Blizzard of '26 :: Round 1

I guess when they suggest on Saturday that Sunday will bring a blizzard... and churches, restaurants, and even bars in Wisconsin (gasp!) are going to be closed Sunday... and that travel was 100% not advised, they weren't messing around. 

The "black roads" in the map above indicated "travel not advised" and I know portions of some of our nearby four-lanes (like Highway 10) were closed. 

Wake-up views gave me a clue why they called it a blizzard and not just a winter storm warning. The crazy wind made visibility a nightmare!

The morning routine was hubby snowblowing us out, then he went to snowblow his dad's driveway, and I shoveled the drifted front deck. The back deck (shown) will not be touched until April at this point!

I realized that the wall calendar in my office doesn't even have spring arriving at all in March. No wonder I saw signs of several seasons today. Here's autumn.

Here's winter/Christmas. Yeah, I'm a little behind at un-decking the halls outdoors.

And poor summer crying like it's a thing of the past that shall never return. Poor summer.

As for spring... I'm convinced Old Man Winter has no heart. This poor expecting mother who arrived with her girlfriends and sisters on the 65-degree day last week does not know what to do. I made sure I scared her a bit so she flew into the woods where there is much better shelter than the few trees in our front yard! Yes, I'm a writer and photographer. We save lives every day. That's what we do. Ha.

A couple hours ago we hit a predicted 3-hour lull in snow so my hero snowblowed a second time for us and his dad.

As you can see, we've accumulated at least a foot of snow so far. And Wausau slightly north of us already has 22 inches! They say tonight could bring another 6 inches here at least. With possible freezing rain just for fun.

It's disheartening to think that after all this snow-removal progress made today that it will all have to be repeated come morning. This really is the meaning of March (very) MADness!

I finally appreciate the true meaning of my new mittens gifted to me from a co-worker. If you know, you know. If you live in Wisconsin or Minnesota right now, you definitely know!

Be careful out there!

Before and (Unfortunately) After

After a very rainy Tuesday, I decided to take a "before" picture of our front yard after work, knowing the scenery was going go change in less than 24 hours.

 

And it surely did. And since they did classify today's weather as a Winter Storm Warning, I worked from home and didn't want to deal with that early morning transition from rain to ice to snow on my commute.

Although we were in the 3-6 inches of snow range, I think we just got like 3-4 inches of really wet, heavy stuff. Thankfully, the snowblower dude in my home office could handle it.

This Bluejay Drive Office has such a talented and committed team! Love it! (And him, of course.)

After work, we both were planning to go to Ash Wednesday service – he was reading at his church and I was singing at mine – but the weather changed my plans, at least. I guess when we're Lutheran we can postpone Ash Wednesday to "Ash Thursday." Either way, it's better to be safe, I guess!

But in between the rain and winter storm, there was some excitement. We went to our boys regional basketball game last night. Almost always it works out that Assumption plays at Port Edwards and gets eliminated from the playoffs from the get-go. But last night we faced New Lisbon. And although tied at halftime, we came away with a 19-point victory. What a fun game! 

So if you're following Assumption sports, our Lady Royals play a sectional game against Pacelli Thursday at Adams-Friendship. And our boys travel to the #2 seed Marshfield Columbus Friday night. 

The weather dudes say we're tracking to hit 63 by Monday so I think we'll be free to move about the country, or county.

Be careful out there!

White Christmas? Somebody's Wishing Hard

Since I actually slept in until after 9 a.m. on my first day of Christmas vacation, I had no idea it was silently starting to snow outside. But when I looked at it, I figured someone somewhere was really wishing hard for a white Christmas. And like the song says, since I had no place to go, let it snow!

Since this is Christmas Eve Eve, I was reminded though that we should be grateful there were clear skies in Bethlehem long, long ago. Today's 3+ inches of wet snow would've made a mess of things.

While the flakes fell, I enjoyed "brunch" and watched a Hallmark movie. (So many to get through in 10 days!)

Then I started the first of many ambitious stay-cation projects: Cleaning out closets! Not as fun as it sounds. But hey, 2 garbage bags full for Goodwill so far!

Probably why I volunteered to shovel off the deck. That and the fact I wanted to test out the Milwaukee M12 heated hoodie from Santa. Wow. I was sweating and it wasn't even hard work. Am loving this already!

Some backyard views, too, out the livingroom window.

Enough snow to cover the tree branches and some of the pine boughs, too. Pretty!

While I did shovel a little, hubby took care of most of the driveway before going to his dad's and removing his slushy mess. After running a few errands in town (including my first of several Goodwill drop-offs) I was grateful for the other thing I accomplished on my first day off today. Finally ordering new tires (and alignment) for my car. 

Really, nothing says Adult Christmas like a new set of tires. Am I right?

Hope you found a reason to celebrate Christmas Eve Eve today! Especially since the real reason for the season is just hours away.

Dreaming of a White... Sand Beach

I think it's been established that I'm a dork. It's also been proven I like to have fun and don't care what people think. Thankfully, Mr. Deck Chair always goes along with it.

Today at work we had planned to have an Aloha celebration to get us revved up to the golf tournament we sponsor on Maui in January. By celebration, I mean a couple thousand employees wearing matching teal Aloha T-shirts and posing in a tropical photo booth – and eating cake. There's always cake for big work parties!

With the snow storm that was coming, a majority of us worked from home today. So we were asked to take pictures of what Aloha spirit in Wisconsin really looks like in December! 

You didn't have to ask me twice! Though I will admit I didn't last long in the flip-flops. 

At least it put me in a good mood. That and the fact that we didn't get nearly as much snow as they predicted. Maybe 4 inches? Light enough to shovel.

Don't worry, I put on boots and even a jacket for that! I may be silly, but I ain't stupid.

Be careful out there! Aloha! 

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like...

Mother Nature's case of dandruff really got out of control while we were sleeping! Woke up to this. Wow.

I won't name any names, but somebody was not happy with this at all! Well I guess I wasn't either.

I shoveled the driveway while hubby was at church so at least I got some steps in today. Then, since it was beginning to at least LOOK like Christmas, I baked some more cookies for our upcoming exchange in a few weeks. And I put the tree up.

I mean I put the tree up. Got the lights strung, but then it was already dark. I prefer some natural light while I hang ornaments so I'll have to finish this another day.

In the meantime, I'll keep getting in the spirit via my friends at Hallmark. Might be able to knock out two movies yet this evening. I know you're on my side! 

Be careful out there!

Well Played, Mother Nature

Honestly, if I hadn't witnessed it myself, I would have been skeptical of anyone here saying we had a winter storm overnight. April Fool's Day, anyone?

But here were our wake-up views on Blue Jay Drive.

Mr. Deck Chair saying "I did not come out of hibernation for this!"

Then 8 hours later...

Crazy, right? But we'll certainly take it. I really didn't need to shovel this morning. Part of me was being nice and the other part was just getting some exercise.

But we literally were in meltdown mode all day so that works, too!

Didn't have anything firm on our agenda. So I did get a little decluttering work started on my Scrap Cave. Instead of buying new storage bins for new crafty things – like Cricut vinyl – I decided to get rid of current stuff I don't use and make room fo it. It was a good start. Catch me at a weak spring cleaning moment and this happens sometimes.

To celebrate – not really – we got shrimp pizza from Two Lakes (which just opened for the season) and watched Final Four hoops action. The pizza was delicious and the second half of the first game proved to be close and interesting. Now onto the second game – with full bellies and perhaps a living room window cracked open for fresh, spring air.

We're not going down without a fight, Mother Nature!

Before and After Olive

It makes sense that they named a winter storm after something I don't like anyway. Olives. The flakes are still coming down lightly here in Central Wisconsin but early reports indicate we probably are the 9-10 inches of snow line here by Rapids.

I was thinking ahead and took before and after pictures. Well, almost thinking ahead. It had snowed a bit Tuesday so the ground was even more bare earlier in the day.

To think this was late February is pretty unbelievable, isn't it?

And then now...

A little bit more on trend with typical Wisconsin winters. And the roads were still crappy-ish when I went into town after work. Ahhh, winter. You've returned. With bells on.

Since school was canceled again today there are no local sports tonight. So I have plenty of time to pack up for Camp Crop-A-Lot. This year I pretty much just have to unplug my computer and accessories, place them nicely in my vehicle and go.

Though of course the back seat will still be full of "stuff" I have to have with. This happens every year even though I know I'm wearing my same comfy outfit all weekend! Good intentions.

And my back feels better thanks to some extra special ointment. Hoping I get through the weekend OK. I got a free pass from shoveling anyway.

If you're out and about, be careful out there!

Need to Preheat

Woke up to a sunny but cold and blustery day. You know the type. Temps struggling to get out of the teens. Words like "wind chill" being bantered about. Not my scene.

Remembering that snow removal is my responsibility, I got out the shovel and cleared the driveway. I was so proud of myself for getting it done by midmorning while hubby was in town. Then I look out 10 minutes later and it's snowing. 

And there's no evidence I toiled for 45 minutes moments before. Thankfully it was light and there's an easy way to remove it.

With a leaf blower! And one operated by a helpful neighbor instead of me. Everybody wins. Or just me.

I'm more of an indoor sport type person in the winter. And by sport, I mean baking. Also known as heating the house.

In advance of next weekend's family Christmas cookie exchange, I made Crown Royal Sugar Crisp cookies.

Only because I smash the dough balls with the bottom of the lovely Crown Royal glass I found at Goodwill a few years ago. Makes for a nice look. 

For the finishing touch, I dipped them halfway into melted chocolate almond bark and added some sprinkles. They're pretty tasty. I've heard.

I'm sure this Betty Crocker level of excitement has nothing on blaze orange hunting stories from today. But you do your sport and I'll do mine. For the record, my oven mitt is orange if that counts for anything.

Be careful out there!

Not all Super Heroes Wear Capes

Super heroes come in all shapes and sizes – and ages. Today, our personal super heroes were wearing winter coats instead of capes.

While hubby and I worked, Carter and Mamie braved the single digits for us and removed our snow. And the neighbors' too.  I knew there was a reason God gave us kids! Well, slave labor and many other reasons. We were very grateful.

But the real super hero of the day is a little boy named Malcolm, who has touched thousands of lives from Wisconsin Rapids to across the globe. It's amazing how even the smallest of humans can open hearts in the biggest way. And today marked the end of his earthly journey.

Read his story here: I definitely couldn't tell his story better than they do.

Just hug your kids while you have them – whether they shovel your driveway or not.

Rest in peace, little hero. 

More White Stuff

Those of you who wished for a white Christmas must have been pretty persistent! We're getting another 3-6 inches of the lovely white stuff this evening and through the night. Hopefully what hubby removed is all we're getting.

Since I did not want to hurt my back further, I stuck to indoor removal tasks today.

Tomorrow's garbage day so I figured I should go through the fridge and all the cupboards to get rid of super-expired food. Yes, I know many of the dates are "suggested" sell-by dates, but if it's super-expired, it has to go. I mean in my head I "just did this" not too long ago. But my eyes saw the expiration dates without a 2 in it. So you know it's super-expired when it ends in 18 and 19. Uff da. 

It made for quite a heavy garbage bag!

Since I was somewhat motivated, I figured I'd move onto Carter's bathroom. Well, the main bathroom, but I never use it since we have one off our bedroom. Anyway, it's been awhile since I've gone through the cabinets. Quite awhile.

Snow was not the only white stuff needing removal today. Did you know dental floss has an expiration date? Did not know that. Probably more related to minty flavored ones, but still. This floss Jenga tower has been in the makings for quite sometime. 

You might think it's hoarding. I just think it's a sign of good dental health. Obviously everyone under this roof visits the dentist twice a year and gets that free little packet of floss each time. Definitely sticking with that story rather than the notion I keep things for no good reason!

For the record, I threw them all out. Didn't want to be around when the Jenga tower collapsed on some unsuspecting tooth brusher!

Also, it's feeling good to tackle a few decluttering/organizing projects each day – interspersed with Hallmark movies of course. I am gradually getting rid of a few from the DVR storage each day.

Hey, that counts as decluttering to me! On a roll!

Setting a Pattern

You may be interested to know that I did nothing of interest today. That's kind of the point of a Christmas stay-cation, isn't it?

My morning routine – which I could set as a pattern this week – was coffee first. Sylvester thought she might like it. Dipped her head into my mug, then thought better of it. "How can sleep 22 hours a day if I have caffeine?" Good point, kitty.

One thing I did accomplish was clearing the driveway and deck of 3.5 inches of fresh, heavy snow. That was a mistake. I was gung-ho but my back is paying for it. Even though I had help from Mike across the street who just happened to be going by with his snowblower. Timing is everything!

Anyway, I've been stretching the rest of the day. Trying to only watch one Hallmark movie at a time to limit my recliner time. And hopefully the tweak will just go away. I have a previously scheduled chiropractor appointment on Wednesday so maybe my mind already knew I'd do something silly to my body this week.

Maybe tomorrow I'll stick to an indoor project like organizing my office or the basement or shake a dice for any room in the house. Plenty to do for the ambitious. 

Guess I better not share any more of my coffee! Sorry, kitty. 

Forecast :: The Color Purple

Since it's Oscar night, let's give a shout out to The Color Purple... nominated for 11 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actress, and two Best Supporting Actresses. It failed to win any of them. That reminds me of a football team that has gone to 4 Super Bowls and failed to win any of them.

That's not a good segue when I'm trying to boast about the color purple...

If you recall, the Wisconsin Rapids area was in the "purple area" on the forecast map – signifying 7-12 inches of snow possible. It came down fast as predicted – an inch an hour at least.

Mr. Snowblower Man said we got at least 7 inches but definitely not a foot. Still, roads were and still are crazy hazardous.

At one point we were in the heart of the "STAY HOME" area! Plow still hasn't gone through, so we will stay home. And rejoice that the color purple finally found its way into the hearts – and driveways – of central Wisconsin!

What wonder-SKOL weather!

Not Exactly Chillin' Out

Some heroes wear capes. Some wear Carhartts.

Was grateful for two things today. One, that we probably only got 4 or 5 inches of snow instead of 10. And two, that hubby is such a skilled snowblower operator that he could handle the driveway all by himself. Did not have to blow or shovel or anything detrimental to my back – which by the way, felt pretty good today. Must have been that long, hot, Epsom salt bath!

While he was doing the very chilly outdoor chores, I handled some indoor ones – including getting the last of the Christmas stuff down. I took it down in the basement to put it away in the closet under the steps and suddenly caught the Marie Kondo bug and thought: Do all of these Christmas decorations under the stairs bring me joy?

Short answer: No. They don't.

So I emptied the big closet into Carter's room (ha) and will put back what we'll keep. For sure our artificial skinny tree and the wooden Nativity set, but the rest is up for debate. It's our seasonal closet so I'm chucking (or donating) some Easter and Halloween stuff I don't use either.

I discovered two boxes in the back of the closet that we must have put in there when we moved, cough, in uhm 2001. The one labeled "Living Room – Fragile" I peaked at quick, just put in my trunk and took to Goodwill along with a few bags of stuff I also haven't looked at in almost two decades and will never, ever use.

The Christmas stuff, though, I hopefully can donate to the local humane society. They have a fundraising Christmas bazaar each year so I'm waiting to hear from them if I can drop off donations now. Otherwise, they'll have to go to Goodwill or end up riding in my trunk for months – like the bagful of purses I got rid of today!

We both took the afternoon and evening "off" (wait, it's Saturday!) and enjoyed a hoops double-header at Assumption. Our girls team beat Pacelli by 30 points and our boys lost in OT. Darn. Pretty exciting, though!

With temps just making double digits, it was a great way to warm up.

So much better than morning laps around the driveway. I mean, not that I would personally know anything about it. But I'll take hubby's word.

Hopefully tomorrow we just chill out without the chill!

Friday's Final Call Forecast

I give the guy who runs the Central WI Weather Facebook page a lot of credit. He or she or they certainly do their research. And when they are wrong, promptly admit it. I'm sort of hoping the non-storm of last weekend will be a non-storm this weekend, too. But it's not shaping up that way.

Earlier in the week, Wisconsin Rapids (right under the numbers 6-10") was closer to the 4-8" amount. Does it really matter once it gets to a half a foot? Not really.

Plus I don't mind hanging out in the purple area. I'm nothing if not predictable.

I did take the afternoon off – but not because of weather concerns. My Friday forecast was back-to-back back treatments. I was feeling like I had a pinched nerve or some wicked muscle knotting in my left shoulder area. Painful twinges and such. So I had a half hour of targeted deep-tissue therapy, followed by a visit to the chiropractor. I capped it off with a half hour Epsom salt bath tonight when we got home from basketball. (Insert old lady jokes here.)

Assumption was hosting Auburndale and they moved the games to an earlier time (starting at 4:30 p.m.) to beat the weather. Sadly, thanks to a running clock in our defeat, we got done when only a few inches had fallen. Still coming down. Swiftly.

I suspect we'll wake up to some beautiful scenery in the morning. From the inside of the house anyway.

Something tells me team Central WI Weather is going to be right this time. All I know is this back is not going to be used for shoveling. Snowblowing if necessary, but I'm not erasing my Friday forecast forward progress.

See how smart – albeit frail – I'm getting at my old age?