Free car wash

Andy and I decided to get the car washed while we were out and about over the weekend. It's what you do on a sunny February day. Anyway, we ended up in a line where the oayment machine wasn't working so instead of habing us back up, the employee said he'd comp us the wash. A free car wash? We'll take it.

The sabbatical starts

Our minister is going on sabbatical until April so we held a potluck going-away picnic for him after worship Sunday. Turn-out was good considering we were in the middle of a big snowfall. The church parking lot wasn't even plowed (that's the village's job and I suppose they were more concerned about the streets).

The chicken and ribs were catered in. The chicken was OK. The ribs were lackluster, or I got a bad, bony piece. I brought baked beans and they were all eaten. I did get a piece of Portillo's famous chocolate cake for dessert and it lived up to its reputation - chocolately deliciousness.

Our snow-covered church as we were leaving. We should have went home but we grocery shopping.

The streets were a mess and slick ...

but the snow was light and pretty.

This snow is gently piled up on what's left of the coneflowers in our yard.

Emergency water repair

Even before the sun was up Thursday village crews had our street blocked off to fix a water main break. Andy and I both had time to take showers but then was water was shut off.

Andy took this picture of the water gushing out of the pipe on his walk to the train. The break was across from us, about four houses to the north.

I called off of work (woke up sick in the middle of the night and still felt a little wobbly in the morning) so I was able to monitor the situation between naps. This water shut-off notice said they estimated the work would happen between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Here they were at 3 p.m., still working in temps around 20. By 6 p.m. our water was back on but the street remained closed. Today's high temperature is expected to be -1 but maybe they have more work to do?

Rush-hour snow

This was Wednesday. The snow started falling just before the morning rush, and it came down hard. I was sliding all the way to work. There were white-out conditions at places and airport flights were halted.

I don't often take a picture of the side of the house. Not a very interesting view. Here's a historical photo I found at the museum.

The snow did look pretty on the bushes. I sent snow pics to L and she said she misses snow. Not sure I would. And while the snow is already gone, the cold is sticking around.

Ready for winter

An unnecessary (but adorable) purchase for winter - a new phone clear case with snowflakes. And just so I remember, my sparkly case is in the little table by the front door. I'm sure by time spring comes I'll have forgotten where I put it.

Our first snow

It's been a mild fall but they said the snow was coming today and they weren't kidding. This was the snow outside the museum around 9 a.m.

It's hard to see but there's a snow plow in this picture taken at 10 a.m.

Andy worked from home today and sent this around 11 a.m. The weather forecasters were saying we wouldn't have enough snow to stick around. We're thinking they were wrong. Andy and B thought we got at least three inches. By the time I drove home from work it was mostly melted off the car and the streets were clear (but still slippery).

And yet, my Black-Eyed Susan hangs on. I think its days are numbered.

Squirrel snack?

My Ring doorbell detected motion at the back door and when I looked online I saw a squirrel with something big in its mouth.

It left pretty big piece of bread on the porch railing and then ran away. I'm assuming the squirrel will come back for it eventually.

It just gets better

I thought the sunset was pretty when I snapped this picture at 4:20 p.m.

but this was 20 minutes later!

Snow fail?

This was our yard Wednesday night, when about 6 inches of snow was expected to fall Thursday. Earlier in the week they were expecting a foot or more.

This was the yard at 7 p.m. Thursday (with supposedly two more hours to go before the snow stops and the winds pick up). The news said Midway had 1.6 inches of snow and O'Hare got 1.1 inches so we're somewhere between those two. Glad it wasn't as bad as predicted but it's annoying how worked up all the news channels were all week.

The little tree on our front porch looked pretty covered in snow. The weathermen did get the falling temperatures right. It's going to be really cold through Christmas.

First snow

Woke up to our first snow today.

They're predicting we could get up to 3 inches. We'll see.

The snow didn't deter Mango from stopping by for breakfast.

It's a pretty snow but I'm glad I don't have anywhere to go today.

Pretty sunset

It's so nice that the sun is setting later. We had a pretty sunset last night. I took this pic from E's room. I guess have to remove the screen.

This was taken from the back porch.

More snow?

This was the back yard Thursday morning. All the snow we got from the last storm has almost melted. So ...

it was time for more snow. It started snowing around 1:30 p.m. and I took this photo at 6 p.m. It was still snowing. Andy thinks we got at least 4 inches.

Meanwhile L is in sunny Florida going to Typhoon Lagoon with her roommate ... and Epcot ... and Magic Kingdom. It was her day off.

Sunday sunrise

Snowy day

The snow just wouldn't stop today. Andy ran the snow blower three times, going all the way down the block once and half way around noon. He thought we got about four inches this morning, then another two by noon and anout another two throughout the afternoon. Tomorrow we could get more.

The chiminea looks better when we have a fire in it.

Birds in the bushes.

Darla sent me this picture of cardinals in her back yard this morning. She gets so many cardinals at her house. Once when I was there I counted 12 at one time. Good thing she buys a lot of bird seed.

Heavy snow

This snow was predicted for Indiana but the storm shifted. We were expecting an inch or two. Instead we woke up to heavy snow and as of 8 this morning it's still coming down. At least it's a pretty, fluffy snow.

Andy shoveled and said there's at least four inches of snow. Apparently we could get another three to four inches before it stops this afternoon.

Too cold

Aigust has the right idea - stay snuggled ip in a blanket today. The high temperature was 14 yesterday and is expected to be 12 today. Should warm up to almost not freezing tomorrow.

Subs and snow

I drove the girls to Alpine yesterday so E and I could get sandwiches for lunch. Apparently there are no good Italian sub shops in the entire Seattle area. Hmmm.

As we were getting ready to leave the house it started to snow when L walked out. She didn't think she would get to see snow before she left for Disney. It snowed the whole time we were out, through a brief stop at Costco for chciken nuggets, and here she is back home enjoying the snow.

Accumulation about three hours later.