Snowstorm 2009

This afternoon when I measured the snow outside our door it was about 16 inches. I know several people who have 18 or more. The snow is really beautiful, but when it comes in such great quantities it can be kind of bothersome.

We're supposed to get more snow throughout the night and most of the day tomorrow. It won't be as significant, but another 4 inches on top of what we already have is a whole lot of snow.

Here are some photos and videos I took yesterday and today.

Video from "rush hour"

Our friends Robert and Allison spent the night with us. They were thinking about it in the afternoon, but when the main road was closed that pretty much sealed the deal. This is Robert's car right after they pulled up.

Andy got home shortly after 11. The Hulk has a lift and 33 inch tires.

Kind of grumpy after a long day at work. Also, Allison, Robert and I were watching Christmas movies and Andy doesn't really like Christmas movies.

Love my snowman flag. It's kind of perfect right now!

I decided I wanted to go walk around since I hadn't been out yet. So of course it made perfect sense to throw on my snow boots with my pajama bottoms.

I tried to take a picture of a snow covered tree, but the falling snow kind of got in the way.

No feet!

My footprints away from and back to the door. I didn't go far - it was cold!

Andy had to dig himself a hole so he could get into the storage room. He needed some more snow gear.

The temperature this morning around 8:30 am. It has stayed pretty steady all day. I think it's supposed to hover around this for the next three days or so.

People in the parking lot next door came early to dig themselves out before the snow started again.

This is the side yard. I took this and the photo above from a window.

After a big waffle breakfast it was time to dig the cars out.

The heat from the cars the night before melted some of the snow and then it refroze. Robert and Andy had a heck of a time getting the cars out this morning. First they got the Hulk out. Then they dug out Robert's car, but it just slipped around so Andy had to offer his assistance.

Explaining the process and plan:

Putting the plan into action:

Success!

Allison and I played with the camera while the men did all the hard labor. Actually I think Allison did some shoveling too, but I was inside and didn't come out until they'd gotten all the difficult stuff done. Good timing!

If you got snow, I hope you're enjoying it like we are. If you didn't, I hope you're enjoying your freedom.

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On a different note:

Andy and I received some very sad news this afternoon.

A close friend of ours passed away in his sleep last night. We are close with his whole family and our hearts are breaking for them. He was only 23 and right now it looks like he aspirated in his sleep. He was visiting home for the holiday season and his parents found him this morning.

Things like this never come at a good time, but something about losing a loved one during this time of year seems to make it extra hard.

Our thoughts and prayers are with them as they try to cope with this sudden, terrible loss.

Festivus weekend!!!!!!!!!!

It has been one hellish day around here. I haven't got anything accomplished that I wanted to. Mostly because other things demanded my attention.

I was so angry at one point I couldn't speak to other people without biting their heads off, so I avoided society for a while today.

So this post is coming about eight hours later than I had planned and after a cocktail (or two) to take the edge off. Please forgive any typo's that are sure to occur. There is a good possibility that I'll edit this tomorrow.

This past weekend was positively filled with the holiday spirit. Just bursting with it!

It has become a tradition of mine to spend a weekend early in December with my bestie Julie. It gives us the opportunity to spread the collective cheer and not just say hi and bye on Christmas day when we are trying to spend time with our families and everyone in between.

So I went to Raleigh this weekend. Spent some time with Julie, Frank and Mina and also got to see some of my "creepy internet friends" from The Nest. If you don't know what The Nest is you should totally check it out. I would link to it, but like I said, I've had a cocktail (or three) and I just don't have the patience for that right now. Google is your friend.

Here are some photos from my fun filled weekend.

First, thing first
Julie needed to shop for some "in between" jeans
So Mina and I had some fun with
the camera in the dressing room

Decked out for the Tacky Sweater party
People don't sell tacky sweaters anymore
Did you know that?
Some Nesties
More nestiesMere with Harrison Even more Nesties
Julie takes a moment to feed Mina
She was a trouper
(I'm talking about Mina)
Alethea's Hanukkah socks
Food!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Booze!!!!!!!!!!!!
And cake
Pami strikes a pose
Most of the group
"The world's ugliest house"
Found on the way to the party
Side building (I'm guessing garage)
Attached to "The world's ugliest house"
The pictures don't do it justice
It really needed to be experienced in person
Going to Church
Mina is impersonating Cindi Lauper
"Stupid paparazzi!"

Ok, that's all folks. I've got some great posts planned for this week, so stay tunned!

Now I'm going to go enjoy a cocktail (or four). Ok, not really. I'm 5'2 and weight... oh, who am I kidding? A lady never tells how much she weighs! Let's just say that if I had four cocktails I'd be in a coma.

I'm pretty impressed with myself for still being whitty after a few cocktails though.

A few more shower photos...

Yesterday, just after I hit publish, Julie posted some photos that she took at the shower. Here you go!

A close up of the monogrammed cuppies

Mina diggin' her bouncer

Bonnie and I with the guests of honor
Me, my grandmother, my mom and Mina

Ma-maw and Nana with Mina
Julie asked my mom to be Mina's Nana
It pretty much made her day

Possibly the sweetest picture on the planet

The Baby Shower

The baby shower went off without a hitch.

Frank, Julie and Mina took home quite a haul at the end of it.

Seeing them again was so nice. I haven't seen Mina in person since she was born and she has changed so, so much. But not so much that she wasn't still small enough to cuddle.

They gave me a DVD season of The Office as a hostess gift and Andy and I have been working our way through it-watching all the special features as we go. Julie knows me so well!

Here are some photos of the details and the day.

The favors
"Caramel Apple" Popcorn balls
How-to found here

The centerpiece
We put it on the mantle because the chandelier
was too low over the table
The ornaments are made with photos
from Mina's birthday and
the banner says her name.

Monogrammed cupcakes
The food spread.
My co-hostess, Bonnie,
did all this food (except the cupcakes)
She was wonderful!
Mina with her PapaDaddy swaddles the best
Frank put the bouncer together after they opened it
so Mina would have a place to sit
This is the first photo I have with Mina
We didn't get one of us in the hospital
The best present!
Julie's mother passed away two years ago.
She was an amazing seamstress and she always made
quilts for new babies in their church.
Some of the ladies re-gifted their blankets so
Mina could have something from her Grammy.

There are some other photos floating around out there on other cameras. I get an F for not charging my camera battery and it died about halfway through. So I'll post a couple more when I get them.

While I was putting everything together I documented some of the craft how-to's on film (or memory card). I'll be posting those throughout the week. Stay tuned!

I'm up to my eyeballs in craft projects...

Getting ready for someone's baby shower this weekend.

I'll be back Monday with pictures from the shower and how-to's of some of the things I'm making.

Happy weekend!

Photogenic Friday: Once I was a fairy

Ok, so this isn't a Halloween picture (hence the Christmas decorations in the background).

But I haven't dressed up for Halloween in a while. So long, that I can't tell you when the last time was, and this is the closest I have of me looking like something besides myself.


This was the first day of finals at the end of my first semester away at college. My friend Jenn (pictured) was in a costume makeup class and had to make over a live person for her final. Since I am petite and had really short hair at the time she asked if I would be willing to participate and let her turn me into a fairy.

A couple of days (and one sleepless night) later and this was the result. I had an army of people making me over. The night before the actual "performance" we had a "dress rehearsal" and if I remember correctly there were at least two people besides Jenn adding things to my face. See the ears? Those were added at about 2 in the morning. All this while I was frantically trying to study for my math exam which was scheduled just before Jenn's makeup exam.

I failed miserably. But that had a lot more to do with my personal math prowess (or lack of) than aiding and abetting my friend in her quest for an A.

Whatever. It was a lot of fun even though we were all sleep deprived and our brains were fried.

It'd do it over in a heartbeat.

I hope you all have a lovely All Hallows' Eve!

Oktoberfest

On Sunday, before the mad rush to get Andy ready for his trip, we drove up to the ski slope to attend their annual Oktober fest.

This is something I've always wanted to do, but Andy has always said he didn't want to go. So imagine my surprise when Saturday afternoon he asked if I'd like to go check it out the next day.

I think he is going to miss me or he wouldn't be so agreeable to something he's been avoiding for several years now.

So we went and dined on German food; knock wurst, sauerkraut, German potato salad and apple turnovers. I'm not sure that the turnovers were authentic, but they were yummy so who cares?

Of course they had beer on tap, but this festival is small and each year they only have one beer sponsor. Since Andy wasn't crazy about this year's brand we passed on the beer.

We took a little hike up the ski slope, toured the craft booths and then as we were heading over to the hay ride we ran into our friends Jessie and Thomas. So they joined us on the hayride before we all made our way home.

When all was said and done we had a nice time. I'd go again, but next time I'll wear different shoes.

Every year they make these two hay people
and put them on the main road

Photo opp on the way up the slope
Check out that foliage

The festival at the bottom of the slope

The Oom Pah band

Jessi and Thomas on the hayride