Friday onSaturday Morning

Well to all of our northern friends and readers, happy snowmen to all. Yikes what a snow fall and thanks for sharing all the beautiful pictures. It finally cooled off a little here this Saturday morning after it rained off and on through the day on Friday and then Friday night it almost felt like tropical storm weather with the blowing rain and high gusts. After we left Riverview late Friday night the wind was moving the truck around on the drive across the Howard Frankland Bridge as well as the waves were breaking over the roadway. I surmise this is the lower half of the storm that brought so much snow in the north.

Friday morning found me driving to the rec for pickle ball around 8. We managed to get about 10 players and had a good workout for about an hour or so before I had to have the truck home for Nancy to go to her Bible study at 10. The rain quit for awhile and I managed to get a little garden work in before Amy and Amy came for lunch. Ava entertained us with her constant chatter. After lunch the girls made the hogie sandwiches and salsa we were tasking to the Kuyatt's(Jill folks) to go along with all the food they made as well for the Christmas annual dominoes get together. We had a boisterous gang of players with 15 playing at a time. We showed them a new wrinkle for speeding the game along however by 10 PM we had played only 6 rounds. Of course we ate during the evening; Bobby's soup, meatballs, Susan's special au gratin potatoes, sandwiches, salsa and chips and a large plate of cookies Nancy and Amy made this week. Jan brought a white cake for a late dessert as well. Everything was YUMM. Annsley entertained us as well with her little girls antics and the evening just quickly slipped away too fast. There was much laughter and cutting up. Thanks Brian and Susan hosting us all in your new home. Wow is it ever a bigg'en with a pool as well.

We hit the sack a little after midnight and I think the cherry coke(which I seldom drink any colas) kept me wide awake for awhile. The wind blew hard most of the night and the temps dropped considerably. The yard is full of dead limbs from the oak trees but the garden looks as if it fared the storm well. The sun is out and it will probably be in the 70's before long. Ahhh, Florida in the winter time is delicious even if we have to run the a/c at times. Well I've rambled on long enough. I spoke via land line with oldest sister in Martinsburg, W.Va. this morning they have a rather significant snow fall as well with temp's down in the 20's. Our Mountain friends are keeping us up dated with tons of snow pictures on FaceBook. Our neighbor Gerald is up there as well from Raleigh. I imagine he has his 4 wheel drive tractor with a bucket on the front clearing our nearly a mile long private drive. I remember those days when the snow got so deep and drifted only the mules could get through to check on our elderly neighbors. Our "mountain mom" Helen has informed us that route 21 that leads down off the mountain from Sparta has been closed as well as Interstate 77 from the Virginia line into N.C. is closed as well. About 10 years ago Nancy and I were caught in a storm much like this one where we were shut down in that area for hours before we could finally get back to warmer temp's.Well to be there and not have to go out to work or care for livestock is really a fun time and we envy those who are experiencing this winter wonderland, however I think I will slip on a pair of shorts and go work in the garden. LATER.