The West's Revenge!

Imagine! Washington D.C. is up to it's keester in snow. Have you ever heard such weeping and wailing from the media? Washington D.C.. Government. The people who are trying to reshape our car culture into one of teeny weenie green machines that can't even be charged up for a whole day's worth of driving, much less pull through snow covered streets.

We Westerners chuckle at all this. Who's fault is it that they aren't prepared? New York City has a plan for it. You'd think D.C. would too since when it does snow the entire government shuts down. That's not bad mind you. They can't do any harm when they're closed down!

They won't learn from this experience because they tend not to learn from any experience, but they should note that their little vehicles aren't worth squat in the white stuff. The people in upstate New York know it. We bought our first SUV when we moved from Seattle to Rochester, New York several years ago. It was needed and well used. Lake effect snow does pile up!

Then there is all of us in the Midwest and West. We are no stranger to wind and snow and blizzard conditions pushing up drifts as high as the house. Fallen trees. Collapsed roofs. Community spirit when it comes to digging everyone out. Dig out parties sponsored by the local TV stations where anyone with a snow blower or a shovel is asked to pitch in. And, boy, they do!

Last year we had around 160 inches, the year before around 180. Getting around in that took some doing. It took big, heavy vehicles like our cherished rigs - pick ups and SUVs. Our beloved gas guzzlers. I wouldn't live west of the Mississippi, out in the country, without one.

So listen up you government types. Here's your shovel ready project. How many of you are actually going to do the labor? Or are you going to hire it out and count it as "job creation"?

As for getting around,a few politically incorrect types are brazen enough to drive SUVs. It's a good thing, too. One such person able to slip and slide around town in the ultimate of offensive vehicles, a Hummer, got his just reward. He pulled a police car out of a snowbank.

Those eastern elitists who like to claim there is no intelligent life west of the Mississippi have that wrong as well as everything else. The direction might need to be reversed!

The Morning After!

If Santa was late to your place on Christmas this may be why. He got stuck in our front yard. He's still there. He's likely to be there in the spring!

Winter in northern Idaho isn't advertised like this in the life style magazines for sure! Last year we had just as much snow but it took all winter to accumulate. This year it has piled up since just after Thanksgiving and isn't over yet. Another winter storm warning looms for tomorrow through Sunday promising another eight or so inches. Then you won't know Santa is stuck in our front yard because you won't be able to see him!

The good thing is Hub finally got out and got extra belts for the snow blower. And gas. The drive is now clear. Almost. The flurries have added a new half inch just this evening.

The bad news is the temperatures are to moderate which will make the snow heavy, wet and extremely hard to move. I predict more broken belts! Plus the temperatures will drop below freezing at night creating a sheet of ice over the hard pack.

It's a shy week to New Years. We've left overs a plenty. We bought New Year's Eve bubbly while we were out today. I've got a new camcorder to play with. Posting to the ole blog will resume. Politics are heating up between the Caroline Kennedy Senate quest and the Blogojevich mess in Illinois. What more could an addicted blogger want?

Looking ahead now; maybe a chance to spend Christmas in the Southwest. I understand the saguaro look spectacular decked out in lights. On second thought, make that winter in the Southwest!

Same Song Second Verse

Wow! Yesterday we had luminaria lining the driveway, this is what we have this morning. What driveway? It is 8:35 a.m. Pacific time. The snow is due to continue well into the afternoon.

This is a one day snow accumulation on our roof. The south side. The north side has blown bare.

Not being into skate boarding I'm not sure about this but would a half pipe look like this if made from snow? This is the drift along the side of the shop.

Hub is working valiantly. The drifts on the drive are obscuring the snow blower.

Okay, here's the deal. We are setting record snowfall for a 24 hour period. Seventeen inches at the Spokane airport which is the official measuring point. We have several more inches in our area. Out here on the prairie it looks like sand dunes along the coast. Some drifts five and six feet high and the ground in front of them bare. Wind.

For those of you who aren't familiar with lake effect snow you hear about coming off the Great Lakes, this is as close as you come around here. Light and fluffy, very low moisture content, and it piles up like Topsy! Spokane is literally closed down. I'm sure our area is too but the coverage is out of Spokane and about Spokane.

After I wrote my post yesterday things really began to go downhill. We had decided to let the snow run it's course before starting to clear it. Then an unexpected Fed Ex delivery had the truck barely in the drive while the driver shoveled his way to the door. Hub decided he should at least clear a path.

All went well until the tractor snapped an essential belt. No one in Coeur d'Alene had one. That means a trip to Spokane. He thinks he's going this afternoon. Ha! The bright side is we still have the walk behind blower from the good old days!!

During coffee this morning I thought the den felt unusually cool. Hub checked the thermostat and it read 58 degrees. A malfunctioning furnace. And we just had it serviced! My mood is diminishing. The bright side is we have a duel heating system so the game room is warm. The office and shop are hearted and comfortable. It's the only reason I'm writing this time of day! I'm usually banned until after the market closes at one.

Even Bacchus seemed somewhat surprised. He isn't used to his hind end being buried when he squats. That's cold! He's the only one who can be comfortable in the house today and last time I checked he was sound asleep on the couch.

Oh, I've forgotten to mention the temperatures going along with the snow. Tomorrow is forecast to be -8. Today will be a balmy 17. No melting in sight!

Welcome to winter in the Inland Northwest. Time for another lyric? "It's the most wonderful time of the year!" Bah Humbug!