Home Safe Home

The drive home from Minneapolis turned out to be a rather treacherous adventure. With record snowfalls predicted, we drove as far as Wisconsin Dells on Thursday night before the snow started to fall (and we stopped for a lovely dinner on the way, which you can read about on the BURP! blog). Turns out that our initial precautions weren't quite enough; the remainder of the drive home was a serious nail-biter, and it took nearly four hours for us to get home (normally, it's about a 2 hour trek, or so). But, here we are -- safe and sound.

We left the Dells around 8:30am yesterday, and got home around 12:30pm. The snow totals were impressive, even then. But, they've gotten even better in the meantime. Good Friday services were cancelled at church. Roads became impassable. All the progress we'd made toward spring (and melting off that big February storm) has now been officially lost.

This morning, we awoke to a wopping 12 inches of total accumulation. Enough to break records. Not only did we break a record for March 22 snow totals, but we've now officially experienced the SECOND snowiest winter on record. Before yesterday, we were in fifth place.

Here are the official stats, as reported by the weather service:
1885-1886: 109.8 inches
2007-2008: 96 inches
1897-1898: 94.2 inches
1959-1960: 93.3 inches

And here we are, this morning, all "dug out." I'm disappointed to report that we don't have the cool "snow art" on our roof that the February storm brought (despite the fact that this storm actually dumped more snow. But, you'll note that the snow is already beginning to melt in this picture. That IS the one nice thing about a March snowstorm; the snow it leaves behind doesn't usually last very long at all.















Read more about "Real March Madness" at JSONLINE.

It snowed. So, we hauled out the grill.

What could be better when there is 16 inches of snow on the ground than haul out the grill and make burgers?

That's what we said on Friday night!

We ran out to the grocery store to get some bread, meat, and some sweet potatoes (to make fries). Steph came over with a couple of bottles of wine. We poured our glasses, and we headed outside to load the grill with charcoal.

The fire took a bit longer than average to get started. But, once it was blazing, I can't begin to describe how lovely we found the smoky smell that emanated from our little grill. Despite the cold, despite the flurries that threatened to douse the fire, despite everything... the experience was reminiscent of summer.

And those burgers... well, they tasted simply fabulous.

If you've never hauled the grill out in early February after a good snow storm, I'd highly recommend it.

And then there was snow...

The Big Nasty Storm dumped somewhere between 12-16 inches. There was also drifting to deal with. And plows. The snow was Evil Stuff; it blew smack dab onto our house and STUCK there, obscuring our view out of our windows and covering everything with a snowy overcoat. Oh, and it was the wet stuff too, so it was nice and heavy. I'm a bit surprised that Lo and I made it out of bed this morning!

Meet ClaraBelle

MaYbe sNoW isn't so bad after all...

Snowy Days and Soupy Nights

You'll be VERY excited to know that Milwaukee got socked with snow AGAIN this weekend, so there is little doubt that we'll be celebrating a white Christmas this year. Our backs are a little bit sore, and our roads are a little bit slurky. But, overall, we can't complain... too much.

Plus, we're very pleased to announce that Soup Night KICKOFF event was a success! Fifteen souls braved the cold to slurp soup at our place. And we had an awesome time. Thanks to everyone for showing up and bringing sides (and wines) to pass!
The evening featured three soups:

• Broccoli Red Pepper Chowder,
• Beer Cheese Squash Soup,
• and Black Bean Mushroom Chili.

Guests were asked to vote for their favorite soup, and we'll be announcing the winner RIGHT HERE on our blog sometime this week. (Winning soups from each soup night will return for an encore performance during our final soup night in April).

For today, we can tell you that the Black Bean Chili DID NOT win.

And we will remind you that our next soup night will be held on Sunday, January 13th! So, mark your calendars...

SNOW DAY!

Well -- almost every school in the Milwaukee area has called off classes for today. Apparently the university where I work doesn't BELIEVE in calling snow days during exam week (and maybe I don't blame them). But, judging from the picturesque scene outside of my office window, today IS a snow day through and through.

This weather pattern will make headlines as the ice storm that's wrapping its way across the Midwest. Power lines are down in Oklahoma. Missouri has declared a state of emergency. And... it's winter as usual here in Wisconsin.

I'm hoping we DON'T get the ice that is predicted for later on this afternoon. I don't mind snow. But, I can't abide the thought of driving around in the ice.

In any case, I'm considering the possibility of taking a snow day. Right about now, I'd be happy to head home, pour myself a cup of hot cocoa, and enjoy the scenery from inside.