Friday, December 19, 2008

Snowed in

So here we are all snowed in--from a "storm" that would not have caused much fuss anywhere else, but here we are woefully unprepared for these things called "freezing temperatures." Even if we get snow it is usually melted by mid-day so why waste time and resources plowing or (heaven forbid) shoveling off your sidewalk? It makes perfect sense but this time it hasn't been above 30 in several days, and nothing is plowed, shoveled, or graveled, and another big storm is on the way. We are shut down.

The last time I can remember being so hunkered is in Pennsylvania--where a real STORM actually came and dumped a few feet (not a few inches, Seattle) on us. I was a new college graduate and house-sitting for my parents while they were flouncing around Texas taking a break from northern winters. I was eight miles from town, two from the nearest store. The snow came on Friday. Of course I was out with friends until well into the storm, staying out as long as we possibly could preparing for the hunkering.

That was a big storm for our parts, and it was four days until the plows came to the house. I was alone with my new kittens (who are now decidedly geriatric), and no computer--imagine! All I had was cable TV, books, and some cute cats to stalk. So this nice thing happened where the other inhabitants of the neighboring houses all got together and formed a rotating pot luck for a few nights.

That is when I learned how to make bread. And when I started making a quilt BY HAND (I did finish it, eventually). I read some books I'd been meaning to, I bonded with my cats. (And when I say bonded I'm pretty sure I mean I chased them under the table to make them snuggle me).

And I got together in the evenings with some people I didn't know very well, including a husband-wife team of models. Like REAL models, relaxing in their country home on hiatus from their MODELING in Manhattan. The woman had her own face-stuff commercial even--you know, prancing around and splashing water on her face real slow like. They were gorgeous. (And I'm pretty sure this makes me qualified to be a judge on America's Next Top Model, Tyra Banks) All in all it was grand and I was a little sad when it was over.

This time, it's all toddler exercise and making cookies and snowman and Thomas the Tank Engine and busy busy. And we can walk to the store to stock up on supplies, assuming there are any supplies to be had. Not as much reflection and self-improvement as last time, but thank heavens for that. Nice, and different.

13 comments:

smalltownme said...

If I were snowed in with that adorable face... I wouldn't care. Hunker down and stay warm.

Irene said...

We haven't been snowed in for decades. It seems, especially lately, that we don't get real winters anymore. We get a little bit of snow that melts in the afternoon sunshine.

Your little boy sure is cute. Give him a big hug from me.

Jenn @ Juggling Life said...

Thankfully your boy rocks the outerwear!

Mrs. G. said...

Stay warm! Use the boy for affectionate body heat.

Anne-Marie said...

He looks like a little boy... where's your baby?!?

Jodi said...

we're snowbound too...hunkering in as we speak

Lisa Wheeler Milton said...

He's gorgeous. I'm glad you're managing the ARCTIC BLAST - that's what the news reports say, every 25 seconds here.

Stay toasty.

Mary Alice said...

Enjoy the change of pace.

Anonymous said...

The novelty of snow here results in euphoria over the change in weather...and then immediate panic and boredom. Just saying.

Dani In NC said...

That is a great photo of your son. It looks like it should be in a magazine. I never can capture the true cuteness of my kids with a camera. My 15-year-old tied her hair up in one of my crocheted kerchiefs and was vacuuming the house. She looked just like a 1940s housewife and I tried to take a picture but I couldn't capture the full effect.

Here in NC, we have the same reaction to a few inches of snow. We only get one good storm a year, so people aren't quite used to driving in it and it slows things down. It isn't as bad as it was 30 years ago when I moved here as a kid. Back then, you could see two flakes come down and school would be called off. Now we have a lot of Northerners settling here, so snow no longer gives us a guaranteed day off work or school :-(.

Vanessa said...

Dallas is the same way, a light coating of ice and everything shuts down. We had our first storm on Tuesday and in my little suburb of Dallas there were 69 car accidents. This is why I'm so happy to stay at home!

Alex Elliot said...

I love the idea of having a potluck! The weather has been pretty awful here. I loved your comment on my post about your Christmas traditions. I've talked about it quite a few times with friends and family.

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