Hi! I know I’ve been quiet lately, but between doing taxes and the last storm, it’s kept me busy! I still have some catching up to do.
Last week we got winter here, or cooler temperatures, finally. Along with that came snow, our first for the season. It sounded like we’d get a foot of snow, which is doable, but instead we ended up with 34 inches or almost three feet! This was a lot for not only humans but the trees that began to embrace spring.
In the 36 years living in our house, we’ve never had a tree hit it. This storm changed that. Luckily, we were okay, and the roof seemed to survive it, not sure about the shingles, have to wait until the snow melts to see. But what took the hit was our fence and part of our gutters. My husband was home from work, so he was able to get most of the tree off the house that day. What was on the roof would have to wait, as we had other things to do, like clear the snow off the trailer and get the generator going because the power went out.
The rest of the week left me alone as my husband went back to work, and I managed to keep the wood stove going for heat and shoveled snow where I could. Finally, the weather cleared, and my husband was working, I got a nice surprise. One of my sons-in-law, his father, and his brother-in-law showed up to get the top of the tree off the house. This required a ladder to climb onto our steep roof with a chainsaw. Not a one-person job. I should mention my husband is one of those people who doesn’t usually accept help. I accepted the help for him.
My take on all of this? When bad things happen, people are there to help, like with the tree that no longer sits on our roof. Our neighbors checked in on each other. Getting gas for those who needed it for their generators, food, or to get their driveway plowed. All via our two-radio group.
Even though I felt totally alone in the dark of the morning when my husband went to work. I insisted we shut the generator off until I got up to give it a rest and save gas. But I woke up right as he left and imagined all kinds of things. He made it to work, and I waited until it was light out to restart the generator. With dawn came the realization I wasn’t really as alone as I believed. That two-way radio was there. Still, after that, there was no early morning generator shutdown.
I have a feeling that moment of pure disattachment to the world will creep into a story. Boy, the things one can think of in the dark.
Now we’re going to get rain, and soon the snow will melt away. Then back to the warm and dry weather, winter seems to be fond of this year.
We have our power back now after three days out. Not our worst storm, but it’s up there as the most memorable. I would give it a mini Snowmegdon status. Here are some pictures. We got to snowshow on my husband’s one day off this last weekend.
I think the snowperson tire expresses the piling snow best 🙂
Embrace your inner child by offering to lend a helping hand or just allowing yourself to enjoy what life offers! D. L. Finn (Denise)
The pictures are beautiful from my warm home in Miami. Lol! I hope your roof has no damage once the snow melts.
Yvette M Calleiro 🙂
http://yvettemcalleiro.blogspot.com
Thank you, Yvette 🙂 It does make for pretty pictures, especially against a blue sky. I hear warm is making a return here. Fingers crossed with good. Xo
I’ve been snowed in for a three day stretch and without power. You learn to melt snow so you can flush toilets and things. It can be an adventure, but cooking in the wood fireplace was kind of fun.
Three days is doable, Craig. We did that for years, and it was kind of fun. Felt like a pioneer cooking on the wood stove and melted snow for flushes or used the filled bathtub for it. The snow helped save our food too. After we went a week without power we finally broke down and got a generator. Now we have water, fridge and outlet power for Jeff CPAP. You sure learn what’s important during these times.
I have no doubt you’ll work that isolation experience into a story. The snowy tree pictures are beautiful!
It is twirling around my brain now. I image that and some poetry come from it, Priscilla. Thank you! My favorites are white covered trees against a blue sky. Xo
I no longer wonder where you’ve been. Oh my! It’s easy to see why they say more people die of cold than hot weather. What a Herculean effort to put things back together for you. We have a generator, hooked into the natural gas line. We’ve considered adding a propane tank as backup but haven’t done so yet.
Glad it’s all getting back to normal.
An unplanned break but sometimes that change in routine can be a good wakeup. I can see more people die in the cold from just exposure or avalanches over the heat. Both extremes are awful though. Sounds like we will have more dry weather to get things cleaned up. Here, I thought I was getting ahead a couple weeks ago clearing back the forest…lol. Nice you have a generator hooked up to your natural gas. Propane would be a good back up. For us, it would be too expensive and harder to get a refill if the outage goes on too long over gas. For now we will stick to gas, but so grateful for that generator. Makes life so much easier. Thanks, Jacqui, it is! Xo
It had been a very mild winter until recently, and then Mother Nature really unloaded. We rarely get snow on the coast, but it’s been very chilly. After today’s downpour, the weather is supposed to improve. As you said, it’s reassuring to know how many people will step up to help one another in a crisis.
So mild, Pete! I know they got a bit of snow in bay area mountains. Yes, I’m looking forward to that break after this rain. Now they are saying a dry March, we will see. So reassuring how people step up for each other. Gives one lots of hope.
Quite an adventure, Denise. Thanks for sharing.
It sure was, John 🙂 We got very lucky through it!
You’ve had quite the adventure! So glad everything is turning out okay, but that’s a lot to have to deal with all at once. Can’t wait to see how this experience is going to culminate into a new story! 🙂 Thanks for sharing.
Yes, definitely an adventure, Jan! Still processing it and know it will come out not only in a story but poetry. That’s the great part of being a writer, it can be therapeutic! Xo
Wow! That’s a lot of snow! I’m glad help arrived to get the tree off your roof. It’s wonderful how family. friends and neighbours help each other out. I’m sure you’ll get a couple of stories out of this experience. xo
It is a lot to get at once for sure, Darlene. It is heartwarming when people step up to help. Yes, my mind is processing it all now. I expect to wake up with a story soon. Xo
I hear ya, Denise.. Stay safe and glad taxes are almost over. Hugs.. 🤗
Always glad to get through taxes, Cindy. Definitely staying safe. Sending hugs back.
right in time for the next ones😂 Good to hear and thanks for the hugs as well, my friend❣️
I always say I’ll keep better records, but never do! Lol
😂😂😂😂
Losing electricity makes me realize how much we depend on electricity, Denise, so we have a generator that I hook up when we lose power. We have a natural gas fireplace that will operate on batteries if we lose electricity. We’ve been lucky this year. All severe snowfalls were light in weight because it was so cold, and the wind was so strong that it blew it off the roof. I hope your roof is okay when the snow melts.
You do appreciate the little things when the power goes out. Having a generator makes it so much easier, Timothy. Nice to have that natural gas fireplace for a heat source. Light snow is nice, this was heavy wet snow this round. But I don’t like heavy winds mixed in, stay safe. Fingers crossed for the melt off.
When we lived in the country, we had a big generator kept in the pole barn that would power the whole house. I’d shut off the main breaker and start up the generator.
That’s a big generator! Ours covers the necessities, including the well. Although we’ve been eyeing the bigger one.
I am glad that the ordeal is over and the experience has left you with new ideas to write! The bay area has been freezing for three days and Mount Diablo got some snow. It sounds lovely from the cozy couch! Thanks for sharing some beautiful pictures, Denise.
Yes, inspiration comes from so many things as writers, doesn’t it? I saw on the news there was a bit of snow on the mountains. Always so pretty to see. I was in Jr. High when it snowed in Castro Valley. What an event that was. Always nice tucked away inside on the couch by a toasty fire. I love getting pics of the snow laden trees against the blue skies. Xo
Luckily, we came through our Eastern storm unscathed. I’m glad your damage wasn’t too bad.
That’s good to know you are OK too, Liz 🙂 A lot of snow and wood can do some damage. We definitely got lucky.
WordPress wouldn’t let me Like on hour page – it always has to create drama – so I’m doing it here. It’s heartening to know that you live in a community where people help each other; it gives a little faith in humankind in this age of selfishness. Thanks for sharing and hope that things have improved now. 🙂
I agree WordPress likes its drama, Lynda 🙂 It gave me some hope again in our world to see such kindness, more than normal. Thank you, the snow melts as it rains now.
So glad you’re okay and your house is now tree-free. The photos are stunning! Thanks for sharing your adventure, and I look forward to reading some of those stories born in this historic snowstorm!
Blessings!
Patty
Wow – you got some serious snow, Denise. I’m so glad you had some helpers show up to help with the tree. It warms my heart to hear how the neighbors were there for each other. Hope you get thawed out soon!
We got our first snow of the year too, Denise, but nothing like the snowmageddon that you faced. I think we got a disappointing 1/4″. Sorry to hear about the tree, and what a relief that it didn’t cause serious damage. You and your hubby are troopers when it comes to living next to nature. It’s wonderful, but as this post demonstrates, it’s not without its challenges. 🙂
Such a late first snow this season, Diana. Sorry you didn’t get more. We definitely got lucky the tree didn’t do worse damage. Although living in the forest has its challenges, I am glad everyday for where I get to live.
<3
Challenging times, Denise, but you and your husband have risen to it! And the pictures are beautiful. We never get snow here but actually had 3 inches about a month ago. The peace and quiet of it was wonderful – no cars, no planes. We had an ice storm last lasted ten days when we lived in our former house. No power except for our tiny gas generator, three fireplaces and a kerosene heater (smelly), all of which kept the house at around 55 degrees.
I flushed toilets with water from our pool!
Thank you, Noelle 🙂 We have some practice at these conditions. It is fun to get a taste of snow when it isn’t a normal event. Its so nice to have generators. We started with a small one before finally getting none to run well. We went years though without generators before outages started getting longer and more often. I have kerosene lamps and agree about that smell. Such helps when you have the water source to use for flushes , we had that for a while with a spa. I always thought of our pioneers during these times and how they survived.
Holy freakin’ frijoles, Denise! My jaw dropped to my ankles and didn’t get picked back up until I finished reading this post. I’m so glad neither of you were hurt, and no serious damage to your house. I started thinking about breaking-trees the instant I read “three feet of snow.” (Shakes head) Oh my stars… Thank goodness for your generator. Sending huge hugs. <3
Thank you Teagan. We got so lucky! Lots of trees came down that day, they were used to the warmer weather, I think. Generator worth every penny. Hugs right back!
That’s a lot of snow, and some trying conditions. I’m glad you got through it, and I’m glad you had (and accepted) some help. You’re right about people, they do tend to show up when needed. I hope the damage to your roof isn’t too bad. Fences are much easier to repair. Good luck with all of it.
Yes, and they were saying just a foot. It was an overachiever. So grateful for the help. Yes, much easier to fix a fence over a roof. Fingers crossed, thanks, Dan!
We hope your roof is okay.
We just came back from a holiday with lots of snow. We need our yearly dose of snow. As we lived for quite a while in northern Scandinavia, we learned to love lots of snow and ice as well as the cosiness of the dark.
Keep warm
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
Thank you! I keep checking to see if the snow is melted enough to see. Fingers crossed. Snow is beautiful and a treat in limited amounts. It can make for very cozy times.
I am so relieved the hubby had some help with that tree. You are right. The roof and a chainsaw is no place to be alone. Hugs
Thanks, Sandra 🙂 No definitely not! Hugs right back xo
I’ve been watching the photographs of the storms in the USA with Frank fascination. I’ve never seen anything like it.
The weather has sure been extremely lately, Robbie!
Wow, what a story! You have a lot of material to work with after surviving that storm! What a scare. I lived in Indiana growing up, and I don’t think we ever had three feet. It would blow and pile up against the side of the house to a depth of ten feet or more, but I can’t imagine that much snow. And it looked HEAVY! Great pictures, and a frightening experience. I’m glad you are okay! 🙂 xxx
I definitely do have ideas swirling, Marsha. That is a lot of snow piled against the house! It was a heavy and wet snow this time. Yes, we got very lucky with minimal damage. Getting it cleaned up and repaired now 🙂 Thank you! Xo
Did you get your taxes done?
Almost…you?