[My] Life in Wisconsin

SnowStorm Isabella

Snowstorm Isabella
Snowstorm Isabella magnify
Taken just as the snow began...
Looking toward the southwest.
I love this shot!

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Good Morning Everyone;

 

First of all, please keep Prattville, Alabama in your prayers... CLICK HERE
My son in law, his wife Lori and my grandson Lawrence live there...

And what a LONG day yesterday was for us.
I awoke shortly after 3. Casey came down about 4- Pain in her back, and a flare~up of her pancreas too. (More than a bit uncomfortable). Still, on a positive note, the holistic meds that Greg has found for her have shown a decent improvement in her chronic pancreatitis.
On Saturday evening, Greg had gone down to Sheboygan for his L.A.R.P. (Live Action Role Playing). Since the storm had not yet begun, he decided to come here when he was done with that. Casey and I were asleep and he played on the computer for quite a while until Casey woke. They talked for a long time.

About 4:45AM I heard the first "sneet" hitting the window in the living room.
("Sneet = snow + sleet).
Needing to go to Suamico for gas for my little snowplow, (and knowing what Mother Nature had in store for us), I decided to get ready to go. I also decided that since the roads would not get better for a long time that Greg might want to get back to Green Bay while he still could since he has to work this morning...
Casey chose to go with him, leaving her car here. (Safer that way).

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By 8:00 WBAY-TV reported that there was an inch of sleet on the roads.
This, on Caseys car, just after the snow began...

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I had "led" the way to Suamico shortly after 5AM.
Gregs car already with a layer of ice on it...
*****And Folks, ...if it's on your car, it's on the roads.

I kept the passenger side tires on the shoulder of the road. The snow and the gravel there providing much more traction than any part of the road could at that point. Punk, (in the passenger seat), would keep looking over at me. Perhaps because I was going so~o~o~o slow, or maybe because the shoulder of the road made for some very strange noise on the tires...

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Knowing that my friend Kelli is never prepared for these little storms, I picked her up a pack of smokes while I was at the gas station; and dropped them in her mailbox on the way home. (She is much like me, and there is always a light on in the house). Still, I thought I saw movement within when I was at their mailbox.
Taking a chance, I pulled in their driveway.
Telling Punk to stay, I opened the door ~and immediately heard "Hello?"
hehehe
She WAS up! (And on her way out to feed the horses)!

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Breezy and May-
Completely oblivious to the sleet,
patiently waiting for their breakfast

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Mays mane almost looks like dreadlocks!

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Kelli needed a few things from Suamico as well. By this time her car had a ton of ice on it. Mine was warm and cleared off. So back to Suamico we went in my car. Another slow trek...

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But we were both home safe and sound by about 7:30...

Caseys car had changed a bit too.

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And I did what any other snow worn Wisconsinite would do.
I tore my house apart.
But please do not misunderstand. I wore myself out tearing it apart. It still needs to be put back together!
hehehe
I did a few dishes. Took out the garbage and the recycles. Did a bit of dusting. And took a nap after I'd watched the snow obscure any view of anything outdoors.

When I awoke, everything had been magically transformed once again...

Even Caseys car...

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Yes, it really IS under there!
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Still laughing...
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Anyone for a picnic?
Or a little Joe Pye Weed?
hehehe
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My driveway is gone!
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The little birdhouse has an added layer of insulation!
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An added layer where I really didn't need it either...
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Nor where Milly wanted it.
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With a few cusswords for Old Man Winter, I picked up the shovel, (already with snow having relocated itself into my boots), and cleared out the front door...

And decided it was time to call the truck. I thank God once more for Jim!
He was here within the hour, and it took him about that long to clear the yard too. I dug myself into Caseys igloo car and got it running (with both defrosters going full blast).
I cleared her car off with a broom. (No way her little car sweeper would do this job)!
Then I started my own little plow while Jim was tackling the second driveway. I tried to clear most of the snow from around her car. Happy I have those chains on to deal with the darned ice under the nosw. Jim ended up having to pull the mother lode of snow away from her car, and I shoeveled the rest out from around the tires. Her car had been running for about 20 minutes at this point.
I still had to move the car with the door open so I could see, so thick was that ice...
But at least with the car moved, Jim could clear that part of the yard too.
He then widened the two driveways, cleared access tio the mailbox and was gone. I spent the next few hours trying to tidy up the yard. It also took me the better part of half an hour to get the ice off Caseys windows... But at least (for now), it is clean enough...

Almost every school in NE Wisconsin is closed. AND, they were closed already last night. Better that way so that parents can make arrangements for the kids...
They say the roads are still quite bad. I have an eye doctor appointment at one. Will have to leave early once again...

Last but not least, I want to thank those of you who worried right along with me and offered prayers for my family in Prattville last night...

Now just one question for you all...

Is it blasphemous or sacreligious for me to have laughed hysterically when I saw this?

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Those of you who recall, know my BVM is about 20" tall,
and she generally looks like this...
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EVEN IN WINTER!!!!
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Have a safe and warm day!

Love to all!

XOXO
Anne

Originally posted on my Yahoo 360 Monday February 18, 2008 - 09:40am (CST)

Prayers for Prattville, Alabama

Prattville, Alabama

As many of you know, my son in law, William, his wife Lori, and my grandson Lawrence, live in Prattville, Alabama.

It is Lawrence's Birthday today, and I spoke with both Lawrence and William this morning. All was well at that point...

This, just out minutes ago...

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Associated Press - February 17, 2008 9:53 PM ET

PRATTVILLE, Ala. (AP) - Severe weather is howling through much of the nation. There were damaging tornadoes in the South that injured nearly 30 people and freezing rain, snow and flooding in parts of the Midwest.

A tornado damaged or destroyed about 200 homes and businesses in Prattville, Alabama.

No fatalities were immediately reported, but two people were critically injured, according to fire officials. Twenty-seven people had minor injuries.

About 9,000 homes and businesses lost power in Prattville.

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Neither Roberta nor myself have been able to make contact with anyone yet. I am guessing that this tornado has wiped out cell phone towers as well as land lines... And am waiting to hear anything.
For right now, I need to get off the computer.

At any rate, please keep them in your prayers.

Love to all.

XOXO
Anne

New this morning...

After calling almost everywhere she could think of, Roberta finally made contact with Williams sister in law late last night. (They live in Georgia, and thankfully have working phone lines).
They were also at Williams mothers to celebrate Lawrences birthday when the tornado struck.

(Thank God it was Lawrences birthday)...

Everyone is alright.

Associated Press

PRATTVILLE, Ala. - The mayor of a town near Montgomery, Ala., says a tornado has destroyed numerous homes and may have trapped victims in the wreckage.

Prattville Mayor Jim Byard says a search has begun for victims after severe storms swept across the South.

This, from the Weather UnderGround

02/17/2008 0306 PM
2 miles E of Prattville, Autauga County.
Tornado, reported by Emergency Mngr.

** 29 inj *** widespread significant damage to
businesses and homes in the vicinity of the intersection
of McQueen Smith Rd and east Main Street in Prattville.


02/17/2008 0310 PM Prattville, Autauga County.
Tornado, reported by Emergency Mngr.

Powerlines on cars in the city... apartment complex damaged on County Road 4.


02/17/2008 1200 PM
Billingsley, Autauga County.

Thunderstorm wind damage, reported by trained spotter.
Funnel cloud reported just SW of Billingsley High School.


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On our own Fox 11 news this morning, Pete Petoniak reported that a mobile tent hospital has been set up in front of KMart in Prattville for mild to moderate injuries.

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My son in law, William Gaither III, is a 'lifer' in the service to our country; having been in both the United States Marine Corp AND the United States Army.

I am sure he is busy with helping everyone else, and will be for the coming days/weeks.

God Bless him. William, I am MORE than proud!

God Bless the wonderful example he is setting for his sons, Blaine and Lawrence.

And God Bless everyone that this terrible storm has affected.

XOXO
Anne

Click Here for the wierdest winter weather entitled
"The whole nine yards: tornado to blizzard"

 
Originally posted to my Yahoo! 369 blog, Sunday February 17, 2008 - 09:21pm (CST)

Miss(ing) Milly

Miss(ing) Milly
Miss(ing) Milly magnify
Miss Milly... as she generally looks at us all!

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Good Morning ALL!

I finally mustered the energy to get my backside outside to plow the yard yesterday morning. It was kind of chilly too, 1 or 2 above zero, with a windchill of about 5 or 10 below. But I was dressed for it too. I called Jim so he could come with the truck and widen up a few of the snowbanks; especially at the end of the driveways.

I never thought I would despise the darned snow like I do right now. SO much of it. Everywhere.

Casey had a recheck appointment in the afternoon for her back- So I was gone when Jim got here, but he sure did a nice job.
Asplundh also came while we were gone and brought another truckload of wood chips for mulch.
(Kind of nice that even when I'm gone SO very much gets done)! hehehe

I awoke this morning to what??? About another inch and a half of snow.
Why am I not surprised anymore???

And the forecast you ask?
Already the bulletins are out for tomorrow...
Posted February 16, 2008
7 inches of snow expected Sunday
The Green Bay area may receive 7 inches of snow Sunday, according to the National Weather Service in Ashwaubenon.
Residents should expect some periods of heavy snow with a high near 31 and a low around 13.
Periods of blowing snow are likely to occur Sunday night
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— Press-Gazette

Blah. Blah. Blah...

I am SO tired right now.
Kind of a welcomed feeling, as I am generally "up and at 'em" once my eyeballs are open. But I think I will go back to bed in short order. I think the new pills that I talked about yesterday might be kicking in...

First though, I wanted to share with you first what happened to Miss Milly when she decided to take off on me the other day...

Punk and I had gotten in the car and had gone 'in search of' her wayward mama dog. I had gotten stuck on the Gravel Pit road...

And we did not find Miss Milly.
I checked at John and Ginny Ryans old place...
At Cathy Ryans.
At Paul Kaspers.

No Milly.

I drove around the block. (And yes, out here it is a very large block)!
Redwood to Big Sky to Pittco to B...

No Milly.

And I decided to go home.

Coming back over the hill, I pull up to my mailbox.
It is across the road from the house, and due to the indecent and illegal speed of the traffic through here, I quite literally take my life in my hands to get my mail.
So, many times I just pull up in the car, to the box...

As I have just come from the west, the mailbox is on my side of the car. The car is facing traffic, and I am as close as I can get to that box. (The snowbank prevents me from getting any closer).

I check the traffic.
Minimal.
So I roll down the window, and begin to pull mail out of the box.
(I hadn't gotten it for a few days, so there are about three good handfuls for me to grab).
There are two small envelopes in the back that I cannot reach without unfastening my seatbelt and leaning out of the window...
I do this, crack the door, and grab these two sassy notes.

Finished, I refasten my seatbelt, and look up.
There are about 7 cars, stopped, in front of me.

What the heck?

I check the side mirror... About the same number behind me.

What the heck?

This has never happened before. Many cars slow down and go around, but they never stop!

I look around, and see no reason why they would all be stopped

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Suddenly, peeking over the hood of the car is Miss Milly!!!

Where she has come from is anyones guess, but I do have to get out and get her...

***Please remember that due to where the mailbox is, I might have all of about 5 inches or so clearance for my door where I am parked...

Unfasten seatbelt once more, and exhale.

I force my ribcage through the door, and manage to crawl out...
(I think this was sheer willpower and nothing more)

I grab the beast.
Somehow getting her into the backseat. (She hates being in a car)...

As soon as I do this, the cars clear.
I drive in the yard.
My heart rate lowers to normal, and all is well.

And I thank God that the 1st car to have spotted her decided to stop and wait.
That is all it ever takes you know, is for just one vehicle to stop, and traffic will stop from both ways.
At least that is how it seems to work around these parts.

Did Miss Milly care?

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Not that I could tell...
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Have a grand weekend!

I have to go nap a bit before my own weekend begins... and I must wake to plow the yard.
Sad that I shall be doing the same darned thing tomorrow too.
And with the winds Sunday night I shall do the same again on Monday...

...I quit.

Love to all.

XOXO
Anne

Originally Posted to my Y! 360 Saturday February 16, 2008 - 07:30am (CST)