ICE~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It's not what I'd hoped for!  No softly falling flakes outside the window. 

No sitting, watching drifts pile up and counting inches.  

No fluffy, powdery snow to play in.  

No snow people being constructed or snowballs being tossed this morning, 

but neighbor April and her daughter Raya are sliding down the driveway on 

a plastic saucer, brave girls - but then they're from New Jersey!

Instead, last evening, I listened to the scratching at the glass as the sleet rained down. 

I huddled at the hearth wrapped in my Antarctic fleece and SmartWool leggings, 

nursing a mug of hot liquid, just praying the power would stay on and that our aging 

heating system doesn't quit any day soon.

Everyone was waiting for snow yesterday afternoon.

It was an ice storm. 

Over quickly, no languishing about with thoughts of making 

the landscape beautiful.  Just long enough to coat most of the state in a 

glittering white iron blanket.  Roads are treacherous, most places are closed. 

Northerners call us wimps here in the south when we groan over this type of weather.

I've lived up there and know it's hard in Winter, but at least they are prepared with 

equipment and manpower to deal with the transportation problems. Here we hesitate

to spend money on things we may only use once in a blue moon - or a huge Winter storm.

So here goes~~~~~~~this is what I'm doing today.

Taking photos through the windows as I look out at the icy scene.

Our neighbor came by before we were even up, scraped our front steps, 

put down salt, and tossed Bob's newspaper right by the front door. How thankful 

we are for people such as Dale

My physiotherapy session is canceled. We have enough food and plenty

to drink. We have logs for the hearth tonight, a big pot of soup, another of chili.

We have even colder temperatures coming later this week. Voices hum from the TV

with talk of breaking weather records ahead.

Hope you enjoy the wildlife in my garden - as we're stuck here you just may be seeing more later as the birds are very hungry and flying in non-stop.

Let me know if you want the name of any particular bird you're not familiar with.