Weather Watch

Central now to everyday life is the cold. This morning it went like this: early morning John searched for his little electric heater that warms his shower; found it in Keoni's bedroom where it warmed violin practice the afternoon before--so much for Keoni's sleep-in on a "delayed start" high school morning after the snow "bomb" turned out to be two inches. The boys' dressing goes far beyond the usual "Where are my shoes?" to "Where's my hat...gloves...coat...muffler...?"--you get the picture.

After my first layer of undies it takes me considerable time to crawl into the layer of long johns, pants, shirts, one or two pairs of socks, shoes, and Polartec vest--nevermind all the outdoor wear. Last year when I slipped on the thick snow crust and lay out in the front yard looking at the sky, I knew how Schultz' Charlie Brown felt after falling over in winter.

Of course, driving somewhere presents more time-eating attention. Warm up the engine while brushing or scraping the white fluff or frozen window ice off the car. Thank you, Subaru, for the heated front seats and all-wheel drive. Some days it's just better to stay home. Black ice days come to mind when you can watch the salt trucks whiz by, and the snowy days when the snow plows join the efforts.

Mostly, our road is kept clear. Getting on the road is up to us.

Last Friday--the road is salt-melted ice--the driveway is sheer glass.

Franconia Park has a flooded area for skaters and hockey games.

Headwaters of "Crooked Creek".

Crooked Creek on the other side of the new road.

Early Saturday morning glimpse of the night's snow-fall.

Aidan knows exactly what to do with a good snow-fall. The snowman lost the battle.

By afternoon Saturday, we piled in the car and met Keoni for his recital. Bob de Pasquale is his teacher and the church where this takes place houses a music academy, as well.

Bob de Pasquale.

Keoni at work doing what he loves.

Monday afternoon before the snow "bomb" that didn't happen there was, nevertheless, snow falling; just not very much in our area. Aidan called me outside to see what he'd discovered--every single snowflake is different from the others.

The flakes are better seen with his dad's magnifying glass.