I know this isn't a big deal to many of you, but there are real, true snowflakes falling at my house as I type. I don't ever remember having any type of snow at Christmas in Houston. It is making today even more special than usual. And to think on Tuesday I was wearing shorts and a T-shirt.
Now if I could only find my house shoes.

Congrats on your white Christmas, Betty! I wish we could have one here. (so yes, it's a big deal for us) :)

Masaki

Masaki,

Be careful what you wish for! We had about 8 inches the night before last, then freezing rain all day yesterday. Then the temperature dropped, and everything flash froze. Admittedly, it's beautiful outside now, the sun is glistening on the ice. Very pretty. I'd rather be in Hawaii, myself! :cool:

Christmas Eve in Houston 2004 WOW!!!

That is my pool. Couldn't get the palm tree to show up.

[img]http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0SgAbA6wW7lu2Zw5wn5x76!esXumoI*AemwOTxRbr*zRspWnHskRYbsoQWvnQj8Rh3k1TN0rt3uhTvQBMTCN1v2lasZ6fUeIreXkS2SaPkGobxPqyPymEcw/xmaseve043.jpg?dc=4675503013139647993[/img]

Betty, I hope you don't get the inches of ice that we got; we've been iced in since Wednesday afternoon. Slid to the grocery store today, but Christmas has been postponed until the "warming trend" on Sunday (maybe up to 40 that day).

Merry Christmas!

Well, here in TO we don't get snow EVER, but if y'all would say a prayer that it'll snow up at Mammoth Mountain, that might be helpful. We're leaving on Sunday to head up there for four days of skiing. They have 4 to 6 feet right now, but it's been weeks since it snowed so it's all packed and machine-groomed, so it could be rather crispy. But the weather report says that there's a big storm coming in, so keep yer fingers crossed for us!

I use to hate snow. But right now I am envious of those of you that have it. Except maybe Phil.

Merry Christmas, ALL

LeeAnne, we did have a big snowfall here in tbe late 80's. It was in February, the roads were all white - it was amazing!

frankly you can have all the white sh...stuff. I hate it. and we're getting some tomorrow, which will mean i probably won't make it to the city and the museums...sigh.

Arlene,

You have the best museums. Ah, to spend the afternoon at the Metropolitan or the Frick.....

We got about 6 inches on Thursday and the temperatures have stayed very low so we had a beautiful white Christmas without ice. I was so glad that all the roads were plowed between Chicago and here and our daughter arrived safely Christmas Eve. Last night we received just a dusting of new snow.

Snowing hard this morning...giant flakes like a picture falling over the water...forecast calls for 4 in. What to do today besides watch football?

Hi all -- I just had to bump this topic up, because of where I just came from. We just got back from a four-day ski trip to Mammoth Mountain (in the Sierra Nevadas), and you wanna talk about flakes falling? Holy moly, they got over four FEET of snow while we were there! No exaggeration, I swear. The first flakes started falling right when we arrived, and it never stopped for the entire time. And it's still snowing up there! They are anticipating getting between 8 and 10 feet of snow by the time this massive storm is over. I grew up in Connecticut and experienced some pretty major blizzards in my time, but nothing to match this.

The skiing was indescribable. The snow was falling at such a fast rate that you could ski down a slope on pure virgin powder, take the lift up and then ski down the same slope on...pure virgin powder, the only tracks being from those few skiers within eyeshot ahead of you. Unfortunately, it was also f-f-f-freezing, and the wind at times was so strong it actually blew me right over a couple of times. But, while it was snowing heavily the entire time, the wind wasn't always blowing, so there were long periods of just ideal skiing, best I've ever experienced.

We were leery about leaving this morning, as the storm was actually getting worse. (I just saw on the website that the mountain has now closed most of it's lifts due to severe storm conditions.) We'd been taking the shuttle to and from the slopes all week, so our car was literally buried - and I mean, nothing visible but a huge round mound of white! It took us over an hour just to dig it out. We barely made it out of there -- the roads were closed to all traffic unless you had chains or 4WD w/ snow tires. But we were in my brand new Honda CRV :) , which has all-wheel drive and all-weather tires, and I'm happy to say it did fantastic!!

It was difficult at times to realize we were having such a wonderful family vacation during this period in which our planet suffered such catastrophic loss. But we were very grateful to be together, and doing something that we love. And now we're quite happy to be home.

I've got some catching up to do in my reading here, but I'll dive back in soon. :)

Glad you had such a good time with your family, LeeAnne. And, that there was so much snow. I can't even imagine that much snow! See, your new car turned out to be just the right one for you.

LeeAnne,

Welcome back. Glad you had such a great trip!

Betty

Yes, LeeAnne, let me guess, you came home to record rainfall! We are having such a down pour at the moment my rain gutters are all overflowing and I just had them cleaned so it's not because of leaves or debris. Hope that the Rose Parade doesn't get rained on. It's never rained on the Parade!

Hi LeeAnne,

So glad you had fun on your ski trip. Sounds like you all had the best time. I can't imagine that much snow. I grew up in the Baltimore area and remember 8 ft snow drifts.

Glad you made it home safe and sound in your new CRV. I have a 03 Honda CRV and just love it. I didn't get the 4-wheel drive, though. "No, I would never need that!!" The next fall, my SO moved to Ocracoke with 4-wheeling all over the beach. Oh,well.

I spent Christmas in Atlanta this year and heard we got a little snow on Dec. 26th. When I got home on Tuesday, I had to dig my way into my condo. Luckily my neighbor left her garden shovel near her porch. We still have snow on the ground here, but melting fast with 56 today.

Happy New Year, y'all,
Beth

Beth,

Did you enjoy your first Costco trip; which one did you go to?

We "enjoyed" your snow in Raleigh on Sun., but you must have had a lot more in Wilson for it to be just melting today!

My son was on the plane ready to take off for Reno - big weekend, meeting girlfriend's father for the 1st time, job interview and skiing at Tahoo. They closed the airport in Reno before the plane left the gate, so Clay is on his way to the airport to pick him up. He will try again tomorrow. At least he was able to get his luggage off the plane.
I hope it is better tomorrow. This is so important for him.

Our daughter is 4'10" (like me). Her first year at Syracuse University, the snow drifts were more than 5 feet high. Her friends were afraid to let her go out in the snow alone. By the time she graduated, she happily left Syracuse for Florida.

Hi Kathy,

So we changed locations for Christmas!! It was mighty chilling in Hotlanta and traffic was really great.

We got more than 6 inches in Wilson, but nothing in Chapel Hill where mom lives. My biggest problems were getting into my driveway and up the 4 steps onto my porch. Took 4 tries to get in the driveway (oh, for 4-wheel drive) and it's only a slight hill. But our problem in Wilson is we mostly get ice. As I was shoveling the steps there was ice on top and ice pellets on the bottom.

As for my Costco visits (yes, I made 2), I bought nothing. I know you all are so ashamed of me. We packed light and I couldn't get anything small enough to bring home on my suitcase. No coconut shrimp or Santa Margharita. BTW, we went to the Dunwoody store by Home Depot. My sister-in-law did make a wine and vitamins purchase the first time and we got a wonderful hot combo pizza (only $9.95) the next time. Now I know I have to hit the Durham store sometime soon with a friend of mom's and stock up.

Beth

That's "my" Costco too! Will be interesting for you to see if the merchandise is the same in Durham!

Beth, I was up in your territory for Christmas--at my nephew's in Roanoke Rapids--even if you weren't. We'd planned to come home on Sunday, but when the news crawl came over the football game saying 4-6 inches of snow expected that night, we tossed everything in the car and hit the road then and there. I learned to drive in upstate NY, but 27 years in the DC and Atlanta areas have completely killed my snow driving skills. In any event, it worked out fine--no traffic that night on I-95, a most unusual sitation.

Hi Crys,

What luck to get out before the snow! Glad you made it home safe and sound. That storm "snuck up" on eastern NC. As we flew into RDU on Monday we could see an almost line of snow vs. no snow, even from the air. We still have some little patches of snow left here after 6 days.

Beth

Betty,

Was your son able to get into Reno?

Kathy
Thank you for asking. He had to wait 24 hours & he missed New Years Eve, but he is now there. Now I am wondering if they can get from Reno to the ski lifts.
In Houston flakes last weekend & today I had to turn on the air conditioner. I also returned those wintery clothes I bought on sale last week. Will not be needing those this year.
Edited to add: Just watch the local news. 81 today.

It's been pretty wet in California and cold enough to just miss snow. It was in the low 40's at noon time.

For once, we in the mid-Atlantic have better weather than those of you in California! Beautiful here, like a day in early spring! Hope the dormant buds don't start coming prematurely.

Olivia, we are being pounded with rain that is probably heading your way. It still beats snow!

Oh, shucks, I hate rain!

I had the AC on in the car today! People walking around in shorts, Crazy...forcast warmer tomorrow!

We have HAIL, Thunder, Lightning and even (although not right here) SNOW!

Our forcast is for rain the entire week!!!! We had some really loud thunder yesterday and then again last night. No hail that I'm aware of.

Cyndi

You Californians are so kind to send us your weather. :mecry: Lots of flooded roads, especially those that cross washes. Lots of stupid motorists that try to drive across those washes and have to be resucued.
Flagstaff has over a foot of snow already and is expecting about 8 to 10" more today. In Oak Creek Canyon, north of Sedona, homeowners are being asked to voluntarily evacuate due to Oak Creek running way higher than normal.

We desert dwellers aren't used to all this.

Well, this is a new one for around here:

Severe Weather Alert from the National Weather Service

...TORNADO WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ 509 PM MST TUE JAN 4 2005
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PHOENIX HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR... CENTRAL MARICOPA COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL ARIZONA THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF... YOUNGTOWN... SUN CITY... PEORIA... GLENDALE

* UNTIL 545 PM MST

* AT 501 PM MST... NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR GLENDALE... MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL OTHERWISE REMAIN OVER MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF THE INDICATED COUNTY.

IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO... THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL AND DESTRUCTIVE STRAIGHT LINE WINDS.

Yikes! Stay safe, Vickie! (tornadoes scare me)

Masaki

Bumping this to the top....
What month is this?????
It's 72* and sunny! I biked 10 miles and weight trained (bench pressed 90 lbs. today! pat on the back) How long can this spring weather last?