We were right bang in the middle of a real snow storm. We knew it was coming and everyone was prepared. It is the most snow they've had round here for a long time.
On monday, all schools, the college, shops all started to close before lunch. The sky was going that tell tale colour and becoming darker. We'd made sure we had enough food and alcohol to keep us happy. Strange how this sort of weather just makes you eat and drink all the time.
The snow started in the evening. Very fine, but lots of it and continuous. It didn't stop till about 6 o'clock the next evening.
It came right up to the front door, up on the covered porch and you couldn't see where the path or road was. Just a white sea.
It was blowing about in all directions, so you would have got wet if you'd gone out. We didn't, but just watched from a very snug house.
This poor bird sat in this tree for ages, being blown about by the wind. I don't know what happened to him.
Visibility got worse and worse and we could hardly see Dominos Pizza, usually so in your face across the car park next to our house. It was closed too. Things really are serious!
The great problem in these storms can be electricity cables coming down, particularly when they get a coating of ice. They have a lot more cables above ground here. We had a brief power cut, but luckily it's stayed on apart from that. Since tonight the wind chill is supposed to take the temperature down to -20F, having a bit of heat is rather important.
We hear on the radio that the university of Missouri in nearby Columbia is closed for three days, the first time in it's history and Interstate 70, the main road across the state between St. Louis and Kansas City is closed for it's entire length, all 250 miles of it, all day. Another first.
Today, we woke up to brilliant sunshine and glistening snow in all directions. Time for the dig out! Our trusty Walmart snow shovel, a recent purchase, came into it's own.
I started and got half way to the road. Since we only have the one shovel, we have to take it in turns. Roland wasn't happy till he had the shovel in his hands and snow was flying in all directions. Apparently a lot of people drop dead from heart attacks every year, shovelling snow. They aren't used to the hard, physical exercise. Not Quinaults! We relish it. It brings out the inner eskimo.
I then very successfully used the plastic dustpan, very effective for the one handed. I think it was nice to get outside and get some exercise after being housebound . All yesterday, through the blizzard, the council road clearers were out, just keeping key roads open. They just use small trucks with shovels in front. Pretty effective.
Today they are all around, clearing with a vengeance. Small bulldozers, little JCB's and trucks. The snow in the centre of town is being scooped up and carted off to be dumped out of the way. Just as well, there is rather a lot of it.
Some people have practically lost their cars in the snow.
It's not too bad as long as you stay in the sun and keep off the icy patches. Deadly and very difficult to spot.
They are pretty good at clearing round here and most of the roads are usable.
The clearing carried on well into the evening, doing all the car parks in town, so that they are usable the next day.
Well, just before all this happened I made the front page of the Fulton Sun. That's fame for you. I was at the opening of an exhibition of famous women of Missouri. I'd never heard of any of them except Laura Ingalls Wilder.
Well that's the last exciting week here in Fulton. As you can see, it's all go.
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