Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Snow In Georgia! Stuck In Georgia (Could be Worse!)


Well.  That was interesting.  We did have snow here in Georgia, as predicted.  However, since Monday was so warm and Tuesday morning, seemed fine too...everyone went to work.  Around lunch-time, when it began to snow, everyone was told to go home.  Immediately, all the roads were clogged with traffic and many were in their cars for HOURS on the roads and  highways.   Many people left their cars and walked where they could, some seeking shelter at all night grocery stores and fire stations.  Some schools had to keep their students overnight, since the buses were unable to get to them to pick them up and take them home. I heard that some school buses did not get the kids home until well after midnight last night.
 
The roads are very icy and since a good many of our roads are very hilly and curvy, this makes for some very impossible driving conditions.  And all the trees here means that the roads are very shaded, so when the sun does come out, it doesn't reach a good portion of the road surfaces.

Me?  I am perfectly fine.  Richard and I are both home, both of our companies are closed for the day and we are just watching the birds out our window  I made a really nice spinach quiche with a fruit salad (with strawberries and blueberries from the freezer-ones that I picked myself in May and June!)  And you know that Richard took photos for you, of course!
This is the view from our front door today, Jan. 29th...15 degrees, FAHRENHEIT.

This is the same view on Monday, Jan. 27th and it was 59 degrees!
 
Our Christmas cactus always blooms late, how do you like that bright pink bloom? It perfectly matches the knitted scarf that I won from   Silke Powers
in her giveaway last year. Thanks, Silke! I really love this scarf, I love the color and it is so soft and warm, like getting a hug from a sweet friend.
 
Male cardinal (posing with chipping sparrow.)
Female cardinal  ("Do I look cuter if I lean to the right for you?")  Answer from me: I like you however you pose!
 
When it was so warm on Monday, I took this photo of the violas
outside our front door. Look at that bright sunshine!  Never mind, it will be 64 degrees by Saturday! 
Snow, you really are pretty.  Now, MELT!
 
 
The sun only made a brief appearance today, and I like the way it came through the slats of the fence. The sun looks so pretty on snow, such a wondrous sparkle. Look for beauty everywhere! 
 

38 comments:

  1. Dear Kay,

    How fun to see the scarf with your blooming cactus. And all that snow! We didn't get any - just rain and ice. And another fire in the fireplace! :)

    I've been following the traffic disaster in the Atlanta area. Wow! It seems that could have been prevented. Here in Savannah they were overly cautious, sending everyone and kids home way before the temperatures got freezing. I'm glad!

    Now the bridges are closed off the islands and I am warm and comfy at home. Hard to believe that by the weekend, we'll be in the mid 70s here...

    Stay warm, dear friend! Love, Silke

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Silke,
      The lovely scarf is even prettier than in the photo, as you well know!
      Sorry you did not get any snow, it really is pretty.
      Stay warm by your nice fire! Love, Kay

      Delete
  2. Kay G.- Nashville feels like Oslo on the Cumberland. This is the worst winter I can remember!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know, Betsy, it feels so strange to be informed of "frigid air" on the way, I am thinking I am getting a new fridge! HA!

      Delete
  3. Wow - that is some crazy weather. And so sad that the kiddos were stuck at school! I know that if it snowed like that in Arizona none of us would know what to do with ourselves! Your time at home sounds very cozy though!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey Deb!
      It was bad for so many people, my husband and I were lucky.
      We had a very cozy day just watching our birds!

      Delete
  4. How hard for everyone. It was a topic of conversation today at work. We've been in the deep freeze but we're going to be back in the 20's and 30's soon, so it may not be 59, but I'll take it! I'm glad you and hubby are fine and I hope you enjoyed this little white gift from up north. I could send you more if you like! No?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh no, that's okay....I will be so nice, I will let YOU keep all that white stuff! :-)

      Delete
  5. We've had cold and ice, but no snow. What stuck, and what the kids played in, was actually ice. And we are ready for it to go, too!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Back when Georgia was still in the South, I remember trying so hard trying to make a snowman out of just the smallest bits of snow and ice! Still fun though!

      Delete
  6. Enjoy the snow while it lasts! Just don't drive anywhere, LOL!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love your pretty photos! I tell you it has been rough here! Glad you are all home.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! My son lives and works in Cobb County so I know it was rough for you. Be careful of the ice!

      Delete
  8. I haven't quite understood yet what caused the bigger problem - people all being on the road at the same time or the actual road conditions?
    Your (Richard's) pictures are beautiful as always - love the "sun" and "snow" comparison of the same view, and of course the dear little birds!
    Good job you were both home, and hopefully it wasn't so cold in your house that you had to wear your mittens again :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Both-everyone leaving jobs and schools at the exact same time and the snow falling on very warm roads, which melted immediately but then froze since the air temperature was so cold. The state highways also have loads of huge semi trucks which are passing through Atlanta, many of them jack-knifed on the icy roads and blocked lanes of traffic. There were over 2000 cars abandoned on the highways. And that is not a typo, over two thousand. Boy, I am telling you, I hope that we don't see the likes this again!
      Oh, and I took all these photos except...the second one and the last one...I just noticed those are the best ones! And I haven't worn my gloves lately!

      Delete
  9. Glad to hear you are in where it is warm and cozy. I love your pictures today. The birds, the flowering cactus and especially the pansies!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Richard always makes sure that he gets some violas (tiny pansies) for me and I love to photograph them!! The cactus flower is so huge and so bright pink, it just makes me happy!

      Delete
  10. We moved to Central Alabama in July and we, too, got a good dusting OVER the ice. It made for happy kids (no school for two days), frolicking dogs and a family that is soooo happy we made the South home. I have been pretending to be Caroline Ingalls and baking like crazy and making meals from scratch since we are in no rush to go anywhere!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Welcome Amber!
      Thanks very much for becoming a new follower! You have made my day! Truly!
      I just looked at your blog and what a lovely blog you have! I am sure you will love living in Alabama, your house looks lovely!
      Thanks again for following! I love your photo, what a cute hair-cut!

      Delete
  11. Love your pink cactus, and the birds. I love to watch them out my window. I am an hour south of Atlanta and our roads are icy and snow still everywhere on this Thurday morning. Staying in and keeping warm, hope you are safe also.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We are east of Atlanta, and our roads were fine today. Yesterday was a different story! Glad you liked our late blooming Christmas cactus and birds! Take care.

      Delete
  12. Our volcanoes on the Big Island have snow, too. None at sea level where I live, of course. Love your photos!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah, Hawaii, the big Island....I used to have customers bring me Kona coffee back when I sent them there. (I was a travel agent for years.)
      Sorry, you just made me think of it!
      My sister worked at a ski resort in Australia years ago. It's hard to think of snow in Australia too!

      Delete
  13. Hi Kay....I keep reading all these disastrous stories about ATL in the news.....whew.....that is craziness! Here, the schools were closed early and the snow didn't begin until around 4 PM so it all worked out just right. School is still closed though even though the roads are perfectly clear ~ and that does NOT make me happy! Grrrr. Since Christmas, I've only had 3 days of normal school schedules for BOTH girls. THREE. In a month. Can you see that I'm in desperate need of some MOM TIME? So, even though I love the snow, I'm ready for it to get out of here. Glad to hear you and Richard stayed snug and warm and enjoyed the birds. We've been doing the same here!!! :-) XOXO

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey Audrey!
      This snow is not something that we will forget in a long time! Hasn't this winter been crazy? 3 days of normal school schedules? I totally understand that what with holidays and cold and snow!!
      Take care, hope to be able to show more photos of my mountains soon!

      Delete
  14. Doesn't look like Atlanta handled the snow very well. Our area made the decision early to close schools and encouraged nonessential people to stay home. We' ended up with no snow, very little ice and no problems.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Atlanta's traffic is terrible at all times but with icy roads and people leaving jobs and schools at the same time, that made it crazy. I am grateful I live in the suburbs!

      Delete
  15. That is truly a scary thought of kids being in school buses that long in the cold. Your photos are beautiful and I especially like the cactus and the violas. Really, I like all of them. :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know, just think of how worried the parents would have been about their kids!
      Thanks for liking the photos! I took most of them! :-)

      Delete
  16. That makes the changes in temperature here in New Zealand seem very tame. The only time I've experienced anything like that was in Canada in 1992 when it went from -26ºC to +6ºC overnight and as the deep snow melted it caused significant local flooding.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We have sharp drops in temps like that quite often. Sometimes people are caught unawares and that is why you have to watch the weather news here!
      They really do try to warn folks!

      Delete
  17. I'm so glad that you passed a pleasant snow day break from the grind! I enjoyed your photos ~ the first one was precious! Can you tell ~ I'm forever playing catchup! Have a lovely weekend ~ and kudos to Richard for taking these photos. You have such a great husband!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Richard is a great photographer and husband!
      Hey, I took most of these photos! Of course, my favorite ones are the second one and the last one, and he took those two! ;-)

      Delete
  18. Like the cardinals. Just as well you went for bread and milk after all. I always feed the birds extra rations when there is snow on the ground..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The cardinals! Are they not the most beautiful birds? We don't get snow like that very often here, and we were surprised at how many birds came down for the seeds and the bits of bread we put out!

      Delete
  19. I LOVE the color of your Christmas cactus. Ours bloomed late too this year. We only have the white variety though. I'd much prefer your pretty fuchsia one.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Kay! And you know, I am glad that ours always blooms in January, it's nice to see that bright color in the cold days of January!

      Delete