Blizzard 02/10

I thought I was being clever when I parked our jeep down at the train station. I knew the blizzard could blow in and as soon as it was over the NPS would have the lot cleared and I'd be free to go wherever I wanted. I was partly right, but after getting almost 3ft of snow there weren't too many places we could get to even if we could get out. Unfortunately, the very first night of the storm Steve fell and broke his left arm. Trying to stay ahead of the accumulation he would go out every hour or so and clear the steps. I told him when we bought that damn shovel that it was evil, but he didn't believe me. I had pulled something in my shoulder earlier, taken a muscle relaxer and laid down on the couch. I also had Aura our current foster mama laying in front of the sofa with me. Deep dreamy sleep came fast, and just as quickly was interrupted by Aura barking in my face. As I slowly came out of my drugged fog, I realized I could hear someone moaning loudly and painfully. Outside, I found Steve still at the top of the steps and gripping his arm in pain. Off to the hospital we went in the middle of a blizzard. That train lot was never so far from the house as it was that night. Arm splinted and totally drugged we managed to make it back home although we couldn't drive faster than 20mph. I parked back down in that station lot and we settled in for a long weekend of broken arm pain. It wouldn't be until Monday morning that I could get him to the orthopedic surgeon for his compression cuff. Steve still has a long way to go before he's completely healed, but the pain is less debilitating now and his prognosis is great! Our neighbors steps are much like the ones that Steve fell on, but these I had to shovel. Yes, that Evil shovel is now mine. I once tried to make it a chew toy, but even puppies couldn't chew through it demonic shell. Normally I wouldn't mind shoveling the neighbors steps, but a storm like this one could convince me otherwise. Unfortunately our propane tanks are at the top of these stairs and WE have to keep access to them cleared for delivery.

Took me an hour or so, but I got them done. there's about a gallon of sweat on these steps as well. As cold as it was... this was hard work.

Here is part of the path from our patio to the neighbors on the opposite side of the house.

I clear this side so the dogs can have some space to run and of course do their business.

Poor little Moses... he looks so lost down there on the steps. He loves the run just as much as the big dogs though.

So, I finally got to go down to the Jeep and remembered to bring the camera.

I love HF when it snows. The mountains become magical. Every darkened crevice becomes a cave and snow packed paths become secret trails impossible to reach in the heart of winter and gone with the return of spring.

Our winter wonderland... I know I've called it that before, but it is what it is!!

Almost visible, are the train tracks that had fallen silent due to the amount of snow.

No trains had disturbed the silence of the valley and tree still held the snow that had rested upon it branches.

Our location affords us the strange phenomenon of watching the sun set in the east. As the sun drops below the mountain behind our home, it slowly rises up the mountainside across the river in MD. Hard to imagine unless you've been here to see it, but if you have.... you'll never forget it.

The morning after and beautiful sunshine fills the gap. You can see a few misty clouds floating along with the current. No longer are those tracks silent.

As the morning sun started heating the water, clouds of fog began lifting up and suddenly it wasn't only the Mountains that were magical....!!!

I can't really do justice to the beauty that surrounds us here. All I can do is share it.

I love my home, I love WV.

Make the time to come here. Let us know when you want to visit the magnificent place we were so fortunate to become a part of.

I know the snow storm was bad... roads were horrible... families lost power.... some tragedies were much worse. Even Steve and I were burdened with an emergency room visit and he's still suffering the broken arm.

I guess I can't help myself...... I could be delirious from all the shoveling, but isn't it still beautiful?

Make sure you take the time to see the joy of it. It'll be gone soon enough.

Happy Blizzard Everyone!!