treeskin

...that the squirrels have stopped digging for maple seeds, and are draped limply over tree branches.

52 degrees today, 73 degrees tomorrow, 30 degrees on Monday. Ah, spring in Kansas!

On the bright side, the snow is out of the forecast. But we're in for more rain. before the snowmelt has soaked in or evaporated.

Must plant peas today or tomorrow. (In a raised bed, 'cuz that spot doesn't dry out until May, otherwise.)

The monsters were cooperative, so I got some sewing done. One doll dress, from half of a vintage floral-print hankie, and another dress taken apart and a seam straightened. And then, after the kids went to bed, I cobbled together a crinoline skirt for a 6" doll, to go under the hanky dress, to show the skirt off better. All by hand, because the hanky fabric probably isn't up to machine sewing, and it's easier to drop a needle and thread to chase the kids.

It is over 50 degrees today, so we are out in shirtsleeves and snowboots. The yard is a patchwork of slumping snowdrifs that may still be 2' deep, and soggy brown grass.

The Miss is thrilled, and soaked from bouncing all over the snow like a puppy, and covered with sandbox sand beyond.

The Bug is still not convinced that cold and snow are good ideas. But there are snow-free patches of yard for him to bumble around, so that's okay. Still can't keep shoes and socks on the little devil.

I am WAAAY more awake than I have any right to be. The Bug was up every 5 minutes between 3 and 4am, then every 10-15min for an hour or so, then 2 or 3 times an hour. Somewhere around 5-ish, By took over and sent me to bed, but the boy still woke me every hour. Bleh.

The stuff in the greenhouse is doing great. Got in there to water...all the rosemarys are fine, ibcluding some tiny seedlings, and a few marjoram plants. Still have a couple sprigs of a very pretty red-leafed sedum, too, that was not supposed to survive 40 degrees. Yay!

Of the new outside things, I'm pretty sure the yellow echinacea made it, and the new wisteria. The 'Chocolate Chip' ajuga looks alive, what's not under snow, which is cool, because that wasn't supposed to be hardy. And the new arborvitae hedges look okay, except for the last one in line, which has the look of being nibbled on by rabbits.

We got 1.5" more snow last night. Because it was Tuesday, you know, and it always snows on Tuesday.

Mom and Sis are snowed in for a second day in a row. They've got 12", and it's blowing. I know, that doesn't sound like much, but that's more snow than Mom usually sees in a year, for the third time in a month, with dangerous-to-life-and-limb wind chills. Even if they could make it through the snow on those back roads in school buses, they can't keep the buses warm.

So Sis is scowling at the snow and trying not to strangle her boys, and Mom is going to spend an indulgent day quilting.

It is not as chilly here today, and The Bug has refused socks, even though his little toes are COLD!

We got off lucky yesterday, compared to a lot of people. 8" of snow, nasty wind, but the wind's already stopped today, and it's clear and sunny and bitter cold. The snow plows have been up our road, and left enough snow on the road surface to give traction on the ice underneath.

By's headed out later to start digging out the cars. We got lucky there, too. There's a big snowdrift around two sides of the car, but it's mostly clear behind. There'll be a couple spots down the driveway that always need shoveled, or the car high-centers and gets stuck, and the snow-plow pile at the bottom. Most of the big drifts aren't in the way of getting in and out.

We spent some time this morning taking pictures of the snowdrifts from inside; the new windows are clear enough to get away with that. Yay!

My mom is home today, because it's even colder there, and Sis's kids are home from school, though Sis has to work. A farmer down the road from her plowed a lane up to the main road, so she could get out.

By's folks are enjoying 50 degrees today. **sigh**

Radio just announced that a 70-mile stretch of I-70 is closed in central Missouri. Wonder how the main roads are faring west of us....

We've been upgraded to a blizzard warning, from 6am tomorrow until 6am Wednesday. From "blizzard-like conditions" -- as best By and I can figure, it has to do with wind speeds, which are now expected to hit 40mph while the 12" (or more) of snow is falling. Good times.

As a hedge against terribly cold snowy weather, there is a fresh batch of bread in progress, a big pot of spaghetti sauce on the stove, and there will be cider mulling the crockpot later. All of which can be eaten/reheated easily over a camp stove if we need to. And if not, well, we'll enjoy in comfort.

In case anyone's curious, my new granite counter-top is a baker's wet dream! Rolled out pumpkin cinnamon rolls on it this afternoon. No sticking, easy clean-up, just the right height! Wheee!

In other news, we are bracing for yet another round on Winter Weather Doom (tm). It's supposed to start this evening, with freezing rain and sleet all night and most of tomorrow, with .1-.25" ice accumulation on everything by tomorrow evening. Then snow and high winds, with anywhere from 6-12" by Wednesday morning, depending on how the storm tracks.

When the National Weather Service uses phrases like "A POWERFUL AND ANOMALOUS STORM SYSTEM", "CONSIDERABLE BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW AND NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS", and "BRING TRAVEL TO A HALT"....well, you just get groceries early and plan on staying put until it's over.

Part of the battening down is starting and moving the truck, so it won't be stuck in the ice. (Which is where the truck spent the last snow). Also, making sure the van starts (just sat too long, so it spent yesterday on the charger). And then putting a tarp over the car before the ice starts, so it's easier to get into after the ice has passed. We've got plenty of food, and candles for light (tea lights in baby food jars work great!), and ways to prep food if the power goes out.


The Sock Report: I've been working on other things (mostly, keeping The Bug from tearing the house to pieces), so no socking lately

The UnSock Report: Finished the striped afghan for The Miss, about a week ago, and she is happy with it. It turned out big enough for By to use as a lap blanket, which is a bonus. Have another afghan, in a "make it up as I go" pattern, in progress for The Bug. His without fringe, because he doesn't seem to like fringe as much as The Miss.

The further south I drove this morning, the more snow was on the road. And by the time I got into tow, the blowing snowflakes had visibility down to half a mile or less. I'm SO not looking forward to the drive home tonight, and I'm hoping they close school tomorrow. With it being the week BEFORE finals, and the first real snow of the season, and 6" predicted, they might. **crosses fingers**

Drive careful, folks.

Ran the heater the whole way in to work this morning--first time this season. The rain's making me cold and creaky, enough that I hold it stays most of the work daya, so I can stay in and knit.

Not much to update, otherwise. I think I'm coming down with something--I was sneezing a lot last night, and woke up stuffy and tired. Hopefully the "sounds like a frog" stage of this head cold/whatever holds off until after Monday.

Got some knitting done last night. Finished the first pattern repeat on the Lily of the Valley shawl, and it's about 3" deep (slightly stretched). Not bad for 2 hr's knitting, at that gauge. I've got T's kilt hose in the car, in hopes of a rainy day. I need to frog a bunch out of those, and re-knit.