so.
winter was, in fact, not done with us.
 |
| photo by Samuel |
we did the southern blizzard seven inches of snow. we did the experimental living without heat for a few days. so, naturally, it was time to combine the two scenarios, with some slight modifications - just to top things off. how about freezing rain turning to sleet turning back to freezing rain? yes. add to that trees that had not seen an ice storm around here for more than ten years? yes. stir those ingredients together & add in the fact that any more days off school would obliterate our spring break? &
voilà!
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| our buried basketball goal (photo by Samuel) |
not really knowing, just prior to the whole event, the extent to which
this ice storm would wreck havoc on a few days of our lives,
i had,
fortunately, just picked up a 500-page book from the library. i finished it on day two, dressed somewhat like this.
Joseph, also, found some ways to amuse himself.
as did Samuel.
we were obedient ice-storm people & did not open our freezer or refrigerator. all of our food survived.
instead, we roamed our city in search of sustenance, warmth, and electrical outlets.
we ate fish tacos at Crafted, bacon&eggs at Harris Teeter (with coffee from Starbucks), double-pepperoni pizza at Slices, & italian subs at Jimmy Johns.
some of us played with our food.
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| Structure with Sweet Potato and Radish Chips |
as you might expect, if you've given thought to those days not too long past, when humans did not have electricity, the night was the darkest, the coldest, and the longest. we solved that by going to see
The Desolation of Smaug at the dollar theater on the first night and by hanging out at the pizza joint to watch the Carolina-Duke game on the second night. on the third night, we had light.
 |
| our candlefest |
it is challenging to do many things without light;
however, you can do this (if you are Joseph):
a work-in-progress for the June recital.
(he's been playing the piano for about fourteen months.)
it was a real boon to have the days so warm and beautiful while we were
without power. when at home, we lived on or very near the back porch as
much as possible. Joseph and i, great puzzle aficionados, set ourselves up at the kitchen table.
our big trees (six oaks, one maple, and one yellow poplar) survived the storm almost entirely intact. we only lost one branch from the yellow poplar, and it fell without incident near the street. amazingly, our old dogwoods also survived. the too-tall red tip bushes by the back fence (the ones draped over the basketball goal in an earlier photo) had the most damage, and Mike cut them as they hung low with ice on the first day. we hear the city is waiving yard waste restrictions this week, thank goodness! so, we hauled it
all to the street.
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| Samuel & Mike address the camellia |
a few incidentals.
we had, actually, completely depleted our wood supply this winter. what with all the snow & all. this storm arrived
just
in time to replenish the woodpile! an assortment of oak, pine, and a
wee bit of pear from our industrious neighbors - thank you!
offerings from the yellow poplar ~
i will leave you with this,
my most vagabond moment.
now, surely, it is
time
for
spring
~
