Fleeting Moments

Before the Storm

Today is a snow day. No school, no going out on treacherous roads -- yes, it's another messy storm with snow, sleet and freezing rain.

Fortunately, we saw this one coming (thanks, meteorologists) and prepared. Like everyone else, we went to the store (thanks, Wegmans) and got our bread and milk. And chocolate. Also, I picked up the camera and snapped plenty of outdoor pictures, just in case the kids decided to play nicely or nap and I needed to procrastinate.

So here's an image of the cool wispy clouds we get before a winter storm. They were high, wispy and beautiful yesterday afternoon, just a few hours before the snow started to fall.

What a Difference a Day Makes

Sixteen hours later, the same beautiful snowy landscape is now trapped under a healthy layer of ice.

So is my car.

I better start chiseling it out now.

UPDATE: Getting the ice off the car wasn't hard at all. In fact, it was not unlike peeling a hard-boiled egg. Once I cracked the shell of ice, I could lift it off in largish pieces. Underneath the ice I found perfectly preserved white fluffy snow. And under that, there was actually a car, all ready to tackle the icy, slushy, yucky roads!

It Snowed, It Snowed!

Finally, we have more than a dusting of snow -- almost three inches as of an hour ago, when I snapped these quick pics. And that three inches effectively doubles our seasonal snowfall totals (normally, we're good for about 30 snowy inches per season here in Hershey).

So, color me excited. Even a day spent cooped up with the rugrats has not dimmed my enthusiasm for the snow. Ask me at this time tomorrow, especially if school is canceled again. Also, the precipitation is supposed too change to freezing rain overnight. I'm thinking that might dampen my spirits a bit, too.

Finally, yes that IS our Christmas tree you see here. I told ya we were leaving it up at least until March!

The Forecast for Monday

I know there are many more important problems in the world, but...

Monday's forecast for Hershey includes: "A chance of snow...sleet and freezing rain...mainly during the morning."

Seriously. Could we be done with the freezing rain already?

Another Week, Another Ice Storm

OK, everyone in Central Pennsylvania who is tired of waking up to freezing rain, raise your hand.

Yep, I thought so.

Me, too.

Another Day, Another Ice Storm

Before the inevitable power outage (the ice isn't melting and 50mph wind is on the way), I wanted to post these photos from today's ice storm.

As with most sequels, it was BIGGER, BETTER and EVEN MORE SPECTACULAR than ever before. And as always, click on the photos to see them bigger, better and even more spectacular than before.

We Still Have Power

Which is amazing considering the layer of ice on all the trees this morning! The ornamental cherry tree outside our door is glazed with ice...and gorgeous. Schools are closed, traffic is creeping slowly by us and the freezing rain is still falling.

Given the choice of a cold rain, freezing rain or snow, I'll take the snow every time. This is due in large part to the fact that we have a homeowner's association that shovels the snow in our development. So I can sit inside and watch the fluffy white flakes while somebody else does the dirty work of winter.

These freezing rain days are the days when I start thinking about moving to Vermont. I wonder if they have snow-shoveling HOAs up there?