And It's Not Officially Winter Yet

Now, you dear readers who live in places like Minnesota or New York or Alaska, let me explain about Southerns and snow. Or, sleet. We have a reputation of going a little crazy when winter weather descends upon use, doing things like buying all the bread and milk off store shelves in a couple of hours. As soon as the televison meteorologist says the "S" word.

The highway department does the best they can to clear major highways. But those of us on secondary roads or on country roads, just have to wait for things to melt. That's why everything closes with just an inch or two of snow on the ground. Folks who have moved down south laugh at us. "What on earth? We don't stop when it snows!" But these weather events happen so seldom that it isn't economically practical to have enough road equipment to clear all the roads. Especially when it will all be gone in a day or two.

Yesterday was one of "those days." We didn't get snow at the farm. It was pure sleet here. (Thirty minutes up the road got 6-8 inches of snow.)  So churches were closed. Restaurants were closed. Stores were closed. A baby shower was cancelled. Roads were all white. All frozen over. It was a stay-at-home kind of day.

Here's what we do on a day like that...

We look out the windows. A lot. 

Is it going to be a dusting? Will there be enough to measure with a ruler?

It sleeted all morning. About an inch.

I stay in flannel pajamas and drink lots of hot coffee

and make a big pot of vegetable soup.

Daddy-O, on the other hand, bundles up and heads out to feed the cows.

Farm chores happen every day, regardless of the weather.

I wrap presents. 

Nearly done!

Daddy-O finishes his outside chores 

and is happy to get back inside where it's warm.

And he makes fancy hot chocolate.

This cup is for me to enjoy while I watch Christmas movies.

Thankfully, we didn't lose power yesterday like thousands of people in neighboring counties did. Many are still in the dark and in the cold, waiting for the power crews to put everything back together.

And today here at the farm? All the white has melted. Except for a few spots around the shrubbery. It looks like most December days. In just over 24 hours, our wonderland has come and gone. That's how we do winter weather. (And it's not even "winter" yet!)