Thanks to an atypical December storm, we are buried in snow. At all (or most) of 40 feet above sea level, we have over a foot of snow on the ground for the first time in my lifetime. OK, so "buried in snow" was a bit of an exaggeration - it is nonetheless a wild start to Winter. Under the top 6 inches or so of snow is a nice hard layer of ice about a half of an inch thick that only adds to the general misery of people trying to move around as usual (via automobile). On foot it can be pretty interesting, too, but it's definitely a lot more manageable. I just got back from walking with a neighbor to the Safeway across the street for a few more supplies before night falls. We lost power for several hours yesterday morning and have had a few brief interruptions so far today. Accordingly, our candles and matches are laid out where we can easily get to them, and we are stocked up on batteries for the one flashlight I can find. The real problem isn't light, of course, it's heat. If our power goes out like it did Sunday morning, it only takes a matter of a few hours for the interior of the house to dramatically cool off to near see-your-breath cold. This is what led us to take up my dad on his offer to ferry us to their house yesterday, where we ended up staying overnight even though the power was back on here at our place by the late afternoon, according to a neighbor.
Even under the imminent threat of a power outage, there's a certain appeal to looking out on this dazzling carpet of white from the windows of our home. We've already been able to help two neighbors since getting back late this morning, so I feel like we are where we need to be. Obviously - and thankfully - we have power for the time being, and we're making the most of it by cranking up the heaters, shutting off rooms to let them heat up, and baking cookies, because let's be honest - nobody wants to be stuck in a good old fashioned snow-in without some cookies (pronounced "coogies") close at hand.
Church gatherings all over our area were cancelled yesterday, including our own, and forecasts are not looking favorable for holding Christmas Eve services, either. First, we were to be thawing yesterday evening and in to today. Instead, 6 more inches of snow dropped on us. Now our beloved meteorologists are telling us that another heavy Pacific storm system might push the freezing level up a few hundred feet on Wednesday. We'll see...
So while I've got the chance and also, in the interest of full disclosure, not much else to do, I thought I'd upate a blog that I'm sure the one or two people who used to read it have given up on long since. To those few and any other who might happen by - Merry Christmas! May the peace of God cover your houselholds as richly and beautifully as the snow now covers ours!
