We knew for days ahead of time that the storm was on it’s way. All of the headlines read “White Christmas”. We awaited the freezing rain and the 6+ inches of snow they said were coming. But we were not prepared.
Not prepared for 50 mph winds.
Not prepared for 10’ high snowdrifts.
Not prepared for 18 hours with no electricity.
The rain/sleet/snow mix started on Wednesday morning. The highway was okay to drive if you went s.l.o.w.
I had given my Thursday morning shift to one of the college girls, so when I went home Wednesday morning, I was home for the duration. The wind began to blow and the snowflakes were huge and abundant.
The rest of the family still had to work on Thursday, but each of them arrived home safely by mid-afternoon and I said a quick prayer of thanks that I had my little family together under one roof for the holiday.
Then the wind began to blow harder. Through the night I awakened several times to the howling and creaking and banging noises it made. Each time, another prayer of thanks that everyone was warm and safe at home.
By Christmas morning we were officially snowed in. Greg started periodically scooping by the back door so the drift there didn’t get so high we couldn’t open it. His brother came by with a blade on his pickup and made a path so he could get the Bobcat and start clearing the driveway.
We were able to get out and drive the block to Nanny’s and Poppo’s for lunch and presents, then back home to snuggle in and stay warm. Yeah, warm. For awhile, anyway.
I went to bed just after 10:00, falling asleep quickly. A few hours later I awoke, feeling the chill of the air in our room. I was puzzled since I’d set the furnace temp to stay at 68 through the night – usually it’s programmed to go down to 64. Anyway, I opened my eyes to darkness. No alarm clock numbers visible – no electricity.
By the time everyone got up and moving at daylight, I was heating some milk on the gas cooktop for hot chocolate. It was the best way to start this chilly day. This is what we found inside the front door when we opened it…
Greg got out and onto the Bobcat right away. Nick scooped by the front door, then went out to uncover his car – it was completely buried except for a few inches of antenna.
This is looking out the front window at Nick’s car. It’s out there – somewhere…
After the baby ate, Jess and Nick took him down to Greg’s brother’s house where they have a pellet stove and a generator. He stayed toasty warm all day and enjoyed having everyone love on him.
I stayed home and cleaned up our Christmas mess, keeping a big pot of water hot on the stove for dishes and handwashing. By mid-afternoon, though, I succumbed to the cold and headed down the street to enjoy the warmth of the pellet stove with everyone else.
Shortly before 5 p.m. the power was restored and we didn’t have to have a huge slumber party at Greg’s brother’s house after all.
I have no idea what the official total of inches of snowfall we had, but it had to be double digits. I’m thinking we not only had a white Christmas, we’re going to have a white winter.
A long, white winter.
1 comment:
I deliver the Kearney Hub newspapaer. Because of the expected storm paper delivery was cancelled for thurs. to keep us all safe. But we did have to deliver sat. morning. What an adventure! Only main streets were cleared. I got so stuck! Then I had to walk most of the papers for two or more blocks in snow up to my hips in some areas. I have one guy to whom I'm giving a prize for having the highest drift in front of his door, almost past my waist! No one had cleared their sidewalks at all. I went home totally exhausted and frozen but successfully delivered all papers. I had a 3 hour nap later. Sorry to hear about your electricity going out. I was holding my breath on that. We're only blocks from NPPD and we usually loose power early on. It was a for real white Christmas. Glad you had a safe haven to go to.
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