timing DOES work.
Hope all fiends are having/ have had a lovely day, full of surprises (the best sort) and peace.
Settled in for a long (all-day) web training session (a "webinar" if you like stupid words).
Fifteen minutes in and I've already finished my coffee and gingerbread bagel.
Wheeeeee.
Are you the trainee or the trainer?
Trainee. Thus, 8 hours of watching powerpoint presentations online.
Yet another reason I should be allowed to drink at work!
Ooh. I like the idea of a Firefly name for Illicit Affair. He doesn't really seem like a Jayne, but if you called him that, then you could sing the Jayne song to him :D
Wendy, that's a fabulous visual of the Snow Beast 4 Runner.
Chantrelle, I echo everyone's sentiments about your cooking. Even "simple" from you sounds delicious. I had tater tots and beer last night... while playing bingo.
Cecily, I love all four seasons, too. The weather: one thing you can't really change.
Ooooo. I want to visit Nathalie! Great recipes!
But your risotto idea sounds very good, Marjorie. I had no idea nettles were edible (though I do know they're spinable). What are they like? As a vegetarian guest, I'd love to have something like risotto, instead of the usual fare.
This morning it's 2 F (-17 C) with a windchill of -19 F (-28 C). It was still snowing yesterday, but not much buildup. I just had to sweep and salt the porch stairs. And so it begins...
Happy firbday to DataGoddess!!!
Marjorie, when I was younger I helped rescue a litter of kittens. They were way too young to sex them, but of course we named them. I think we guessed every gender wrong with the names. One was Fred, short for Alfred Hitchcock. :-)
Anna, 'zactly.
No snow in mid NC. We generally get the wintry mix. Horrible. Stay safe, all of you snowed in people!
We served arroz con pollo to our tree decorating friends last night. Also key lime and pecan pies (Steve likes to make pie). And martinis, vodkas, ryes and lots of wine. Dinner with good friends is probably one of my most favorite things in the world.
And Calvin is feeling great! Not sure why and not going to rock the boat, just taking it for a gift.
Off to spend the day with Mom doing her errands. She has a HUGE list.
Toni! Happy Firbday, week, month!
Nat-Law, thank you for those sugsetions - they all look delicious - I guess the pumpkin lasagne could be made with other kinds of squash if I can't get pumpkin?
OSS - I am not sure how nettles taste - I believe a bit like spinach: I knew they were edible (if cooked,to get rid of the sting) but have never eaten them. I was looking for a recipie for chestnut risotto because I had it in a restaurant once and thought it might be nice, and I came across a recipie for cestnut & nettle - it was the only one I found which didn't also have meat or chicken stock in, so I may put on some gloves and go a-foraging for nettles this weekend (the recipie involves cooking an then pureeing them, so I don't see why I couldn't do that part this weekend and then freeze them for next.)
Jane, your tree-party sounds great (and so does the good news about Calvin!)
Make sure you are using the top tender leaves, Marjorie, otherwise they might be too bitter for your taste.
Yes any squash could do. If you can find a small red kuri squash it will be even nicer. The squash cream can be prepared in advance as well.
Ok, so, this morning I had to chase the trash cans around the neighborhood, and then go out back to try to get everything back on the porch that had blown out into the neighbor's yard. And all this before I even had my bra on! Sorry, I don't like wind.
Happy Firbday, Toni!
YAY! for Calvin feeling great! :)
Marjorie, what about hummus and pita chips? Or just crackers. I'm not a vegetarian, but I can make a meal out of hummus, plus it's easy to make if you can't find it ready made. It can also be made ahead of time and left in the refrigerator.
MB - not a good way to start the day.
Hope you are still having a lovely Firbday DG.
Oh my Fods. Nice. Warm. Library. Tried to go from five to eight carolling in town but couldn't. I got until about seven and then almost froze to death and so had to come to the library. Thank Fod for library oh my thank Fod thank Fod. It feels so good. You know you need a library when your scrambling up the hill to the building muttering, "Must. Get. To. Library." under your breath in Chinese.
DG - Happy day (although it's almost done.)
Is anyone else having issues with the blog? Q's front page looks funny from here.
At least I can comment. I think.....
Yup, I can comment.....
EOP - stay warm. How cold is it?
Thanks for the birthday wishes, y'all!!
Siri, Dr. Wicked is working on it. According to Ms. Fabulous, her website has been wonky most of the day.
It isn't that cold - maybe thirty degrees ... maybe like twenty eight or something like that. But cold enough that when I go around caroling for three hours ... it's a bit much!
And happy birthday to Toni.
HA! Got here! It loaded.
The site and blog will be fixed soon, Dr Wicked IS working on it.
New post is UP!
I think.
I hope so anyway.
Go and see if you can find it...
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