Climate Change...Cha Ching

If snow in Georgia is part of climate change...it's one I'll enjoy. I think. For the second year in a row, we've had enough snow to play in. Last year was the first time 7-year-old Savannah had enough snow to really enjoy. Last year's snow was perfect. A soft, wet snow that covered the ground, was great for packing and was gone the next day. This year's snow was a little different.

We were predicted to get snow and then it was to turn to ice...maybe accumulating up to 1/2"! So our excitement about the snow was mixed with anxiety about the possibility of losing our power. Jodi and I tried to decide whose house it would be better to "hunker down" in. In case of a power outage, we could build a fire in the fire place and bring the grill into the garage to cook on. So we became the house for the snow party. I thawed a bunch of chicken breasts that we could cook on the grill if we needed to and Jerry did something he hasn't done in years -- cut fire wood. Jodi's family and Jess came over. We made chili and got ready.

What we got was a "snow sandwich". It started just about dusk and was just sleet at first. Then that turned to snow and when we went to bed it was getting really pretty out. In the morning we had about 3-1/2" of snow, but we could hear the sleet again. So there was all the pretty snow...between two layers of icy stuff. But just after breakfast the fine, sleety rain quit and we went outside to play. It was pretty cold, but we had a good time anyway. We got out the trusty trash bags and used them for sleds. Once we got a few paths made down the slope in the front yard, sledding was good. In order to build a snowman (or snow woman), we had to sort of chip the top crust off, but then the packing was good. I like to make my snow persons sitting on something. This year I made a little person sitting on the fence. The other...more impressive...snow person was a family effort. We all rolled and packed and finally got a good sized body made. I went to the garage to get Grandpa's old straw hat and the kids' broom while Emery went in search of sticks for arms. Savannah, however, had different ideas about accessorizing. She went into the dress-up clothes box and came out with a green Tinker Bell nightgown and matching (of course) green sandals. Now this girl was ready to be decked out. We went back to sledding and it wasn't long before we noticed Jeremy using the snow girl as target practice!! He took her hat off with a snowball and we all cheered...then joined it. She was cute, but short lived.

Last year I remember the kids complaining of being cold after a while. This year even though the temps were lower the snow was drier and didn't get in their sleeves and necks so they didn't want to come in even for hot chocolate. Another difference between this year and last is that this year's snow wasn't gone the next day. Luckily, we never did lose our power. But it stayed cold and the roads stayed slick. The snow started on Sunday night and the precip part of it was finished by Monday morning. On Monday afternoon Jodi and Jeremy made their way home...by driving 20 mph all the way. Jess only lives 2 miles from our house but at the end of our road she has to go uphill to get there. She was with us till Tuesday afternoon...and then made her way carefully home. But she still didn't go back to work till Thursday.

Today is Friday and the schools have been closed all week. Any daytime thawing has been followed by nights in the teens and refreezing. Today is supposed to be warmer, so that should get us back to life as we know -- and like --it. Jerry and I ventured out to Kroger's on Wednesday afternoon...all of a mile away. But when we got there, they had no produce, no eggs and very little meat. It was easy to save on groceries this week.