Ice Ice , Baby!

There is ice everywhere, coating everything. It makes for some fast sledding and cool wipeouts. The landing isn't as soft as snow though. It was funny to watch the slipping and sliding from a warm house thanks to good insulation and a warm fireplace. Eric loved the show and stood at the window watching the kids who had an extra day added to their Christmas break.

The ice storm sent tree limbs snapping and breaking because of the accumulation. Nothing like being woken up from sleep from the trees snapping outside your window. We lost power about 5 a.m. and didn't get it restored until 1 p.m. We were prepared (food, generator and fuel) and fared well. We didn't have to bring out the generator, but will have to bring out the chainsaw.

The clothesline was a casualty of a fallen tree branch (the branch behind the one trunk that looks like it is suspended is resting on the line). I had been after hubby to cut the branch for the last two years. He can check that off his to do list now.

Winter Wonderland

Before I moved up north to the cornfields of Illinois, I lived in central Texas where I was born and raised. We never had snow like this and will get in one day an amount totalling what I saw in 20 years in Texas. It sure is pretty though, especially from inside in front of a warm fire sipping hot chocolate.

It wasn't always so pretty to me. Before I moved up north 12 years ago, I was tending my blooming roses in 78 degree weather only to immersed in -19 degree temperatures with plenty of snow on the ground a week later. I didn't like it, not at all. It has grown on me now. I enjoy the distinct seasons. I see the leaves change colors, snow fall and cling to the bare branches which will soon be budding with green in a couple of months. The farmers will be plowing fields which show a rich black soil (my favorite). I love it out here with all of the colors of nature.

Right now I will enjoy the quiet (until the kids come home) view sipping my hot chocolate and appealing to my pyromaniac tendencies having a big fire going to warm cold toes.