
Winter is … here.
Where we live we don’t normally get snow, or ice. Certainly not several inches worth.
The National Weather Service started sending out warnings at the end of last week, saying how our area was going to get hit by a cold front moving through, bringing snow with it. As we got closer to the time, they upped the predicted to several inches of snow.
We get cold weather, sure. Temperatures drop, and we get winds, and it is generally miserable to be outside.
Last night, I had to put some stuff in the outside garbage can and noticed there were little bits of ice starting to form on the ground. Later, when I put the dogs out for their final potty break, we were just beginning to get some snow falling. Got the dogs back inside, shut down the house, and went to sleep.
I woke up around 3:15 AM and looked outside the window. The ground was mostly covered with a light dusting of white. I climbed back in bed, burrowed beneath the down comforter, and went back to sleep.
I woke up again at a little after 6:00 AM. Got out of bed, got dressed, then looked outside. We had a layer of snow over everything, and it was still falling. The dogs were being sedate and didn’t want to go outside like they normally do. I’m guessing they knew it was cold outside.
I did some work on the computer until 7:00 AM, when I expected the dogs to get all antsy about getting to go out for their walks. They still didn’t show any signs of wanting to go out. Finally around 8:30 AM I got up to let them out. Major Tom and Magdalena were all gung ho about charging outside. Only Sirocco stayed behind to continue sleeping on the warm chair in the living room. (I think Sirocco made the wise move.)
I was expecting that Major Tom and Magdalena would be wary about the snow, as this was the first time Major Tom has ever encountered snow. We aren’t sure about Magdalena but we don’t think she is old enough to have encountered snow before. They both went running out the door and didn’t slow down. They both found a spot to pee, then went back to running around the backyard. They like snow!
A little later Sirocco went out, and the other two dogs went with him. Sirocco seemed much more curious about the snow. He tried digging it up, scattering it all around. He kept sticking his face in it, and had a blob of snow on his nose when he came in. Fortunately for me, none of them pushed for going on their daily walks. I would not have trusted my footing on the snow covered streets, nor would I trust Magdalena to not drag me all over the place for lack of traction.
We had plans to go play Scrabble with a friend of ours today, but we cancelled them. The wife wanted to keep to the plan, but I vetoed it. She’s from up North, and would have no problem driving in the few inches of snow we had on the ground. I trust that she could do that. I DO NOT trust all the other local drivers who are not used to driving in the couple of inches of snow. There is at least one major accident each day on the local freeways, and that’s without slick, white stuff covering the streets.
The other issue is if the wife slips on the icy ground and falls. There is no way I can get her up. Having her lying on the frozen ground while we wait for someone to come help get her up wouldn’t be good for her health. Nor would I want to make an emergency crew come out in weather like this for something that was completely avoidable.
We wisely stayed home. The wife took advantage of the fact and we (meaning me) did more cleaning and sorting of items for cleaning out the house. (The wife ‘supervised’.)
After lunch I did get a short nap in, so I got some hibernation done. Hibernation – the only way to deal with cold weather like this. Well, that, or buried under warm blankets, with hot chocolate, and a good book (or books).
Late in the afternoon, the streets were clear and about half the snow in the yards and on the roofs had melted away. I suspect most of it will be gone in the morning.
Anyway, we survived Snowmageddon 2025, my Hordeling. I hope you are safe and warm wherever you are.
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