Snowed In.... And a Peacock Treasury!

I love snow.

I love to make snowmen, get in snowball fights, dig tunnels, go sledding or skiing...

But this is getting ridiculous!

Considering VA-DOT hasn't really done a good job keeping the roadways clear, and the roads around where I am just about as good looking- well, suffice it to say I'm staying inside. Coming from New England, I think that anyone that is employed by the DOT in southern states has to be required to plow for at least two years in New England.

Why?

Some of the craziest weather happens up there. From ice storms, to blizzards, to dustings, quick melts, re-freezing, and all of the above- people need to know how to drive in this kind of awful weather, but also how to clear the roads properly.

Ahem... Liiiike, not scraping all the snow off the road so it's left a solid sheet of ice....

At least then, when the weather like this hits every once in a blue moon- the employees are prepared for action, and know how to clear it up quickly and efficiently. Oh- and use sand too, not just salt please! Sand = traction! And that's a marvelous thing!!

For instance- I don't think when you venture out, you should be driving on a sheet of ice:

Or that driving down the road should feel like you're skidding over a mogul field:

Or that the 4 lane road for you to take 2 lefts, one straight, and right turn is only ONE lane:

And it's probably a good idea to clear snow out of intersections!!!!!!!!!

Did I mention that this mess is left over from the Friday/Saturday/Sunday storm we had last weekend?!?!?! Yep... Roads still aren't cleared.... And I took it upon myself yesterday to "plow down" snow in our parking lot. No, there's no plow attached to my truck. But it kind of stinks when people take snow off their vehicles and pile it behind someone else's... Or the snow piles up in between "spaces". So in to 4wd Truckasaurus Rex went, and lots of backing up and pulling forward and packing down the snow so other people in smaller vehicles could get in. I know I didn't have to do it... But, nobody else would. I did a good deed!

As far as today- we got about another 15-18 inches of snow. On top of the nearly 3 feet from this past weekend, which has hardly melted. The roommate took a walk down and said that if I were to go venture into the snow where it's not drifted, it would most likely come up to my hips. I may have to check him on that later... Just to make sure. I'v seen plenty of people struggling to just get across our parking lot today... Rather amusing. Even my kitteh thought so:

Ok on to better and prettier news.

I happened to be in the right place, at the right time last night...

And I nabbed a Main Treasury that I've named "Peacock Dreams".

I've always been fascinated with the different tones of blues, greens, and sometimes pinks that you can find in a peacock's feather. So a little something to share with you! It brightened my day, considering all I've been looking at lately are shades of gray and white. And dirty brown.

Oh Snow!!!!

In case you didn't know... Virginia just got walloped with a HUGE snowstorm this past weekend, and since Im' about 20 minutes South of Washington DC, I figured I'd take some pictures to show you just how much snow has actually fallen.

It started out forcasted at 6-12 inches.

Then two hours later, 12-14.

About two hours after that, 16-18.

Three hours later... 18-24.

Then, as it started snowing... They said... Possibility of 30+ inches.

Me, being ever the pessimistic since moving down here and not really seeing snow stick around long enough for it to last more than a day or two..... Said "Suuuuure". But then it started coming down... And sticking.... Accumulating quickly. A little too quickly. I told my roommate... Yep, the way it's coming down... We're going to get buried.

I started taking pictures, and even planned on blogging Friday night about it... But then -OOP-

Power goes out. Are you kidding me!? Now my roommate tells me it could be off for days, or weeks... I wasn't happy to hear it. But I had my little alien lights, and plenty of candles. I hoard candles, but that's a story for another time! So light them up, little candles glow!

Pictures of the street, there was one car that decided to brave the weather at 11:30 pm. There's already 12+ inches on the ground, and no plow has been through. He made it to the dip, and skeetered off the road into the snowbank. I didn't go outside- the wind was wicked and with my asthma- not a good idea. Otherwise, my blogger friends, I would have been out there immediately.

So the candlelight, flickering, and Sake I was drinking finally kicked in. I got sleepy. Good news is the power came on just before I fell asleep. The next morning I knew I was going to wake up to an absolute Winter Wonderland... But I had no idea.....

Everything, and I mean everything, covered in snow. Especially the cars. Road signs buried under snow, not drifts! Cars plowed in from the "plow" guys. I thought it was beautiful. I wanted to know how much snow there was. I was curious.

So on go the leggings, blue jeans over that. Long sleeved shirt, UnderArmor Jacket, and UA vest over that. A black ballcap, and my blue toned scarf to cover my face from the wind. I venture out.

Ok, bottom of the steps aren't so bad.

Few more steps, though, and my boots are sinking into 4+ inches of powder. And this is on the "shoveled" part of the pathway. Continuing on...

I sink down. Quickly. At least 2 feet of snow here! This was only shoveled at the beginning of the storm- so it's not quite the deepest as.....

RIGHT HERE!

Stepping over to take a picture of a huge snow-pile that used to be my truck, I sank straight down to pavement. Snow came up over my knees! I'm only 5'2". DEEP snow indeed. Yes, that is my Chevy Trailblazer under that pile of snow!

Waddled out without losing boots or socks... Which HAS happened before...

Had I tripped and fallen, I have a feeling I wouldn't be found until spring!

So I continued to wander along the front of the complex.

Snapped a few more- but this one had to take the cake. It appears that someone was motivated enough to come out and clean off their vehicle. And then subsequently gave up because it's just SO much!

I almost feel bad... I wiped the snow off mine, popped her in to 4wd... And rocked right out of my spot! HOWEVER... That being said... DO not go out on the roads if you live down here- they're absolutely awful. They haven't salted anything, and it's all a solid sheet of ice.

After last night though, this is the view I woke up to this morning: