Where Did All This Snow Come From

 We had our first snow Wednesday, and it was a big one!  I knew it was coming, but I had no idea we'd get so much!

I love the first snow.  It's so magical, and everything's white all around us.  I love when the neighbors gather outside and we talk and share stories.  The neighbors look out for one another up here, making sure we have what we need in this fierce weather.  If I ever have any questions, I tend to ask F.  He's lived here for 15 years, and has seen many seasons.  He's the one who told me that "everything becomes still with the first snow."  He told me that again on Wednesday.

First thing I did, was go outside and covered the pipes so they don't freeze.  They use these birdhouses for that.  Not very attractive, but they are efficient.

Thankfully, I just went to the store and had some groceries in the cupboard.  Sometimes with these snow storms, we can get outages, and we had one.  It lasted for half a day, and it was coooold.  PG&E is excellent at calling to alert us when the outages have come, and when the estimated time will be to fix the problem.  Me and my neighbor, Lisa, keep each other updated as well.  I heard that a big tree limb came down and hit a power line.  But they fixed it before the scheduled time.  You're never so thankful to have hot water than during a power outage on a snowy day, and I got my lantern out, and lit many candles in different places through the house.

There are so many things to do when the first snow comes, and my son helps out with that - make sure there's anti-freeze in the car, get the lanterns out, have all the home essentials, and then there's the shoveling!  I actually like to shovel and get out there in the nippy fresh air and touch and feel the white powder beneath my feet.

The women up here are what I call "sturdy women" because they have to prepare for a great deal when it snows.  S. at the grocery store was telling me that she had to go to work that morning, so she just bulldozed through the snow to get there.  I appreciate their stories so much.  They don't take things for granted, and they carry on, working through the hurdles that surface, and at the same time taking care of all that is necessary.  They have comforts, but they don't dwell on them, knowing each day may be different than the next.  This neighbor walks her dog every day, and she's even braving it in the snow.

My lovely flowering bush is even lovelier covered in snow.  I hope it survives through it all.

At the end of the day, my fence was towering with freshly fallen snow.

The next day, it rained, and it didn't stop for some time.  I thought it was Ok to drive to the store to get some things I needed - essentials, batteries, and some food.  But shoveling the driveway after a snow and rain can be tricky.  Have you ever shoveled thick, sloshy snow?

The drive made me nervous, cause there was a big truck on steroids behind me. 😱  Once I got into town, that was even scarier, cause the road workers plowed the snow, but there were piles and piles all over, and hardly any openings to get through to the store.  That in itself is tricky.  You often wonder, should I have done this?

Back home, and inside I made some hot meals all week to warm the bones.

My son made these croissants from scratch.  Oh my gosh, they tasted like they were from La Bou.  This is a bakery-cafe that I think only has locations in California.

And then there are these.....if I can't be with my dad at Christmas, he will remain with me in spirit.  He loved these.  They are sweet, so I can only eat one or two at a time.

I haven't tried the Hershey's hot chocolate bombs yet.  I think they would be cute stocking stuffers.

Where did all this snow come from?  I believe it's a blessing from above - it was a gentle reminder for me to stop for a while; stop the internet and tv, look beyond that, and notice and appreciate the gift that has been given to us.  It came at just the right time.

In other news.....Mia lost her first tooth, and the tooth fairy left a nice surprise under her pillow that night.

Remember the craft fair they were having in my town end of November?  Well, it was a huge one, with dozens of booths to look at.  I talked with a few of the ladies, and one of the first booths that caught my eye was of vintage jewelry and ornaments.  Turns out, I knew the lady who ran the booth - she has an antique shop in town, and I have gone in her shop before.  The vintage Christmas tree pin called out to me, and I will wear it with my black velvet sweater.

And there was another item that I had to get - a ceramic heart with a red rose in the middle.  I still have to get some ribbon to hang it.

Happy Thanksgiving. 

~Sheri