Winter Wonderland!

We woke up to a winter wonderland this morning! :o) A major winter storm system just moved across the southeast. Our immediate area managed to miss the brunt of it, but we still got about an inch of a snowy/sleety/icy mix. Enough to keep us home and enjoy playing in, but not enough to cause a disruption to our electric service. :o) (We lost power for four days in the last major ice storm about five years ago. I was very glad to have the clock displaying the correct time when I woke up this morning!) :o)

So while Chris and the kids puttered about with breakfast and things, I bundled up to take pictures before it all melted on us. :o) (You never know in sunny SC!)

Here's our house with it's blanket of snow . . .

The back yard . . .

And picnic area . . .

A brave little pine branch . . .

Even braver signs of spring . . .

The remains of one of our firewood trees . . . :o)

Our front yard . . .

And the creek. The first thing I noticed about the creek was that it sounded "muffled." There wasn't any ice on it or anything, but it was definitely less bubbly than usual.

We actually had another "flood" a couple weeks ago. Not as bad as the one in December, but around 11 pm, the creek crested the road again. Our bricks which were to be a future retaining wall did not stay put. They are now scattered up and down the creek. Hmmm . . . I think I know what we'll be doing come spring . . .

And I must say it gives me a little feeling of gladness to be able to park the van under covering during an ice storm. :o)

It's pretty, but it's COLD.
I'm very glad to enjoy it small quantities once or so a year. :o)