Well, unless you live in another country, or perhaps have no contact with the outside world, you know that we are in the middle of huge blizzard that is covering about five or six states at the moment.  Of course, everyone is in panic mode and we are at a level three snow emergency.  Pretty much, stay home unless you are dying.  Or out of bread and milk.  Pretty much the same thing when facing snowmaggedon.

I think that in it’s self is funny.  Snowmaggedon.  I would think snowmaggedon would be like 30 plus inches, sub zero temps and no electricity or internet or anything or a week or more.  Not just a few inches and drifting snow.  Of course, this storm could prove to be a little more tricky as the night goes on, but still, I think we will survive and not resort to martial law and that sort of unpleasantness.

(If you are wondering, we live in the county that has Bryan in it.  Next to Wauseon. 12.1 inches predicted.)

Now, it is bad enough that they have restricted most big traffic on the 80-90 Ohio Turnpike corridor.  That’s a big deal.   Because we live about 2 miles from that turnpike on Route 20 and that runs parallel to the turnpike for a long way.  It’s why we have a lot of semi truck traffic in front of our little rural house.   They are avoiding the fees and traveling on.  Now that tractor trailers and nearly anything big or heavy has been banned, they are all going by our front door!  Slowly and carefully, but it’s a little weird.  And we have the only train track crossing in many mile each way and of course, there is a train parked on it at the moment.   The trucks are piling up.  We could probably go and sell pop and snacks at a premium!!!   Hmmm….

It really doesn’t look bad out back until you actually go outside!  Then you start to see some big drifts that are about 2 to 3 feet tall already.   And of course, right next to bare grass.  Such is the fun from a blizzard and powdery soft icy snow.   It’s flying all over the place!  Maggie went and made sure everyone was secure and hunkered down, and gave out extra rations and water so everyone will be comfy.  It’s actually not that cold out.  25 degrees.   Very tolerable.   It’s just the wind, that makes it a little biting.

Everyone is in their barns voluntarily.  We haven’t locked them all down yet because the ponies get grumpy if they can’t come and go at will to run around like little pony warriors in the snowy gales.  The goats, of course, will not emerge until about the end of February.  Divas that they are.  The sheep are somewhere inbetween.   They like to get a little fresh air, frolick a few minutes and then they run back into the barn, having the sense that God gave a turnip suddenly and returning to the warm straw, yummy hay and warm goat bodies.  The hogs will pretty much disappear into their big straw nest to hibernate, only taking a quick potty break outside and then running back in to dive under the blanket.  The chickens have not gone out into their yard for a day or three.  They do poke their heads out and look around a moment or two, but then they turn around and go back in to tell chicken jokes and peck at each other for fun.

The girls and I are just putzing about, sleeping in, crafting, making some fun food.  I made a pasta salad for later and I think I’m going to make some butter pecan cupcakes with carmel icing.  That sounds good.  The girls made mac and cheese for lunch and that was perfect comfort food for this snowy day.  Lots of hot tea and cocoa has been flowing.  The house is super lovely warm and toasty.   Should stay that way unless we loose power!   I hope not.   Since we have moved in, there was only one time we were out of power for more than an hour or so…  and it was because we had a piece of equipment fail at our breaker box.  And that was even resolved within 12 or 14 hours.  Now, that being said, we do have a full container of kerosene for our heater and Maggie has her woodstove out in the workshop.  It really does kick out the jams so I guess we could go out there during the day and huddle around it and read or craft and then sleep in the house in a big pile with the kerosene going and lots of blankets!  And dogs and cats.   Maybe even bring in Buttercup.  She likes a good slumber party.

Well, I hope all is well where you are.  I know this kind of weather can be brutal on those unprepared and with issues and I am sorry for that, and hope all works out.  For us, we are pretty ready for a few days of being homebound.  We have hay and feed and food and all those things to get us through a few days.  Maybe longer if we had to.  Sounds like we might actually have time to get the bathroom painted!   Because if the blizzard winds get any stronger, we will probably loose our internet.  And have to go Amish for awhile.  Well, more like Mennonite.  Which, to be honest, I don’t mind at all.  It’s a wonderful break and nice to just relax, craft, read and center yourself.  I am secretly an Amish-wanna be…  if I could just have the internet out in a little booth at the road, I would so sign up.  I like everything else about it all.

I better go and get to some weaving.  I have a few special orders that I have to get started on and today’s just as good as any other to get focused and started.  I’d like to get pretty far while there is still light out to work with.  Warping the big loom is best done in the sunlight.  Or the blizzard light.   Either way, it’s pretty bright in here and I want to take advantage of that!   Be safe!!!