All told, we got about sixteen inches of snow, our third heaviest 24-hour snowfall ever.
When my husband got home from ski patrol last night, he got out our garden tractor which he’d put a plow attachment on and added chains to the tires:
…and started plowing our endless driveway:
The children ran around in the snow excitedly while I swept off the porch.
Around ten, I shooed them into the house and got them ready for bed. I didn’t actually make them go to bed though; where would be the fun in a snow day if you’re made to go to bed? I, however, fell asleep around 11:00, only to wake up around 1:00 a.m. and realize that Phil hadn’t come in yet.
I stepped out into the garage, but he wasn’t there. I yelled for him from the porch, but my voice was lost in the howling wind and blowing snow. I got that cold dread in the pit of my stomach and pulled on boots and a long coat over my pajamas and set off down the driveway through the blizzard, terrified that I’d find him injured or dead from a horrible plowing accident. I found him at the very end of the driveway, alive and well thank goodness. He was in the plowing and shoveling zone I guess and didn’t realize how late it was.
This morning the sun was shining, brilliantly blinding on the fresh snow but giving no warmth.
Even the University of Michigan had cancelled classes, the first time I can ever remember them doing so.
We set about digging out in earnest and it took us nearly all day to shovel the porch, steps, walkway, deck, patio, and trampoline while Phil worked endlessly on getting that darn driveway clear.
The children took lots of breaks to sled down the back hill and shovel the snow off our pond ice rink and made lots of trips inside to refresh themselves with hot cocoa.
Tonight there is a full moon and the sunset was all rosy pink and eerie blue:
The temperatures have dropped down near 0 F, so we’re in for another frigid night. Tomorrow it’s back to school and work for all of us, but it was a fun day off!