Woo Hoo! I'm another Southern Marylander.. and I'm LOVING the snow. Our new pup is having a ball in it as well.

I had a bunch of X-Mas parties that I baked desserts galore for that are all canceled which was a bummer do to the money and time spent on the effort, but the snow is making it mildly worth it.

Too bad our area shuts down completely at the sight of snow.. lol.

What a great idea to invite your contractors, and your combined party sounds just wonderful! What a shame about the snow - at least about its timing. I hope at least some of your people make it - I suppose the neighbours won't have that far to come. And if anyone will have snow-capable vehicles, I would guess it would be contractors.

Either way... cheers!

KarinL

Oh I hope they can get it cleared for you. We got 15 to 18 inches in a little over 24 hours. The day after they worked on clearing it out and we went to town on clear dry roads the next day. We have wonderful state people work our roads over in storms. They run plows all night to keep things clear. I feel like I should go down and serve them coffee. We are only 5 houses from the highway.

Your winter wonderland sounds so pretty how you describe it. I hope your friends workers and family can make it safely.

Chris

Thanks everyone! I was so bummed today after working so hard the last 2 weeks finishing up every little detail except our kitchen backsplash, but what can you do?! So I'll just enjoy it and hope for the best.

Our road is a private road so the hope of anyone clearing it are slim to none. And the majority of our neighbors are older so walking isn't really an option for about half of them. You are right that contractors do drive big 4 wheel drive trucks though, so maybe they'll be able to make it!

Alexandra marie that's so funny that you are nearby! Our dogs love the snow too, what kind of dog do you have? If you were at Giant or Target today I could have waved to you among the hoards of people trying to finish up Christmas shopping and those who freak out at the mere mention of snow! People down here don't deal well with snow, we just aren't used to it, but about every 10 or so years we get a big storm, but usually 10 to 12 inches is considered BIG, not the 2 feet we might get out of this storm!

Here are a few pics. DH is wishing he had put that last set of net lights on the backside of our blue spruce, he forgot!

Please send warming thoughts our way lol!

Kat :)

So SO Pretty. May your roads melt. Maybe call the contractors and ask them to bring another couple with them on their way in. OR have them all arrive early to pack down your driveway so the others can get it. We used to have a 1/4 mile drive at the last house and I spent weeks at a time snowed in up there.

Guess with as little snow as you usually get no one is prepared with plows and snow blowers and all.We have a skid steer to plow us out. Only hubby fell and broke a couple of ribs so I had to shovel us out the other day. Only about 15 foot though.

Warm thoughts. Happy party.

Chris

Keep us posted about the party. I've been watching the weather updates on CNN and it looks like it's going to be bad.

If you get snowed in at least you have plenty of food and drinks! lol

Also, if you get a lot more snow, try to take a picture for us again. They're fun to look at!

Hey Kat, we have 12 inches right now! It's a good thing your party isn't planned for today. I imagine it will go on as planned tomorrow - perhaps a bit late? I am asking the snow goddess to send the bulk of it up here to Catonsville so your party won't be snowed out!

Why don't yo post some pics of everything and WE'LL be your party? It's a virtual party!

Lesmis, your place looks so pretty! I love the little tree (or is it just branches stuck in the urn?) by your door. Absolutely lovely!

We are in northern VA and I, too, am loving this snow. My "should-be-but-isn't-yet" DIL has asked me to drive her to the hairdresser this morning since her car wouldn't make it in all this snow. I'm waiting for her to call closer to the time to leave-hoping she decides to skip it!

We have a mother-son rescue combination-our four-footed fools/slap happy idiots. Clouseau loves snow. First thing he did this morning was bury his head in it-followed by leaping and running and begging his mom to join him. Annabelle is not so inclined! It really is pure joy to watch him. Just makes me laugh. I will have to put on the boots and go out with him in a little while.

Love the idea of a virtual party!

I'd be feeling much the way you are under these circumstances, Lesmis!

It all looks so pretty, & I'm pretty scroogy when it comes to holiday decor! You're style is just so great though, that even I appreciate your Christmas lights. You do everything with so much heart, I just love it.

Bet you'll still have a good turn out. Have fun, no matter what!

Thanks for the sympathy everyone! We have 12 inches so far and it's now sleeting! They are saying we'll get another 15" or so but we'll see, it doesn't look possible according to the radar, but what do I know! :)

CooperBailey, how are things going up your way? When are you stopping by for a cup of tea in our new kitchen?

Sameboat, that's a great idea, I may have to do that! At least virtual guests can't slip on the sidewalk or track snow in on our new hardwood floors lol!

Cyn427, it is the top of a tree so it looks like a branch and we cut it down from my grandparent's farm which we still own. I liked that it looked kind of Charlie Brown like and I stuck some magnolia around the base to hide the bricks holding it in place. I had a hair appointment today too, but that's not going to happen! You'll have to post pics of your pups in the snow. Our 2 are loving it also!

Stinky-gardener, you aren't Scrooge like! But thanks so much for the compliment, it makes us happy to look at the lights too! It's also very sweet of you to say such nice things, everyone on here truly is so supportive and wonderful.

As far as people walking, over half our street is elderly, two people are 95+ so walking really isn't an option, and I think we will try and re-schedule things because I don't want anyone to get hurt! We also have some houses that are close by, our next door neighbor and several others on our private lane could walk, but the rest are about a mile away so walking wouldn't really work, especially with their ages.

Here are some pictures from about 11:00 am this morning.

Looking out to the field next to our house. The old tobacco barn is being torn down.

View to the creek behind the house

Snow kissed pine and magnolia on the front porch

Looking across the street towards the river

Thanks again for the support, and if anyone has snow shoes or skis, feel free to stop by for beer, wine, appetizers, and dessert!

Kat :)

Ya know...if you would have posted this an hour earlier, it would have saved me some money.

During the evening, when DH is home, I check the posts about every hour. When I was shutting down to go to bed, I saw this.

Of course it was just after we had the Weather Channel on and they were giving the snow totals for your neck of the woods. They said 1-2 for Maryland and DH said they were talking about feet. I scoffed and said they meant inches. He said "wanta bet?". Long story short...I'm out a buck.

Parma that is too funny! Yeah we Marylanders are having a record snowfall. Perfect day for baking cookies!

I live in Southern California, but I grew up in Montana and went to school in New England. I love to see pictures of snow. Pictures only, not the real thing. These have satisfied my craving for Christmas weather for this year!

Here are the pups. Still snowing here. Clouseau would stay out in this ALL day. Annabelle (the black one)is not so pleased. The night shot was around 10 pm last night. We have more than a foot of snow and it is still going strong.

the pic's are really pretty, that was us last year. This year it is 50 outside(wet of course)and I can't rember a Dec. day in my 67 years that I don't have the heat on. So sorry about the party, tho, bet it would be a lot of fun, and don't give up hope, maybe just smaller and even more enjoyable.

Snow pictures are so pretty even when we have it coming down upon us here again today. Did not think it was supposed to snow???

Our doggies needed me to shovel a path for them it was getting too hard=deep for them to do their business. Hehehehe cyn I think it is harder on the females.

Lovey pictures and I hope it does clear off for your party. Our last snow storm it turned to rain and settled a lot of it down. Right now we are having the HUGE snow flakes. Better get my self on down the road. It is a good half a mile to my chiropractor and there is no way I am going to drive in this.

Chris

Oh Kat, I am so sorry about your party. Love your pics. What is the second one? Is it a real pine? Very pretty.

Cooper, are you even going to have a football game tomorrow?

Last I heard, the Bears are having a hard time getting a flight in. That would be an easy win for you. :)

LOL Parma, sorry I cost you a buck! I heard that the Bears are stuck in Chicago and so the game may not happen. Guess we'll have to wait and see. Cooper are ya gonna cross country ski to the game down Wilkins Ave?! lol

Ideefixe enjoy that sunny SoCal weather for me! My friend who lives in San Diego was kind enough to point out how warm and pretty it was out that way! He is supposed to fly in here tomorrow though to visit family so he'll be back in the cold very soon! We used to live in Lancaster, CA when my husband was at Edwards and had friends in both southern Cali and northern Cali and loved our time there visiting all of them! It's one of the few states where you can go to the beach in the morning and go skiing in the afternoon!

Cyn427, LOVE the pictures, what kind of dogs do you have? How much snow do you have now? We have about 15" and it's still coming down pretty hard.

Thanks Themommy1, we went ahead and canceled the party, or postponed I should say until next Sunday. It's not the best time to have it since it's right after Christmas but most people said they would still be able to come.

Chris, enjoy your snow too! Hope you made it to the Chiropractor today. Our chiropractor lives across the street, so in an emergency we could get an adjustment! ;-)

Kelly, thanks! The second pic is a real pine tree, or at least the top few feet of one. My grandparents had a farm and when my parents inherited it my father started planting pines to have it zoned forestry. Those trees are now huge, but they have plenty of other smaller seedlings that have sprouted up over the years so we went over and lopped off the top of one and put it in the urn with some magnolia.

I hope everyone is safe and warm tonight. We are hunkered down and planning to watch a few old movies!

Kat :)

Since you have sleet with the snow, please be careful! I slipped on sleet a couple of years ago and hit my head on an antique iron wheel. It was bad. And sleet takes forever to melt if it's packed down.

Do you have Yak Traks to put on your shoes? Those are a life saver.

And now it looks like we may be in for some good sleet and snow this week. Ugh. I don't mind, but we are driving on Christmas, not far though, but still...

So, what foods are you "stuck" with? Are you eating well? :)

Aw So sorry your party for tomorrow has to be postponed. Your evening tonight sounds like it will be fun.We resurrected the Thanksgiving turkey from the freezer and I made a pot of soup.

Yes I was able to get the chiropractor to help me out today. He even invited us to Christmas Eve at their house and I think we might go. DH has a cracked or separated rib so it depends if he feels well enough to get out. And he got that falling on the ice so please do be careful.

Have a great evening and enjoy your lovely snow.

Chris

Kat did you end up postponing or is it on? My street is plowed which means the main roads are in good shape up here.And we got tons of snow! Hope you have your party.

Chris-lol re: females have a harder time. Ain't that the truth?! Sorry to hear about your DH. Rib injuries are so painful!

Kat, I think we had at least 22-24" even though they said National Airport had only 16-17" and we are about 5 miles from there. Sorry you had to cancel your party, but right between the holidays should be festive!Re:dogs...Annabelle (the black one) is a border collie mix and Clouseau (the goofy one enjoying just sitting in the snow) is her son. There must be some golden retriever in him-his face is just like a golden), but what else besides the border collie--who knows? We have had them for two and a half years now which makes him a little older than three and she is about four and a half. They are so much fun!

Oakley, I just ordered Yak Trax for my husband. He walks the dogs when he gets home every evening and I will feel better seeing him head out with those on his feet this time of year. He isn't always too steady, but there is no telling him to stay in if the weather/sidewalks/paths are icy or slippery. Makes me nuts.

Enjoy your Sunday, all.

Hi, Kat
Sorry that you had to cancel your party. The Christmas light look lovely. Hope most of your goodies will keep until next Sunday.

We are across town, in Arlington. Had 19 inches. DH shoveled three times. No sign of a snow plow. The guy across the street has a record store in Adams Morgan (DC) and had to walk home two miles from Ballston last night because Metro isn't running above ground. Not easy to walk so far in that much snow.

I dread going to work on Monday. Stay warm!

According to the ruler I stuck in the snow on the deck in the back, we got 19.5". According to the snow the snowblower took off the driveway in the front, we got 12" the first time, 6" the second time, 4" the third time and 3" to clear the remainder this morning.

Cooperbailey, the party is postponed until next Sunday, and everything will keep until then. I didn't go crazy making desserts on Friday and Saturday once we realized things weren't going to happen so yeah for me and procrastination! The appetizers are mostly things like veggies and dip, crab balls, cheese balls, mini quiches, shrimp dip, and stuffed ham sandwiches so that will all be fine as well. The ham is frozen so we are even good on that one.

Oakely, thanks for the heads up on Yak Trax, I will have to look into getting some. They say it's going to be a really bad winter here so if this snow is any indication we will definitely need them!

Chris, I'm glad you got to your Chiro without any trouble and I'm so sorry to hear about your husband's ribs! I hope he heals up quickly!

Cyn, we had about 20 inches total, but like you, just a few miles south they had less. The snow bands were really fickle with this storm and just a few miles one way or the other made a BIG difference. I thought your dogs had some BC in them. We have a tri colored BC and an English Shepherd and they both have a very similar look. Like your dogs, mine would rather be outside doing anything in any weather, they just love being active! Yours are so cute in the snow!

Colorcrazy, our daughter lives near you! She said it looked amazing from up your way. I'm sure she will be hating life when it comes to walking to work on Monday too! Be careful!

Suero, where are you located?

I spoke to a friend today who had invited 200 people to her home for a party last night. They braved the weather and had 37 people show up! She said they had a great time anyway, but I can't imagine, since they had the whole thing catered and had food for 150 people! She said they sent everyone home with big doggie bags and they plan to donate the rest to a local shelter. At least it won't go to waste.

Here are a few shots from our house this morning. I'm glad we decided to wait because it would be really difficult getting to our house, even though the main roads are plowed, our lane and the road leading in are not. Schools are canceled already, which they never do until the morning of!

Road leading in to our house, still snowy and icy!

View of the creek, it looks perfect for skating, but the ice is only on the surface...too bad!

To those of you who have lots of snow, I hope you stay warm and that you enjoy the beauty of it all!

Kat :)

Vienna (Virginia)

Sorry about your party and glad you can reshcedule.

We had one in the planning for Saturday night. We were going to host and provide the alcohol, but have everyone bring an appetizer. As soon as we heard about a possible storm coming our way, we nixed the idea. Good thing we did... Had about 8 inches in our part of TN.

The road consitions suddenly got bad and poor DH left work at 5:00, and finally got home at 10:00 (normally a 10 minute drive.) He had to walk (in his business suit, dress shoes, etc..) the last 40 minutes because his car became stuck at the back entrance to our neighborhood. He said that several SUV's passed him and not one stopped to offer a ride. Can you believe that!

OH Good Gosh newhomebuilder. To not stop and offer a ride in the storm is almost a crime here. I even had some one bring me home the other day when I got out in the snow walking and I only had two blocks to go.

lesmis your house and yard are just so pretty.

Chris

Thanks Chris!

Suero you were in the heavy snow area too then!

Newhomebuilder, I can't believe that no one stopped! That's so "un"southern of them!! My mother was a Virginian through and through and we would NEVER let someone walk through our neighborhood in a snow storm and not offer to help them! I think most people would, or they should. My husband was out for over an hour looking for our neighbors cat who has vanished. Our neighbor is beside herself and treats her cats like her children and she's afraid she may have ventured out on the ice and fallen through! I went out and helped look after both of them had looked and even took our dog out to see if he could sniff her out, but no luck so now I'm sending a mass email to our street hoping someone else will have spotted her.

Some people are just not very generous these days, it's sad but true. I am a firm believer in the theory that what goes around comes around. I'm glad he made it home safely, but I'm sure he was half frozen!

Kat :)

Ok, so note to self, make sure that EVERYONE on the invite list gets a call that the party has been postponed! Once we decided that it wasn't a good idea to have the party, we split up the call list between DH and myself and contacted everyone...well almost everyone! Turns out one couple didn't get contacted!!!

Promptly at 6:00 pm a car slowly came down our lane and then stopped at the end of our driveway and shut off their lights. DH and I kept saying, "who can it be?! We contacted everyone right?" but then one of our neighbors who lives almost the furthest away came trudging up the driveway and onto the porch. I had just gotten a shower after trudging around in the snow looking for the neighbors cat during the afternoon, and thankfully wasn't in pj's like I really wanted to be at that point! The neighbors are both in their 80's and our driveway and sidewalk are a sheet of ice!!! They were both dressed beautifully and had a lovely plate of fruitcake squares with decorative sprigs of holly even! We opened the door and welcomed them in and said "you got our message that the party was moved to next Sunday right?" They both looked at one another and said that they had gotten the email about the missing cat, but nothing else and I said no no it would have been a phone message! I sent DH to go look at the list where we had checked off everyone we had contacted and lo and behold there was no check mark, meaning no one had called to let them know it was canceled!

Needless to say we felt terrible and had them in for a glass of wine and a beer. They were embarrassed, though they shouldn't have been, I can blame this all on DH...since they were on his part of the list lol! They stayed for an hour and then we drove them back down the driveway to their car which was off the side of the road and deep in the snow, but it made it out fine! They said they would be able to come next Sunday and we enjoyed showing them around the newly remodeled home which they had been to many times before we moved in, so it was nice to have the one on one time with them and to let them look around which we wouldn't have been able to do with everyone else here.

I hope when I'm 80 something I can still show up at a party with 20 inches of snow all around! This is one of those stories we'll all be telling for years to come!

Kat :)

Kat, great story. I think maybe as we get older, we look forward even more to the lively groups at a party. We are only 50-60 somethings and our social life has slowed down already. Bravo to those neighbors of yours! Also, what a wonderful back yard! I would give almost anything for a creek/river/lake/extra large puddle out back.

Hope the neighbor's cat turns up alright. Would love to see a pic of your pup!

newhomebuilder, I am appalled no one picked up your husband in your own neighborhood. Such a shame that people are in such a hurry or so wary these days and no fun for him, either!

My school has already been cancelled for the week and the federal government is closed tomorrow for my husband, so vacation is starting early. Sounds like a lot of us are from the DC area, so I hope all of you get a similar break.

I was re-reading my above post and it looks like I was writing under the influence! I'll have to get better about checking for mistakes when posting.

Yes, it was very un-southern of our neighbors! DH said that perhaps they just didn't see him because they were all focused on getting home themselves. Oh well, he made it home fine. :)

So sad about the neighbors cat. I hope that someone has taken it in and the cat will show up unharmed. That's happened to us before with our animals.

Lovely story of the "accidental guest". That's so sweet. Had it been my 80 something parents, they never would have attempted to venture out in snow that deep. Wouldn't you think they would have called another neighbor to see if anyone had heard about a possible cancellation of the party?

Kat what a great story! They sound like my grandparents! they lived to be 98 and in their 80s still very active!My hope is to be like that! We got aobut 24 inches here and my DD took a bunch of great photos but hasnt downloaded them yet. And my office is opening at noon today. Most people are already off but since I had surgery I am working this week and next. I don't mind I can't do much at home anyway and it makes me nuts. My DH is home for the next 2 weeks cause he would lose vacation if he didnt use it.
I think in some neighborhoods here in the East, folks just don't recognize their neighbors and with all the fear mongering on tv are afraid to pick up strangers.

Katie Kitty is safely back home! My neighbor was so upset (she is in her 70's) and she cried when she asked me to send out a mass email to everyone asking them to help find her cat, so I'm very happy to report that Katie Kitty found her way home!

Cyn, my husband is a federal type as well and won't get any snow days because he telecommutes so they don't get to take snow days. He doesn't mind though, he'd rather be able to work from home most days then to get a snow day. Are you a teacher? We know several teachers in NoVa, one in Centreville and one out in Haymarket. Our schools are canceled for the week also!

LOL Newhomebuilder, I feel like that often with my posts, I wish there was an edit feature on here! The couple who showed up said they thought about calling us to see if the party was canceled but I guess they just decided to forge ahead! I sent them an email apologizing again for making them come out in the cold and ice and they said they had a wonderful time, so it all worked out in the end. I sent them back home with their fruitcake and plate and they said they had a meatloaf in the oven for their daughter and grandson who live with them, so they were fine.

Cooperbailey, we have not one but two 95+ year olds on our street! They are both in great shape. The 95 year old woman lives with her daughter, SIL, and grandchildren but she still comes to every event and is just a little hard of hearing, but otherwise doing really well. The other 96 year old is a man and lives on his own, but right next door to his son and his family. He is truly amazing! He still drives, and seems to be fine, has a beautiful garden which he dutifully tends and I think he even has a computer! He also takes his Dachshund to obedience training!!! I hope I'm just like him as I continue to get older, I'm 46 now.

A funny story about him when we first moved in and he was a mere 94. One day we drove past and he was laying on his side in the ditch near his mailbox. We drove past and I said to my husband "GO BACK George has fallen!!!" and my husband said that he thought George was just pulling weeds or something. I said "honey, clearly he has fallen, look at him he's on his side, you don't pull weeds like that!" so he agreed and began backing up. When we got beside him I rolled down the window and said are you ok George? He looked puzzled, he didn't really know us since we'd just moved in, and said "I'm fine, I'm trimming" and sure enough he had those old handheld trimming shears that everyone used to have that looked like giant scissors! We left and he went back to trimming. My guess is that one day George will be helping us up rather than the other way around, he's my hero!

Here are some pictures of our pups playing in the snow.

They look so fierce when they play, yet they love one another dearly!

Quinn, he's fast, but not quite as fast as our nearly 10 yr old BC, she is still faster!

Quinn giving his "mom" some love!

Kat :)

Oh lesmis,

BTDT -- big house party with all the trimmings and nobody could come at the last minute. Talk about a disappointment, a real downer.
I packaged up all the food that could be saved and put most in the freezer.

We munched on fresh veggies and ranch dip, chips and clam dip and homemade chili beans and moist cornbread with butter and honey right up to Christmas Day and loved every minute. LOL

I re-invited for New Years Day, a sort of open house, drop by and grab a bite to eat.
I pulled the stuff out of the freezer....thin deli slices, variety of breads and rolls, deli sliced cheeses, etc.
We had one heck of a turn-out and everyone had a great time.

Love all the pics!!! Of course, I especially love the FurBabes!!!

But that tree on the porch....I want one!
In the pic it looks 'understated elegance'.
Yep, that's what I want on my porch next year!

We're still digging out after three days! The only one really loving this is our Mountain Dog, Bodi...and believe it or not, our cat!

Kat - those photos are gorgeous!! Sorry to hear that the party you spent so long planning had to be rescheduled though! I sometimes wish that I could experience that much snow just once, but in the south it wouldn't be a good situation :) Imagine what you were describing with people there and multiply it by about 1000 - haha! It's not as if we've ever gotten more than a few inches for the most part, so not sure what people are thinking when they flock to grocery stores, hardware stores, etc buying up supplies to last them for months :) But should we ever somehow get even 12 inches it really would disable everything for a LONG time - for one, the power would immediately go out since it hardly even stays on in the rain, much less snow and ice!

I love seeing all those photos of doggies playing in it also - so cute!! Our current dog would probably love it also, however the greyhounds we had in the past wouldn't have. They were very dainty and didn't want to even get their feet wet - haha! Poor things just didn't have enough body fat or fur to keep them warm in snow :)

Well, at least it sounds as if the party will go on later, so you'll have to give another update then!

Amity, I was munching away on cauliflower last night lol! I hope you didn't get any snow to add insult to injury with your poor toppled over tree and everything you've been through lately! Thanks for the comments on the tree on the porch, I was afraid it might look too Charlie Brown'ish but I really love it too, you'll have to post pics of yours next year!

Colorblind, love seeing pictures of all the pups and kitties having a great time in the snow! Your BMD is too cute! With that sweet face, Bodi would get away with a LOT at our house. Our BC and ES already get away with way too much!! That's so funny that your cat loves the snow too, I can see a little bit of him/her in the photo.

Traci, it's been quite a week, but like the title says, it is hard to be sad when it's so pretty and it still is very pretty! The snow has compacted a bunch and is probably only about 10 inches now, amazing how quickly it goes away. I'm even a little sad that it won't be snowy here for the party, it's supposed to rain and be in the high 40's on Christmas Day. I had all these great ideas for votives tucked into the snow to line our walk...oh well! I can imagine that if I were a Greyhound I wouldn't want to be out in the cold either, nothing to keep them warm like you said! And I can only imagine how people in parts of the south where it's normally warm would freak out at the thought of this kind of snow. We aren't really used to it either but we usually get some snow throughout the winter and people still freaked out, buying everything in sight!! At least our school system got a clue for once and canceled stuff ahead of time, that way people can head to see family and have a few more days to enjoy the holiday break.

Kat :)