Tuesday, March 14, 2017

Stella goes "Pfffft" for us.



Well we seem to have survived "Winter Storm Stella", aka, the perfect storm that wasn't.   If it were the perfect storm, it would have been named  "Winter Storm Shelly".  Like the actress with great potential, it never lived up to its promise.

I should have known better.  These Baltimore meteorologists  have been chomping at the bit for a weather event and when looks like it could happen, it was "Oh, LAW! THE WHITE DEATH IS COMING!"

Turned out to be a normal winter's day for us.  Northwest in Carroll County and into the Appalachians got snow.  So did everyone else up into Nova Scotia.

But the people around here PANIC when you mention snow.  And with some good reason:

  1. Noreaster's can be brutal weather fronts.
  2. Noreaster's can dump a ton of snow on you. 
  3. No one in the mid Atlantic knows how to cope with snow.  They don't know how to plow it, shovel it, drive on it or dress for it.  


I knew last night that this wasn't going to be much of anything because the two tiny four-footed weather forecasters in our house, Kevin and Rocky, where up and about and seemed rather nonplussed.

Usually when there is a storm to be had, they hunker down, are not perky and are more sleepy than anything.  But these guys were, at seven, like "Let's go for walk!" and playing tug-o-war. At eight nothing had started.  By ten something was coming down - fine dust-like snow.

Not even bad enough for board games.
When a storm doesn't start until two hours after the expected time, something was up, and the mammoth storm appeared to be going down for us.

So, all told, we have less than six inches on the ground, and some icy spots.

The worst part of the nonevent happened at 1PM today when the glacier and snow pack on the roof of the house decided it too was done with it and released.

If you have never been in a house, with a slate roof, when the ice and snow on the roof decides to let go, you are really missing something.  Unlike an asphalt roof which has a gritty texture, slate roofs are relatively smooth.  They also suck up the UV light energy, and the heat from the house below and layer of water forms from the melting snow, and that acts like a slip and slide.  Normally, things called "ice stops" are supposed to keep everything together, but the fact is, unless they are brand spanking new, they're no match for the glacier's weight.  And when that happens, the noise is like a train is approaching your house and the building shudders, followed by silence.  Outside, there is fresh pile of snow.

Awe, you shouldn't have, House.  No, really...

Anyway, it always catches you by surprise, and because the weather here is not Siberian, we kind of forget about these events until they happen and you have an "Oh, yeah," moment.

I have a roast in the over and now the dogs have crashed, which is their normal routine.  I spent the day scanning pictures (160 done, BOOM!) and making a roast.  My two new Flip and Folds arrived so there was a folding festival!

The silver lining is that we don't have to put up with Baltimore lousy snowplowing.  It is really pathetic.  It's like they hire blind people to drive the plows, or trained the seeing ones on a game of "Tickle Bee".

The husband is working from home today and goes back in tomorrow.  And it is back to normal tomorrow for Cookie, too.


7 comments:

  1. 6" of snow/ice/snow here too. snowplow guy came in around 1:30p; zip zip tang 15 minutes and done plowing driveway/sidewalks/salting. spouse and I had a snow day. back to work tomorrow.

    I had to look up "flip & fold" but not "tickle bee"!

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  2. Same here Cookie. It is always a tell tale when it is a major hype and like you said, states late. Reminds me of the movie, Much Ado About Nothing.

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  3. Stella, Doris... They're all the same, these promising starlets - all hype, and then their career's in the doldrums. Jx

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  4. I'm in DC and the storm was a serious disappointment. I actually came into my office yesterday. On a (sort of) related note, what kind of scanner are you using for your photos? I have a bunch of old photos (various sizes) I'd like to scan and have done some research but the personal recommendation is always best.

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    1. Epson ff-680. It is really expensive. Worth every penny.

      http://thatgenealogyblog.wordpress.com/2017/03/08/tons-of-pictures-to-scan-here-is-your-easy-way-out/

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