Holy Crap on a Cracker!

Well we had our first real snowstorm of 2017.  Blizzard really.  It hit Cape Cod worse than any other part of Massachusetts.  

I took this Saturday night (Jan 7) as the storm was well underway.  I tried to keep the deck outside the door, step and path to the generator cleared throughout the day and night.  At least the snow is light and fluffy.  There was a little wind but not much, so the power stayed on.  The generator was ready though, just in case.

Woke up to sunny, clear skies and really cold temps.....and 24" of snow.  Eek.

Russell had backed his truck way up on the grass in case the generator needed to be jumpstarted.  At least he has four wheel drive.  He was able to power right through and get down the driveway.

I pooped out trying to clean off the car!  I've learned to flip the wiper blades to the up position for storms.  

I will admit that fresh, pristine snow is lovely, especially when the sun is coming up.

The roads were already plowed.

We have an awesome and reliable plow guy who showed up right after I took these pictures.  I can now get out of the driveway no problem.  Russell moved the vehicles out to the road so that the snow could be pushed up all the way.

That is one big plow pile.

The snow is defying gravity on top of the hand truck.

The forecast for the rest of this week calls for rain and temps in the 40s and 50s, so this should be mostly gone, thankfully.  I can handle snowstorms as long as we get a meltdown after a few days.  It's just that in 2015, it literally never stopped snowing for a month!  That was a bit much to handle but this is enjoyable when I don't have to be anywhere!

Winter Storm Jonas

I have no idea why winter storms are given names now, like hurricanes, but they are.  All week long the weather people could not get a handle on this storm.  The big joke going around that we were getting anywhere from 2" to 24".  For awhile the Cape was told we were getting slammed.  The day before the storm, it got downgraded but we would get high winds, then it started to snow around 1:00 on Saturday and we got immediately upgraded to blizzard conditions.  

I took this one around 5.  I was soooo glad that Val's wedding was last weekend.  If this had happened, it would have had to have been postponed.

Then I went out around 11:30 when it was just starting to slow down.  Yep...we got buried.  Didn't lose power though, although it flickered a few times.  The plows went by with regularity.

Yesterday dawned cold and cloudy but overall, I didn't think it was near as bad as it could've been, or as bad as the first blizzard we had last year.

It eventually got very sunny and nice out, and the snow already started to melt.  I stayed in and did a couple of crafts and cooked a big lunch for Russell.  I didn't go out to take any pics till about 4 pm.

I should probably knock that snow off so the tree doesn't break.

Looking down my street.

Also on my street (other direction)

And sunset through the snowy trees.

I am hopeful that this will melt off a bit before we get hit with the next storm.  Better yet, I hope this is the only storm we have!

We Are Most Definitely NOT Amused......

Literally running out of places to shovel this white crap.  This was taken at about 10:00 AM yesterday as winter storm 'Neptune' was slamming into us.  For some reason, they are naming winter storms now.  The one we had in late January was called 'Juno'.  

By 2:00 pm, the snow had stopped falling but it was windy and the temps were plummeting.  It was 26 when I shot the first pics, and 18 by afternoon.  Our plow guy showed up to clear the driveway and OMG I really don't know what's going to happen when this mess finally starts to melt.  The pictures really don't do it justice.  Those plow piles are over 5' tall.

Very worried about the roof and how to get the snow off it. There no yard access and I know Russell won't want me on a step ladder.

I'm also worried about the weight of the snow on this deck.  I can't possible shovel it.  It's at least 3' or more high.

At least this was a short blizzard, unlike the 36 hour one in January.

I've pretty much given up hope that this is ever gonna stop.

Digging Out

The day after our epic snowstorm, which was apparently the 6th worst in state history, was really nice and sunny.  We were up by 7, but still snowed in.  We weren't sure when our plow guy was going to show up, so I went outside to clean off the car again, since at least 4" fell after those nice young men shoveled it out.  I wanted to get it started too and the defrosters going.

It really sucked to be pinned into this small space though.  The snow was way too deep around the house to even attempt to walk around to the front yard.

And we certainly weren't going to shovel our way out.  

While I was outside with the car, someone with a plow showed up and asked if we wanted our driveway done.  We have a regular plow guy but we just couldn't wait any longer, so we said, 'yes please'.  

As soon as they were done we jetted down to the truck to make sure it was OK.  

She started right up and we were especially relieved that there was no snow on the trailer.  We were wondering how to clean it off because you get hefty fines for not cleaning off your vehicle roof; even cars will be pulled over for it.  

 Droplets on my windshield

 SNER!

Back at home.....that plow moved a lot of snow but it's looking good.  

They did, however, bury our mailbox so we were outside for another half hour digging that out.  This was about the best we could do under the circumstances.  The snow pile was about 5 feet in front of the box.

Looking down the street

The fence next door at our neighbour's house.  They only come down on weekends.

Around the corner

Seriously.  Never seen this much snow ever.

Sure was a pretty moon in the afternoon though.