Guess we won't be grilling tonight!

Thank you to Heather Brush for writing those fun, engaging blog entries while I was away in the Outer Banks visiting family. We returned to quite the mess!

On the coast, folks were calling the storm a Nor’easter, and it consisted of a very cold rain, which drove sideways off the sound while we darted from shop to shop in the outlet mall. Finishing shopping was not a fun experience!

Howard’s mom worriedly sent us on our way with a blanket, a flare and a bag of snacks — we’d heard about friends stranded for 16 hours on I-81 Friday into Saturday. But fortunately, U.S. 460 turned out to be only wet in some places by Sunday. We even stopped at the Virginia Diner for a few tins of peanuts.

The hardest part was the last 100 yards or so, getting into our neighborhood from Williamson Road. It hadn’t been plowed and our driveway and sidewalk were still buried under a heavy quilt of snow, now compacting under the sun. We had to shovel out before we could get IN and unload the car. But our kind neighbors were already starting to work on the sidewalk in front of our driveway and came over to help us finish some of the shoveling.

I’ll be finally staying in today as I begin a week of vacation until Christmas. I received an early present from my husband – two shiny, new cookie sheets and a new mini muffin pan! I think I’ll put them to good use today baking some goodies for the folks who helped us get unburied yesterday.

I hope everyone else is thawing out and staying safe today. If Heather would like to blog again, I know she will be welcome. If not, I’ll be approving and making comments this week and picking up with the entries again on Monday. Everyone please have a wonderful and blessed holiday.