The Worst Is Over!

Hi everyone! It has been a crazy week! Sunday and Monday we got a nice dusting of snow on the ground. That worked out well since it was a federal holiday and no school. However, my hubby flew out early that morning for Houston, but he had no trouble getting to the airport. By Monday night it started raining and melted all the snow away. My son was able to go to school on Tuesday and I was able to go back to jury duty. I had been on jury all last week on a case. We were having a hard time coming to an agreement on the verdict, so we had to go back in on Tuesday. Well, there was talk about a big storm coming Tuesday night/early Wednesday morning and I think the thought of that storm finally got the jury in agreement of a verdict! LOL! Anyway, we finished up late Tuesday afternoon. On the way home I stopped at the grocery store to stock up. That was no fun, as I think everyone else in the state of Washington had the same idea! LOL!

Well, the storm did indeed hit us that night, and by early Wednesday morning we were under a beautiful blanket of snow. My hubby was flying back from Houston on Wednesday and of course I was worried about his getting in. They had already cancelled a lot of the outgoing flights and the roads were pretty nasty. He made it home fine that afternoon, which was a good thing because the worst was still to come. We got hit pretty hard and ended up getting about 7 inches of snow on Wednesday. That may not sound like a lot for many of you who are use to getting snow all winter. But here in Seattle we are accustomed to being showered with rain and more rain. This was a major storm for our area. And by that night it all started turning to ice! I was so glad my hubby got home when he did!

On Wednesday, while the snow was still all nice and fluffy, I ventured out to try to knock the snow off of our satellite dish. First of all, I couldn't find my boots...just not something I use often out here. So I slipped on my oldest son's boots, which where about four sizes too large for me! I felt like Bozo the Clown walking across the yard, plopping along with step ladder in one hand and broom in the other. I set up the little ladder as close under the dish as I could get. Of course, to be close enough to reach the dish, I figured I needed to be directly under it. Bad idea! One knock and ALL the snow came barreling down...right in my face! Don't ask me what I was thinking, but I certainly wasn't feeling very smart after that! LOL! But I did get my TV working again!

On Thursday I ventured out once again, this time to take some scraps out to the compost bin and to get a few pictures. So once again, I donned my Bozo boots and stepped out onto the deck. This time all I could hear was CRUNCH! The nice and fluffy snow had a crusty layer of ice covering it, and all the trees were completely covered in ice.

This was the first casualty of the storm. My huge butterfly bush had broken in half. Hubby got out there and cut it away so I could get to the compost bin AND so I could once again get out to the satellite dish. This time I had to knock off ice, including a couple of huge icicles hanging from it. Fortunately I'd learned my lesson the day before and parked my step ladder to the side. You can see the infamous dish up top there! hehe!

All turned out well and I was able to get a few pics out in the back yard. It's amazing how quiet "the world" is when you're under a fresh blanket of snow. I just love it.

This tree was about my height when it was first planted eleven years ago. I'm not sure what's going on up at the top of it, but the whole thing looks like something out of the movie "How the Grinch Stole Christmas"! LOL!

One of my garden statues. His expression says it all!

I've always loved this birdhouse, but the birdies don't. In the eleven years we've lived here I don't think we've ever had a family in there!

This is my burning bush. It's always so pretty in the fall. I really need to get out there and fill up that empty bird feeder!

Well, today was the first day I ventured out. I was getting stir crazy so hubby and I went to breakfast and to restock on some groceries. Again, everyone else had the same idea about going to the grocery store! LOL! We also made a much needed run to the post office. So if any of my customers who had packages going out this week, just so you know...they FINALLY got shipped today. Sorry about that.

The storm is now headed east and I have many on line friends and customers right in the path of this storm. All I can say is "HAVE FUN"! I loved it while it lasted, but now it is gone and the rains have settled in. We are now dealing with lots of slippery slush and possible flooding. Ain't wintertime fun!! ~~Annie