Thursday, January 29, 2009

Snow

Our last two days have been filled with snow. On Tuesday night the flakes started. Small, fluttering flakes. Those flakes gradually increased in size and intensity. There was a break overnight, but that was for the freezing rain to come in and leave half an inch to an inch of ice in its wake. Then the snow came again. By ten that evening, schools had been canceled. About 500 area schools were closed, most of the schools in the state, actually. Even my husband stayed home during our level two snow emergency, and worked from home. He took a lunch break and we all shoveled the driveway, chipping away at the ice and snow, together. Today the kids were off from school, again, but the husband made the trek into work, arriving there safely. We are supposed to receive another inch of snow this afternoon/evening, as well. We have used up all our "calamity" days for the school year. The last day of school is supposed to be June 10, but if we miss any more days of school due to the weather, we will progress further into June to make them up. We three girls trudged out into the weather today in search of boots for my youngest daughter. She did not mention to me that her boots were WAY too small until Tuesday. Due to the recent weather, there were not very many pairs of boots to be found in the surrounding areas, let alone in her specific size. We did end up finding some men's boots small enough to fit her feet, and are exceptionally warm. When she came in today, I made this homemade hot chocolate with a few sprinkles of cinnamon, too. :)
Running... I went four good miles on Sunday, although all the paths and streets were covered in a thin layer of ice and snow on top of that. The flakes falling down that day were beautiful, but my knees did not like the sliding. I felt wonderful afterward, like I'd gotten in a great workout. Then, this new weather hit, and it isn't fit to be running outside without spikes on your shoes!
Since writing last, our countertop came in and looks great. We're waiting on someone to come do the tiled backsplash, though, so it's not quite complete, but getting there.
We had a busy weekend last week. Our "baby" girl, our oldest daughter, turned fourteen on Friday. We had family over that night for hamburgers, per her request, and homemade carrot cake for dessert. Then, Saturday morning, she wanted her hair cut for her birthday, a nice haircut. So, I took her and looks wonderful, although too old. :) Saturday we attended a wedding reception for a friend. Then we picked up a friend of our daughter's and took them both to "get their fingernails done"... which included painting their real nails, not applying fake ones. :) We ordered pizza, and the friend was picked up in time for us to attend church on Sunday. After church we signed up to be Sunday School teachers. I'm looking forward to it! What new challenges/adventures are you considering starting?
I have finished the book The Thirteenth Tale. I thought it started kind of slow, probably because it wasn't what I was expecting, but it definitely reeled me in as I read, and by the last third of the book I didn't want to put it down! Now I have to look over the questions in the back, so I feel ready to discuss it in the book club that is starting Feb 13. What are you reading?
I think that's it for us these last ten days. :) Hopefully you are well.

3 comments:

Pam said...

I'm just about to start reading "The Thirteenth Tale"!

molly said...

Brrrr! I'm shivering just thinking about your weather! Hot chocolate and warm boots sound like good coping mechanisms though!

Thimbleanna said...

Gosh Jen -- you've been busy. Are you scheduled for a big snow melt this weekend, like we are? I must check into The Thirteenth Tale. I've heard of it, but don't know what it is. We're currently reading Revolutionary Road in our bookgroup.