We're snowed in again, folks

We had significant snowfall yesterday, and now we have 40mph winds. The snowplows have been pulled off the roads until the wind dies down. Yes, Mark is attempting to make it work today. We'll see if he makes it there and if he makes it back. I expect that we'll have a snowmobile for next winter. I think he would be much safer with that instead of a truck.

Here are a couple of pics. Check out the snow outside our patio door.

Here is Mark checking out the roads.

I can't take it anymore

Yesterday we were at 65 degrees, and Jonah wore shorts all day. ALL DAY. Today the temp outside didn't break into positive numbers, and our ground floor was freezing. The thermostat said it was 64 degrees downstairs, but I am positive that it was truly colder than that. The furnace couldn't keep up with the outside temps so low. I couldn't take it. The kids were fine, but whimpy me was not. Then I made a wonderful discovery. Out little attic room above the kitchen stays very warm and cozy if I turn on the electric heater in there. The rest of the house can freeze all day but we can be warm and cozy in one room, and our heating cost is somewhat controlled. Bulls eye! I love it when a plan finally comes together.

How low can we go?

I used to keep the house at 69 degrees. I was freezing. So, I bought some silky long underwear, new thick socks, and indoor crocs. I was finally warm. I looked around and saw my kids in various stages of undress all day long. What??? It's winter. BUNDLE UP!! Every day I am dropping the temp a degree until the kids are dressed like MN kids and complaining or until I can't stand it. We are at 66 degrees today. Looks like we'll be hitting 65 tomorrow. As long as I have my long underwear, it is all good.

Butter Sandwich or Bread with Butter?

Which do you prefer? A butter sandwich sounds disgusting to me, but bread with butter is palatable. Wonder why? There's no difference, right? Maybe I should be wondering why the kids love butter sandwiches.

Will we get out today?

The trucks were supposed to be plowing yesterday, but we didn't see them. I am sure you are wondering what Mark did last night. He found himself in quite a pickle. He called from work at about 5:00 to ask if we had been plowed. He didn't like the answer. I suggested he try to come home a longer way since he wouldn't make it either of the short ways. I had already seen a number of vehicles get stuck between our house and the highway. Well, he ventured out and made it as far as our neighbor's. There he met the Sheriff who was out here digging out the local police. (Note: Our police obviously are fools to be patroling our high-risk airport when we still hadn't been plowed out from the blizzard. I am sure a large number of terrorists are trying to fly in at the tail end of a blizzard.) So, feet from the neighbor's driveway, he ran into a waist-high drift. Our neighbor was in front of our house with his tractor pulling two other vehicles out of a drift, so I told Mark to stay put and wait for the tractor to get to him. He started shoveling, and he said it was surreal. While he was shoveling, he heard the coyotes howling. I think he was glad he wasn't walking home. Our neighbor found him and towed Mark the rest of the way home. Mark decided he wouldn't be returning to work until we were plowed out. This morning we woke up to someone blowing out our driveway. I don't know who it was, but whoever it was continued on down the road. I guess someone got tired of waiting for the snowplows and decided to plow out the road himself.

Foolish, foolish, foolish

The court adminstrator called this morning to report on Mark's rescheduled court hearings. While on the phone, she told me that the roads were impassable and that the sheriff recommended no county traveling today. Well, Mark thought he needed to get to work. I told the kids to watch Dad out the window becuase we would be able to see him either get stuck or go in the ditch. He started out strong and then got in a large drift about 100 yards up the road. He got himself out of the drift and tried to back up to our driveway. Well, he couldn't get here. The truck kept running into the ditch. So, the only way out was through the drift to town. He took another strong run and got through. Then, he called me to ask me to watch for the plows. Apparently he now thinks he should get home soon after the plows go through. Ya think? Here are some pics. The plows went through Sat afternoon and we haven't received much snow since. Here is our road in the opposite direction of the highway. Here is our stranded mailbox.

Here is the road to town. You can see Mark's tracks. I'm amazed he made it through.

We were plowed out...for a minute

and then Mark tried to go to town. He barely made it there, and then he barely made it home. Looks like we are still snowed in, but we did get our milk supply replenished. He said the roads will definitely be closed again within a couple hours. We did find someone to clear our driveway this morning. Here are the pics. Here are Sarah and Eli with loving their pets. Our cats are so spoiled. We even let them in the house for leftovers and water. Stinkers!!

And here is Jonah waving to his California cousins. Wish you were here to enjoy the snow!!