It is official. Snowmageddon 2010 has reached the Wenzel household. I guess when the President of the United States sticks a moniker to a storm, it sticks. The local media calls it nothing but Snowmageddon now. I personally liked Snowtorious BIG. Or *DEEP VOICE* THE BLIZZARD OF TWENTY-TEN! I personally think it is going to be remembered as The Great Blizzard of 2010. Depending on which local snow count you listen to, we have anywhere from a little over two feet (27 inches) to well past 30 (Our neighbors to the North, Columbia, claim to have recorded 34 inches). Our snow has measured deeper than 30 in spots. But, it is tough to know what is snow and what is drift. We have some 4 ft. drifts in the back yard, though.
As many people know, we were suffering from LACK of power yesterday, like many in the Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia areas. Our power went off a little before 10 am. I personally think it was closer to 9:30, but we have a slight family disagreement over that. It did not return until a little after midnight last night (once again, disagreement on time of return from anywhere from 11:50 to 12:15). We had noodle soup on the grill yesterday for lunch and hamburgers, baked beans, and rice on the grill for dinner. We ate by candlelight and, as the temperature plummeted in the house (as it did outside), we enjoyed an evening of reading by candlelight, doing crossword puzzles by candlelight, doing madlibs on Stephen's IPOD touch, and playing board games. When we went to bed last night (9:00), radio stated it was 20 degrees outside. In the house, it was 59.
I was asked how the pets of the house faired during this cold evening. Well, the cats were smart. They got into bed with Stephen and I (and our flannel sheets, 2 layers of Biederlack blankets, velux king sized blanket, and 2 quilts) and sat under the sheets. I personally was wearing a pair of flannel sleep pants under a pair of sweatpants, under a pair of blue jeans with a long sleeved t-shirt, under a hoodie, under a more baggy hoodie AND wearing three pairs of socks. I was still cold!
The snake, who is remarkably still alive despite the fact he was colder than life is supposed to allow snakes to do, had his own biederlack blanket and quilt on top his aquarium. He is quite happy to have his habitat back to normal temp and still have a blanket.
And, Sunshine, our resident Cockatiel. Jane put him in bed with her and covered him with a blanket and kinda kept him close to her body. Needless to say, when Bill tried to come to bed, there was no room for him. So, he slept on the sofa in the living room with just a blanket. Silly man thinking he'd be able to share a nice warm bed with his wife and his pet bird. :)
All five animals are fine and show no signs of being traumatized by sleeping with us last evening.
The pictures were taken by various family members over the last 36 hours. I apologize that some are on their sides. The photo sharing software was glitchy today and didn't want to turn the photos around. So, please be patient with the photos.
May wherever you are be warm and the snow be under control. At least until the next snow on Tuesday/Wednesday (predicted to be another 6 to 10 inches here!). :)
This is the snow shot of the cars at 7:15 am. Slightly disappointing for the build up from last evening.
Jane went out to measure the snow. I tagged along. Please ignore the "rear end shot". I wanted to get a good photo of the car and she got in the shot.
Ruler in the snow! Ruler in the snow! Gettin' little snow with the ruler in the snow. No, really. This is our driveway. It says at 8:00 am that we currently have an additional 4 inches.
Is the icicle getting bigger? Scary!
Photo from the window of the cars. Have to keep giving the same comparison shot.
