Let It Snow... (or not)

Ahh, how we enjoyed snow days in Boise. Snowshoeing with the dogs at Camelsback or Robie Creek Parks. Riding the bikes downtown or elsewhere. Long Foothills runs on snow-covered trails. Even shoveling the sidewalk was fun, inasmuch that we'd stop to chat with our wonderful neighbors Don and Rita Belts, CK Haun and Karen Meyer, or Hobie and Gina Swann. Even though neither of us especially enjoy alpine skiing (a favorite hobby of many of our friends) we found plenty to do and never dreaded a forecasted snowfall.

Let's just say that residents of the Mid-Atlantic region have a somewhat different perspective, one that reminds Kenn of his childhood in the South. There, even the hint of snow - temperatures below 40, a few puny flakes - elicited uncontrolled glee from children and near-panic from adults. Supermarkets would be mobbed as though a the area were on the cusp of a massive natural disaster or World War 3. It's not *quite* that bad here, but all eyes were on the weather radar a few days ago as a storm approached from the south and west, threatening snow, sleet, and the dreaded "wintery mix."

In full disclosure, even the Taters filled a few water bottles and made sure the pantry was stocked in anticipation of spending a day or two without power, or at least without the ability to travel on the area's hilly roads.  After all, much of southern PA is forested, and limbs heavy with ice seem to be magnetically attracted to power lines. And without power, the house we're renting has no heat or water. "It'll be like camping," said Kenn with feigned enthusiasm as he dug his backpacking headlamp from a basement box.

The Taters awoke this morning to 3-4 inches of snow, about what was predicted by the most recent forecasts. 8:00AM found them shoveling their long, hillside driveway (far earlier than neighbors, who seemed content to wait until hired help arrived at 3PM in the form of a tractor with a blade mounted on the front) and by 9:15AM they were tucking into one of Tina's always outstanding breakfasts - scrambled eggs with cheese, pancakes, and grilled ham.  Just like they did back in Idaho.

Snowshoeing in McCall, Feb 2011; Tina & Kenn, Eric & Tobi Mott, John & Donna Hoyne, Jason Crawforth & Jimsi Kuborn