The Big Snow

We live in the temperate marine climate influenced by the salt waters of the Pacific Ocean and Puget Sound. We don't get snow often, so when we get lots of it, it's a big deal. 

On Super Bowl Sunday it began to snow in micro climates around the region. For us the snow began about 5:00 in the evening. It snowed all night and into the morning hours, heavy, wet snow falling in temperatures just below to just above freezing. It loaded us up, sometimes to the breaking point. There were power outages as tree limbs snapped and brought down power lines. We were lucky. It looks like we escaped with no major losses, just lots of little branches and bowed down shrubbery.

It was beautiful while it lasted.

 By the time I got out to the street to collect the newspaper, it was about 10:00. A few folks had managed to navigate the hill. Oh, but not the newspaper delivery guy. No paper. 

 Monday is garbage day and Tom had to drag out the garbage can to the street. It made for easier walking for me. Later we got the message that there would be no pick up. Maybe today, maybe not.  

 Green man on the green house likes his new hat. 

 We left this one glass flower out for the winter. The snow has turned it into an exotic orchid. 

 The snow stick (ruler) measured just over nine inches in the lower yard, away from the tall trees. 

 My Muck Boots were required footwear. 

 Hydrangea blooms hang heavy. 

 Forsythia buds say "Not yet."

 There is a nice soft cushion on the garden seat. 

 By now the thick snow collected on the fir and cedar boughs overhead was beginning to fall in continuous avalanches, so I hurried under these and stayed close to the house as I made my way around the yard. 

 Tom had already been here before me to take photos with his phone to post on Facebook. Posting snow photos was the thing for the day. 

 The witch hazel had opened last week. Now it has to peek out from under puffs of fluff. 

 Another heavy hydrangea hanging over the path. 

 Tucked under the eaves, a survivor! Most of the winter jasmine in the garden got fried by an earlier hard frost. 

By the late afternoon, there was a steady drip, drip, and most of the crashing avalanches were over. We shoveled the driveway pad. 

Of course it all froze up overnight. We have appointments this afternoon so we'll try to get out of the driveway and up the hills. Gotta' go.