Coeur d'Alene had 127 inches of snow by yesterday and then a little more fell. This was a new seasonal record and nearly double normal.

Seems like when I lived right in town about 30 years ago, there was more snow to deal with. I think that might be true but with a certain amount of melting, some drifting, and days of shoveling - it's real hard to make much sense out of the landscape. I'm considering "burrowing" next.

There were winds of 35 - 40 mph with gusts near 50, today. Lots of roads in and out of communities in the Columbia Basin are closed because of drifting and white-out conditions.

I think it is now going to turn to rain except for up where you are, Margaret. And, even western MT may get rain by Sunday. Hopefully, there won't be very much.

digitS'

A quick reminder that sand is a good thing to spread over icy sidewalks, driveways, and so on. A 50 lb sack of 'play sand' from the hardware might save thousands on broken hips.

(the '52 left knee, head, and wrist are still sore from losing it in the driveway yesterday. I then remembered I had some sand, which improved things)

Ouch David. :-( Got YakTrax? Excellent footware for ice. I wear mine and go for a walk up and down the icey hills.

The ONLY problem is when I switch back to my regular winter boots and think I'll have the same traction - NOT.

Cheers,
Michelle

We got another 3" last night, which brings this week's total to about 15". The forecast is still calling for the temps to reach 40 degrees this weekend, so the big meltdown shall soon begin.

Here are some pictures taken this morning:

View from my front door

View from my garage after shoveling this morning

Sunrise on the ridge to the south of us this a.m.

Spring is near, I can feel it in the air : )
Bonnie

Very pretty, Bonnie! The snow here is littered with tree twigs - lots of wind again today!! Your snow looks like it would do a lot of travelin' with some wind . . . .

I put some feed out for the squirrels today. Poor little things - it's warm enuf for them to climb out of their nests which are dancing about 50 feet above our heads. But, what possibly can they find to eat for all their efforts at bounding across the snow?

Sand is a good idea, David! ('course, it's heavy ;o) I like sand especially on the areas of the lawn that gets walked on along the paths in the back yard.

digitS'

Oh Bonnie, that looks cold! We are going to drive up to Mayday this weekend in the La Plata mountains to see the snow. I've heard it's spectacular. Hopefully I'll have some good pics.

I have been feeding the birds for the same reason. The redwing blackbirds come in droves.

{{gwi:1190988}}

Cheers,
Michelle

You know what? I didn't know that CO had redwing blackbirds overwinter. Colorado!?!

It is one of those "first hints of spring" here when the boys show up on the dead cattails and begin to sing - wind whistling past and ruffling their feathers.

digitS'

Steve, they showed up about the first week of Feb. I am only about 7 miles from the state line, so quite far south. Yes, I love the singing! Another good reason to feed them.

Cheers,
Michelle

Well Margaret, at least it's not just Utahns that don't know how to slow down in the snow! On one of my drives to work this week, I saw five freeway slideoffs where you could clearly see the tire tracks head straight into the concrete barrier and then about 10-20 feet ahead was a smashed car. Looked like too fast lane changes on all of them.

It's really been a tough winter!