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Valentine's balloon art by Lee Minnix of Happy Time Balloons

Hey it's Terrific Tuesday again! How's everything in your neck of the woods?

"No mas!" for those who don't know, is Spanish for "No more." I think it could be the rallying cry across the Mid-Atlantic  as far as snow is concerned. Ah, but it could be so much worse and is liable to be if the strong winds knock out power later on.

Valentine's Day is right around the corner. It brings to mind times long ago when we school children made Valentine's boxes, carefully addressed cheap Valentines and gave the most romantic one to the class cute boy. Quite honestly I just signed, "Guess Who?" Out there in reader land some former classmate will go, "So that's who that Valentine was from!" Except I kinda think he had a box full of Guess Who's that corresponded with the number of girls in class.

The year I was in the third grade in Mrs. Strickler's class at Breckinridge Elementary, we had Valentine folders hanging on the bulletin board. Strangely, I can seldom recall where I left my car keys, but I sure can recall that Valentine's Day. I cut out red and pink paper hearts and glued them all over my folder. It was the only year I ever got a prize for my work on Valentine recepticles. The Riley twins as I recollect, generally won with just gorgeous creations. I may have won because my mom was room mother that year. Who knows and it doesn't matter. Maybe it was a piece of pop art afer all.

Yet the significance of that Valentine Day is that I missed the party...an ear infection brought me down. In those days we didn't rush out to the doctor to get an antibiotic. Like as not, one suffered through it until the eardrum ruptured. My grandmother Vesta Mills of Roanoke fancied herself a folk healer. She called my problem a "Rising in my ear."  Her treatment prescribed to my mother was to put warm sweet oil in my ear, stuff it with cotton from the aspirin bottle and finish it off  with my laying with my head on a heating pad until the "Rising" burst.  Then the infection drained out. Ewww! Afterward, the ear was kept filled with cotton until it quit hurting when the wind blew. No joke. That is exactly what happened the Valentine's Day when I was eight years old!

As if that was not bad enough, my mother as "room mother" still had to take cupcakes to the party at school. Gloom, despair and agony on me. Daddy came home early and sat in the living room with me as the  stuff drained from my ear. I watched her pull out of the driveway with her world famous devils food cupcakes with pink cherry flavored icing on top. Tucked in a white coat box on tin foil, they looked like Valentine heaven.  She took a lunch bag full of my Valentine's to place in the folders on the bulletin board. I was a complete Valentine invalid.

Hours, days and weeks passed as I waited for her to come home. Daddy sang songs to me and told me to quit being silly. I guess he could tell his efforts to cheer me up were not working so he skipped to the chase. He went out to his car and returned with a brown bag.  He pulled a red heart shaped box full of chocolates from from the  bag and said "Happy Valentine's Day, Baby Sis!"

In the basement of my house in a red tub, I still have that box. I kept it all of my life. It has traveled across the years as a symbol that even when times are good and  bad nonetheless, that some body out there is going to bring you a Valentine box of chocolates. It'll get you through the rough spots. Mom returned with the Valentine folder and a blue ribbon. My folder overflowed with good wishes from friend and foe alike. Much to my happy surprise she had kept a dozen cupcakes hidden in the pantry.  After we had a stew supper cooked on the wood stove all day, we ate heavenly cherry iced devils food cupcakes.

Both of my parents were good folks. My mother was a straight arrow with a serious side and an often funny bone that Dad encouraged. I was always  a "Daddy's Girl," though. He was my hero for all of his years and not a day goes by that I don't repeat one of his millions of saying--funny, prophetic, sometimes a curse word or a naughty joke. I am pretty certain he was my biggest fan as well. I was Martin to his Lewis. We were two of a kind.

I miss him everyday....

Now a bit of advice from this folk healer of sorts. If you have a friend or loved one going through tough times, nothing works like a heart shaped box of chocolates given from the heart! Chase that with cherry iced cupcakes! Happy Valentine's Day to you and yours!

Valentine Party Cherry Iced Cupcakes

1 dozen baked devils food cupcakes

1 stick of butter, softened

1 pound of confection's sugar

1 tsp full of cherry flavoring

12 maraschino cherries, stems on

1 tbsp maraschino cherry juice

Cream the butter and sugar, thinning with a drop or two of water, until the icing is rich and creamy. Add cherry flavoring and cherry juice for a light pink color. Then liberally ice the cupcakes, form a peak in the middle of each and perch a maraschino cherry stem up on all twelve. Enjoy!

Moments ago the sun and blue sky peaked over Daleville.

The sun just popped out here in Botetourt County if even for the briefest moment and patches of blue line the sky. Roanoke Road looks great!

Here's the latest VDOT road condition update.SNOW REMOVAL CREWS FOCUS ON CLEARING

INTERSTATE AND PRIMARY ROADS

Area roads are in minor to moderate condition; more snow expected

SALEM - Snow removal crews are working to clear interstate and primary roads in the Virginia Department of Transportation's 12-county Salem District Tuesday morning. Early morning snowfall has left many roads in minor to moderate condition. Motorists are advised to use caution if they must travel Tuesday morning. Forecasters expect more snow throughout the day on Tuesday, and motorists should be alert to changing road conditions.

As of 10 a.m. the following conditions are reported:

Interstates 581 and 81 in Botetourt, Roanoke, Montgomery and Pulaski counties are in minor condition, which means they are mostly clear except for some isolated spots of snow, ice or slush. Interstate 77 in Carroll County is clear.

In Giles, Craig, and Pulaski counties primary (1-599) and secondary (600 and above) roads are in moderate condition, which means there is snow on major portions of the roadway.

In Botetourt, Bedford, Franklin, Floyd, Montgomery, Patrick, Roanoke and Henry counties primary roads are in minor condition. Secondary roads are in minor to moderate condition.

In Carroll County primary roads are clear and secondary roads are in moderate condition.

Snow removal crews will continue to focus on clearing interstate and primary roads until the snow stops and these roads are clear. Operators will then turn their attention to secondary roads.

Drivers should:

· Check road conditions before they leave home by calling 511 or logging in to 511Virginia.org

· Slow down and allow for extra time to reach their destinations

· Be aware of potentially icy areas such as shady spots and bridges

· Keep a safe distance of at least five seconds behind other vehicles

· Do not pass a snowplow or spreader unless it is absolutely necessary

The 12-county VDOT Salem District includes the counties of Bedford, Botetourt, Carroll, Craig, Franklin, Floyd, Giles, Henry, Montgomery, Patrick, Pulaski and Roanoke. VDOT is responsible for maintaining county roads; cities and large towns are responsible for snow removal on roads maintained by that locality.

Road condition definitions:

Severe - significant snow or ice on roadway

Moderate - snow or ice on major portions of the roadway.

Minor - bare pavement except for isolated spots of snow, ice or slush

For over 5,000 Botetourt school children it is once again, "Snow Day!"

The school board agenda lists "Amendment if any to the school calendar 2009-10" under New Business as a discussion topic on February 11, Thursday night's regular 6:30 meeting. A budget meeting will be held  prior to the regular meeting at 5 p.m. The  school board may have news concerning how the division will address the loss of instruction time across the board, but it is critical for the block schedule in high school as well as division wide SOL prep. Options will be presented to the school board on how the time can be made up. "The schools have lost six days so far and winter's not over yet," said Assistant Superintendent John Busher by phone today.

Here is a VDOT update from early this morning: Drivers should be alert to changing road conditions in much of the Virginia Department of Transportation's 12-county Salem District Tuesday morning. As of 4 a.m., snow is falling across much of southwest Virginia and roads in the New River Valley are beginning to cover with snow. Equipment operators are currently out treating roads and pushing snow as it falls. Crews will focus on clearing interstate and primary roads (those numbered 1-599) until the snow stops and those roads are clear. Some examples of primary routes are 460, 419, 311, 221, 220, 122, 116, 114, 58, 40 and 8. Drivers should delay travel if possible to give crews time to clear the roads.

Kevin Myatt has the latest weather forecast on Weather Journal.  Winds picking up later today may increase the chances of power outages. Stay tuned for updates through out the day.

What are you doing on this wintry day? At work, play or  building a snowman? Send us a picture! news@botetourtview.com

So, how are your roads this morning? I found the backroads around Fincastle covered with snow, but passable. U.S. 220 had one lane open southbound -- looked like two lanes open northbound. I was going slow but traffic was passing me as if it were a sunny day. And then I-81 was perfectly clear.

Here are some photos that show some backroads around Fincastle, then U.S. 220 around Fincastle and Daleville. You can view them in the slideshow above or in this gallery format.

Got a road condition update? You can leave comments below. Got snow photos? Of course you do! You can share at news@botetourtview.com.

For the latest on snow, check out The Roanoke Times' winter weather page, including weather journalist Kevin Myatt's Weather Journal blog.

-- Dwayne Yancey

Cahoon's Florist in Fincastle turned these two snowmen into pitchmen for Valentine's Day.

Do you have snow photos from around Botetourt. You can share at news@botetourtview.com.

Elaine Mize, of Buchanan, sent in this photo of her children, Michael and Leigh Mize in their fort crafted out of snow.

Happy Snow, gang!

Mikela Lam submitted this photo of Alyssa Marie Lam sitting in presence of a 8 1/2 foot snowman.

Thanks, Mikela!

The picture is of Krista Rosina and Christin Roop with the "snow chairs" by the fire pit at there Troutville home.

Submitted by Joanne Rosina.

Jane Garnett sent us this photo of birds on Bent Mountain.

Thanks, Jane!

Keith Yancey of Fincastle made some bowling pins out of snow and then went bowling -- head first. You can view the photos in the slideshow above or in this gallery format.

Submitted by Dwayne Yancey