We had about 1/2 inch of snow that "stuck" here in the Central Savannah
River Area late yesterday afternoon and early evening. Very early in
the year for even a trace of snow. When I took the gang-of-four out for
"last call", there was a delicate trail of paw prints of a small cat,
probably an older kitten, in the snow on the deck.... a polydactyl with
an extra toe on each foot....

15 yo Louie, who had some tracking training in his younger years,
smacked his nose down and took off along the track at brisk speed, the
other two Border Terriers hot on his tail. Together, they sounded like
an old vacuum cleaner on a binge of some sort.... Berry, the
not-a-terrier-but-heaven-only-knows-what, follwed them all, looking
confused, then broke off to spend her penny and be ushered back
indoors. Took the others some time to be Certain that there was no cat
still in the yard, so I ended up having to round them up, tromping
around in the wet stuff in my fuzzy jammies, slide-on slippers, fuzzy
socks, ear muffs and down-filled jacket. Ya never know what you'll see
in my backyard in the wee hours right after midnight....... GACK!

I need to start Eugene on tracking......

Jo Wolf
Martinez, Georgia

"Jo Wolf" wrote

We had about 1/2 inch of snow that "stuck" here in the Central Savannah
River Area late yesterday afternoon and early evening. Very early in

18-20 inches here. Norfolk Va area.

(snippies)

indoors. Took the others some time to be Certain that there was no cat
still in the yard, so I ended up having to round them up, tromping
around in the wet stuff in my fuzzy jammies, slide-on slippers, fuzzy
socks, ear muffs and down-filled jacket. Ya never know what you'll see
in my backyard in the wee hours right after midnight....... GACK!

LOL! Thanks for the distraction! I tried to get to work a bit ago and
slipped in my own driveway getting to the car. It's now packed ice about
3-4 inches deep on all sideroads. My driveway isn't as bad as we cleared it
but hit a no-seeum patch and whoosh. Family helped me back in and I'm
staying home and hoping it isn't too bad.

Meantime, Cash is loving the snow but Mabel is less enthused now that it's
melty wet stuff. Yesterday though she had a blast making tunnels as the day
went on. I'm guessing from how she acted, it's her first deep snow? Once
she saw Cash running and jumping all over it, she followed suit.

Egad! OUCH!

Down here, a half inch is an Event. An inch is worrisome, and 2 inches
or more creates a near-disaster. No chains, no snow tires, few with
snow/ice driving skills, but many with 4-WD SUVs who THINK they have the
driving skills and tools. One road grader, maybe 2, in the county....
no snow plows. Maybe three trucks that can drop sand and salt. When I
was still working, and living in the Deep South, I would leave for work
2-3 hours early when we had a rare snow.... and creep along.... watching
the fools spin out.... But I always had a clear driveway..... something
learned as a kid in Ohio. Lawn fertilizer does a marvey job of melting
snow and ice on pavement..... and a 20 lb bag of clay kitty litter in
the trunk can be Most helpful..... I still have a snow shovel; the only
one in the neighborhood, I think. That's what keeps us from getting
really dumped on, of course.

Jo Wolf
Martinez, Georgia

"Jo Wolf" wrote

Egad! OUCH!

Down here, a half inch is an Event. An inch is worrisome, and 2 inches
or more creates a near-disaster. No chains, no snow tires, few with
snow/ice driving skills, but many with 4-WD SUVs who THINK they have the
driving skills and tools.

Lol! Sounds like here. We are actually zone 7B due to being 'protected'
weatherwise but every now and again, we get a 'dump load'. A bit more
clearing gear but they haven't done the side roads. It's 17F right now so
you can imagine how the roads still are. They haven't even cleared the
ramps to the interstates. Fortunately it's supposed to get up to 45F today
so the roads may melt off mostly.

the trunk can be Most helpful..... I still have a snow shovel; the only
one in the neighborhood, I think. That's what keeps us from getting
really dumped on, of course.

Yup! Keep the snow shovel! I'm going to get one too (snicker).