Here we go again

Across the front yard to the frozen lake


Will here we are again. Another snowed in weekend. About four inches on the ground at dawn and now maybe 7-8 with another 24 hours to go. Right now it has turned over to a sleety snow but is expected to change back to real snow by night fall. Rumors have emerged of anywhere from 6" (local TV channel) to 30" (teller at the bank "My cousin works for VDOT and they have an advisory of 30"). Of course, the governor declared a pre-emptive state of emergency so who knows. But we are now better prepared to get out.

We have two long driveways. One for the detached garage where the Grand Cherokee lives and a two car attached with Petunia and Mr. P.'s Highlander hybrid. They are always a pain to clear. We had this big Snapper snow blower but we both got to old to manage it. So, I give to a program at my non-profit but it never got used. Recently, Giovanni (yes, the truck guy who is also our yard guy) started doing it but its' too much to do by hand and his ATV with blade too light. He wanted a big snow blower but had no funds to get one. I remember ours and called Sam the guy in charge of storing it and yes he had it and yes it was primarily functioning as a lawn ornament and yes he would bring it down to my office. So yesterday I got a huge snow blower as part of my office decor. Fortunately, Giovanni was able to get there and get it out and hopefully get it running.







The Back Driveway






The Neighbors and Our Detached
Garage Hidden by Large Cedar ---


Now I mentioned to Mr. P. on Monday that I was working on getting Giovanni the snow blower. Well, Mr.P. went on red alert. Yes!!!! He found the paper work for the Snapper which we still had because we have paper work on every appliance and machine we have ever purchased plus some parts. He informed Giovanni what was up. He queried me regularly where we were in the process. I reported in at every step to let him know we were moving toward an excellent resolution. And yes we have.

So is this snow really such a big deal or are we all a bunch of wimps. According to the Roanoke Times Tuesday February 4th front page we have the fourth highest snow fall in the nation, trailing only Denver, Fargo, and Anchorage and we are 4.7 inches behind Denver, 2.4 behind Fargo and only .9 behind Anchorage. So suck on that all you New Englanders who assume that Virginia has no winters. This one is so much more like our winters before the drought.

BTW, the hairpin curves I came up behind the guy going sidewise. Next morning it was blocked by a wreck. Had to turn around and go in to the office another way. Speaking of which, the last five miles to our house has only one road so there are no alternatives there. A week a go there was a tree down across it and MrP. called to tell me not hurry home--which he usually wants me to do. Ain't the sweetest!!!

So,I'm making a beef mushroom barley soup for lunch. I'll do Mexican tonight. Chicken and Mexican rice with lots of guacamole, grated cheddar cheese, and sour cream Mr.P. loves guacamole. He also loves cheddar cheese. Come to think of it, he also loves sour cream. Tomorrow when Mr.P. (who has only left the house once--yesterday--in over a week) is getting a little cabin feverish I'm pulling out the fish and chips which he loves (don't tell him). Homemade tartar sauce.