First November Storm

They, as in the "Weather Alert" people promised a massive storm for Tuesday. I prepared all day Monday for what I thought would be an exciting time of storm watching. I love a good ole storm, I was even up in the night to check out what was happening. There was nothing then and when I got up on Tuesday morning, it was the same, still nothing. I was overcome with disappointment. The weather alert continued and at noon the torrential rain started. An unbelievable amount of rain for November 19. The snow settled in around 5:00 pm and it was finally happening. By Wednesday morning, it was a true winter storm. Wild and crazy wind with snow and blowing snow. The snow was piled up in a hard barrier on my driveway. I believe it was so I wouldn't leave my garage, which I did not, it was storming. I get pleasure out of enjoying the retirement perk of not having to go out in bad weather!!! 

Part of my preparation for a storm, is to make a list of the things I am going to do while storm stayed. I have to be honest, storm stayed isn't a whole lot different than any other day. But storm days take more organization, and I had done the work to prepare.  

I spent a considerable amount of time checking Facebook to catch up on the state of the highways. Many highways across the prairies were closed. Although closed there were an incredible number of pictures of traffic on the highway.  In Brandon, on #1, there are gates at each end of the city. The gates were down, and the semi-trailers were stacked high in between. Although highway conditions didn't seem to change, they would open and close #1 throughout the day. I understand conditions were like driving on a skating rink in a white-out. As I get older, I wonder what is so important that you have to be out when advised not to.  

Of course, many post this question, "has anyone been on highway such and such and how is it". The storm stretched across 3 provinces; it is doubtful any highway within the storm area would be magically good to travel. Semi drivers take a hit as everyone loves to post videos of them in the ditch or sliding about on the highway. It seems the criteria for highways being bad is when a post says, "I just saw a semi in the ditch".

I set up a nest by my recliner. I had my computer close by ready for writing and to keep an eye on Facebook. I had my notepad to make lists. I had my knitting and my remote for the TV. It was a storm day in my house, and I was locked and loaded. 

I love watching "The View" but I find I rarely do. But on the storm day, I saw the entire show. Those women will say whatever is on their minds. On this episode, Whoopie had to go to a commercial because a couple of the girls were overtalking each other. They are passionate about their beliefs and clearly will scrap it out, which they did.   

I had a knitting project that had a deadline of Saturday. For the first time ever, I was knitting knockers. Every year, one of the Waves girls, takes them to Mexico. In Mexico the treatment for breast cancer is mastectomy. She is gracious enough to donate prosthetics like these. I knit a set in Cup A, B, and C. I actually knit 3 knockers during the storm day and met the deadline.

                                        

When it is a raging snowstorm outside, what a perfect time to make soup. I usually have a chicken carcass or broth in my freezer. Even though I enjoy my time in the kitchen, I am not one of those people that loves to make soup. I do love the smell of soup cooking. I also love using up all of the vegetables in the crisper. I never make soup that requires a recipe, and I only make chicken or turkey soup.  

I rounded out this wild and crazy day with a nap. I have about 4 naps a year. I have no clue what number I am at, but it was the perfect thing to do in a storm. I could hear the wind howling and what better place to be than all warm and cozy in bed, napping. 

As the prairies endured a snowstorm, BC had a bomb cyclone. I certainly hope I am not the only one that had never heard of a bomb cyclone. Is it just me or are we creating new descriptive words for extremely strange weather. I checked it out and this is what I found. A bomb cyclone occurs during the rapid intensification of a cyclone located between the tropics and polar regions. It happens when a cold air mass collides with a warm air mass over ocean waters. A rapid drop in atmospheric pressure can be called a bomb cyclone. Now doesn't that clear things up, if you are a meteorologist. Hence, I remain somewhat confused. The one thing I do understand is that the 170 kms winds did extensive damage.  

Thursday the day after the storm, I visited one of my favorite places. For the first time, the water is starting to freeze. It was so nice to look at the way the ice was forming over the dam. Geese flew overhead and some ducks were in the freezing cold water. I was surprised that they hadn't headed to a warmer climate. The majestic part of this visit was the young buck that was across the river. He had a nice rack of horns which if he gets a chance to grow, will be impressive. He was right in the middle of the city, strolling down the river. Deer are so captivating, and he certainly was. He blended in with the trees, I glanced away once and when I looked back, he was gone. 

I am not sure how everyone embraces a storm. I do think retired people spend a considerable amount of time focusing on the weather. I am so relieved I don't have to go out in horrible weather. I can enjoy watching the storm from my recliner. A retirement perk I really appreciate is the clean-up crew, I call them my staff. It is so nice that my snow is someone else's problem. 

The reality is even thought we are still technically in fall, winter has arrived. It was wonderful to have a nice long fall right up to November 18. People that enjoy a winter sport or activity look forward to winter so much more than people that don't. I don't dread winter; I find it interesting to see what each day is going to give us. It seems we always start off with rain, which turns the streets to ice, and it never seems to go away. Every year we manage to get through the long months of winter, and we will do it again. Prairie people are tough.