Digging Out

We made through a "blizzard", although in technical terms it really wasn't...at least not in Spokane.  In areas to our west and south, the wide open spaces, it was another story, as the new snow and wind drifted some of the major, and most of the secondary, roads closed.  From what I have seen we picked up about 6 inches of snow from Sunday through Tuesday morning, and this morning the temperature out at the airport dipped to a rather refreshing -9!  Up to today this winter is getting off to a start very similar to the winter of 2000-2001, they very first winter that we were living here, in that an early snowstorm (in 2000 it was even earlier, around the 6th or 7th of November) was followed by subzero temperatures.  In 2000 that early November morning was the coldest of the entire winter season...something that I hope will again be the case this winter.  In any event.  The winter of 2000-2001 is most noteworthy in that we had at least an inch of snow on the ground for 114 straight days, from November all the way through the 1st week of March, which is an all-time record.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day.  We have a church service tonight at 7:00pm, and it is going to be followed by a Pie Social.  If you are in the area why not stop by?  The furnaces are all working well, so it will be plenty comfortable indoors as the temperature outdoors drops toward zero once again.  We will probably only get to about 8 above early this afternoon.  We are going to be spending our Thanksgiving holiday at the home of some friends, Carole and Al, cooking them Thanksgiving dinner.  Carole took a spill yesterday at home and broke her wrist, so Kay and I will be doing a good deal of the meal preparation.  That is A-okay with me since then we get to make everything just the way WE like it.  By the time we get home tomorrow evening the snow will probably be flying again.  Somewhat warmer air is going to be trying to push in from the west, but it will be forced to rise up over the cold and dry (more dense) air that is already here.  Upward vertical motion causes the rising air to expand and cool, which decreases its capacity to hold water vapor, therefore producing clouds and precipitation.  That precipitation (snow) will then continue into Friday with another couple-three inches to shovel up by the end of the day. 

Brady update...I haven't seen much of my little buddy in the past week and a half, but I did receive a picture of the little guy so that I can remember what he looks like.

Handsome little devil isn't he?  I think he get that from his grandpa!