Good News after some Bad News!

Our Home the morning of Feb. 13 (6:30 am) after our 5+ inch snow

Well---unless you have followed me on Facebook or heard from me this past week,  you may not know that our special Valentine's Trip had to be cancelled!  We had reservations to go to Cashiers,  North Carolina, to stay in a quaint little inn there in the mountains for a few days.  We had been looking forward to this trip since we were going to do some hiking and searching for waterfalls.

If you followed the weather talking about the horrible winter storms in the south,  then you'll know that Cashiers was in the path for 14 inches of snow plus ice plus power outages, etc....  Yipes!!!!  We couldn't get to Cashiers... We were SO disappointed!

Luckily for us though,  the owners of the inn allowed us to change the dates... SO----we'll get to go again at a later time!!!!  Great News (after the bad news),  don't you think????  We have never been there but it looks like an awesome little inn in the mountains. 

The other good news we had this past week (besides our fabulous Valentine's Day Celebration which I shared with you on Monday) was that, after almost NO snow here this winter,  we FINALLY got the 'perfect' snow (2/12-13).   It was part of that same sytem which crippled the south ---yet we just got the snow here, and nothing severe.

We got FIVE + inches (measured on our deck table) of beautiful wet snow which clings to everything.   This is 'my' kind of snow because we can get gorgeous photos.  The temperature was not too cold ---so we could get out and take a nice, long walk.  AND---the best news is that the sun came out the next day and much of the snow is already melted..... Like I said,  the 'perfect' snow!!!!!!

Today,  I'll show you some of the photos I took the night of the 12th and then early (6:30 am) in the morning on the 13th...  In another post,  I'll share photos from our walk later that morning--after the sun came out.  Get another cup of coffee and sit back and enjoy my snow photos from the comfort of your WARM home!!!!!

Above is one of my favorite photos of our home after the snow... Below are more taken during or after the storm... Be sure to click on them for enlargements.

Our big Rhododendron just as the snow was beginning to come down heavy (afternoon of the 12th)

After dark,  the snow was really coming down hard!!!  I was so excited!

Our Holly Bushes near the front door--early the next morning

Our front yard looking toward the Pink Dogwood Tree (which is now a White Dogwood)

You can see our Azalea and our big Jasmine bush--but the sidewalk is covered!

The lower side of our home;  I love seeing the flag blowing in the breeze.

Looking down our road;  Obviously the roads here were in bad shape!  Luckily, we didn't have to get out ---other than to walk!

Looking at our front yard toward the upper side;    See those sticks?  That's some of our Roses... Think we'll get some blooms now????? ha ha.... NOT til Spring!!!

The wet snow was clinging to everything.  This is one of our Redbud trees.

A photo of our lower side yard;  you can see the woodpile down there.. I'm glad that George had some dry wood in our garage!!!

Want to come and sit on the bench for awhile?????   I think NOT... ha

Our Backyard --looking toward the golf course;  The table is where I measured our 5+ inches.

Our upper side yard --looking at the snow-covered blocks of one of our flowerbeds

Lots of snow clinging to anything it can!!!!

Here's one more photo of our home in the pretty snow!

Hope I didn't bore you with all of these photos.  I know that many of you have way TOO much snow in your area --and I can certainly understand why you wouldn't like snow.  My sweet hubby grew up in Indiana and had his share of snow growing up... But--I'm from the SOUTH.  I have never seen too much snow... SO---when we do get one like we did this time,  I LOVE it.... 

BUT--I will end with a big statement:  Now that I've had my 'snow fix' ---I am truly ready now for Spring... SO---bring it on!!! ha ha

Hugs,

Emoticons

Betsy Got SOME!!!!!!

The Rhododendron in our backyard, near the deck and Bird Kitchen

Well----Hubby is happy!!!!  We finally got a 'pretty' snow!!!! I love snow and we haven't had much at all so far this winter... And --when we've gotten it, except for one small one,  that kind of snow has been the dry kind which just blows around.

The type of snow I love is a WET snow which clings to everything..  That is just SO pretty--even when it's only about a couple of inches... I also 'prefer' (ha) that it snow during the daytime --when I am home, sitting by the fireplace and can watch it come down... This one did just that!!!!!   SOOOOOO------

Hubby is happy for me ---but now hopes that Spring will come soon.  George grew up in Indiana where they had LOTS of snow.  He doesn't like it AT ALL.  But--since he's such a good husband,  he knows how much I love it and was happy for me on Tuesday (Jan. 21, 2014).   I have always lived in the south --and have seldom seen much snow.  SO---I keep saying:  Bring it on!!!!  (The frigid temperatures we have been having are NOT my idea of fun though... Guess I can't have it all!)

Today,  I'll share with you (I know that you KNEW that this post was coming--ha ha) some photos I took around our home/yard that day.  Hope you enjoy the photos.  Be sure to enlarge them for bigger shots.  (Apologies to my northern friends who have had more than enough snow in their areas!)

I call this a 'white out' --as the snow POURED down on us!

Another photo looking into our backyard toward the golf course fairway

Another photo of our Rhododendron, as it continued to snow!  (That is the heated birdbath.)

Our Holly Bushes in the front of the house

This is a photo of the bushes in our neighbor's yard (on the upside of our home);  I can see this from my kitchen window.

I love it when snow collects on all of the trees/limbs.  That is one of our Redbud trees in the front yard.

That is a photo showing how heavy the snow was at that time.  This is the neighbor's home across the street.  They live in Michigan and are seldom here.  (Can't believe they are not here now instead of being in Michigan!!! ha ha)

Here's another photo of the Rhododendron --after it continued to snow.  (I took these photos at different times during the morning.)

Here's another photo showing the neighbor's yard above us...

Our flag in the front yard;  I love seeing the colors when it's snowing!

Finally --this is the next morning!!!!  I love seeing that blue sky and the white ground with shadows!!!!  Glad it is OVER ---but it's still very COLD outside!

Hope you enjoyed my Snow Photos.... It wasn't a big snow --but it was PRETTY to me!!!! On Monday,  I'll share some photos of my Backyard Birds this week at the Bird Kitchen. They are eating LOTS and LOTS ---and I feel sorry for them in this cold weather.

Have a great weekend.  I'll see you on Monday.  I'll be working on my Family History this weekend.

Hugs,

Emoticons

Icy Cascade behind our Home

We haven't had much snow so far this winter---but it has been COLD.   I walked outside on Saturday afternoon and took some pictures of the iced-over cascade behind our home.  Hope you enjoy these photos today!   (Wish I had SNOW pictures to share---but no such luck!!!)  But --the ice is a nice change!!!!

The first four photos show all of the ripples....  If you look long enough at some of these photos, you can make out designs!!!!!!   Be sure to click on the photos for enlargements.

I love this one showing the ripples as they flow down those rocks.  I can imagine the water flowing here ---and it just STOPS when it freezes... It's like it is 'frozen in time'.

Here  is a close-up of the photo above...  Amazing ripples and designs,  isn't it????

Here it is EVEN closer.... Just amazing!  OH---the things I have learned to LOVE now that I love taking photos (especially macros)! You can see so much more in detail.

These next two photos show some of the icicles.

This is one of my favorite shots --showing the icicles...  Looks like we are in a cave looking at the stalactites....

Here  is a little left-over snow sitting on top of the ice.

You can see the back of our home from here....  We can actually see this cascade from our home ---and it's fun to watch after a hard rain, and of course,  after a very cold spell. (Can you see the smoke coming from our chimney????)

I zoomed in toward the house a little in this photo.  You can see the smoke a little better in this photo.   (That round thing in our backyard is the top of our birdbath.  It will crack if it gets ice in it in the winter, so we turn it over to keep the water out.  I do have a heated birdbath on the deck for the birds in winter.)

Finally, here's a photo showing the entire cascade....  I love the way those rocks are formed ---making it truly a nice little waterfall  (our own of course)... ha

Have a wonderful day.   I have been knee deep into Family History... SO interesting!  BUT--I'm taking a break from that today --while we travel to the SMOKIES to do some hiking.  Maybe we'll see a little snow there --since we aren't getting any here at home!!!!

Stay warm.  There's another frigid cold front coming through on Tuesday --but no snow I don't think, other than flurries. We're getting the horribly cold temperatures this winter --but no snow... Boo Hiss!!!! ha

Emoticons