Hunkering Down During the Storm

Well, last night's snow amounted to only two and a half or three inches. Then it was quiet all day today, except for a fairly strong wind. Still, since we had completed our preparations yesterday, we didn't venture out today. A neighbor (not the same neighbor who came to our rescue here) came down with his tractor and scraped our driveway during the lull.

Then, about mid-afternoon, the snow started again. It's expected to snow all night tonight and all day tomorrow. The projected accumulation is four to eight inches of a combination of snow and sleet. That, in itself, wouldn't be disastrous; but it's being combined with very strong winds and very low temperatures. Consequently, we have been officially upgraded from a Winter Storm Warning to a Blizzard Warning.

So there's just nothing for it but to hunker down and make the best of it. And here's how I'm hunkering:

First, I made a crock pot full of Stuffed Green Pepper Soup. It may not look like much, but we love it. And, if we lose power, we can reheat it on a small kerosene stove that we keep for emergencies.

Next, I baked a batch of Pillsbury White Chocolate-Macadamia Nut cookies. Comfort food. Necessary in winter snow emergencies.

And then I popped a popper full of popcorn. Popcorn is an essential food in any emergency.

But best of all is the quality time I can spend with the Count of Monte Cristo. I'm nearing the end of the book and already dreading having to bid the characters farewell until the next reading.

This storm is affecting multitudes of folks in numerous states, as well as some of our Canadian neighbors. I hope everyone is safe and able to hunker down with the comforts of good food, good company, and good books.