Snowed In

We must have brought the snow and ice with us from Ohio, because not long after we got home it hit us here in NC.  The news was reporting that it could be an ice storm and to prepare for power outages.  The day this big storm was suppose to hit, the morning was gray and cold, but dry as a bone.  I ran all over town doing all the errands I could, including stocking up on water and supplies, just in case we did have power outages.  Hard to believe the storm was really coming, especially the amount that was being reported, when not one drop of moisture was in the air.  Then while Chris and I were having lunch, it suddenly started.  Little white balls of frozen rain pounding the sidewalks and parking lot right before our eyes.  And they weren't melting.  Within just a few minutes, the ground was covered in white and it became clear that this storm really was making its appearance.  Still having one more errand to do, Chris and I had to drive to Gibsonville, thinking we had plenty of time to make it back.  It came down so hard, and the ice building up on the roads was quickly becoming hazardous.  I have a button near the gear shift of my Volvo, with a W on it.  I knew it had something to do with driving in these kids of conditions, but I couldn't remember what it did and how to exactly to use it!  I had to pull over and get out my owner's manual.  Turns out this is used in slippery conditions when you need less tork so your tires don't spin out.  While in park, shift to drive and press the button, and it starts the car in 3rd gear.  It worked like a charm! My last stop was the grocery store for just a few straggling supplies, and in the 10 minuets it took me to get there from Gibsonville the parking lot was so icy I slid a little turning in.  Chris got stuck on the road trying to get back to work, but eventually we both made it back home with only minimal slippage on the road.  (thank God for that W button!)

The road from Gibsonville, only minutes after it started coming down

I spend a magical afternoon cooking up some yummy food we could eat on the next few days, while watching the snow come down outside my kitchen window.  It was mesmerizing watching the little white balls turn into fluffy, floating flakes.  Our backyard was transformed from a brown and winter-dead look to a fairytale winter wonderland!

Watching the ground slowly cover

Soo put her face into the sky and blinked the flakes away as they fell

Cody ankle deep in the drift

Chris finally made it home after hours and hours on the road

The next morning, when it was all said and done

Our road - we didn't want to drive on!

Our tiny little back porch, barely visible

I wanted to do all the fun things you're suppose to do in the snow! The almost inch of ice on top of the snow made sledding fun, but really hard to build a snow man!

Overall, we only got stuck in the house for two days before the roads were cleared and melting.  Our power never went out, so we will store all my stock-piled water in the basement for next time.  I'm sure winter is over and spring will be peeking around the corner, but already I can't wait for next year's winter adventures!