At first when I looked out, I only saw the black and white kitty on the steps, then I saw a shadow move and saw the little guy on the deck, and I was able to weasel the camera around the get both of them.
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After a while, the black and white kitty came through the gate to hang out with his buddy. What a hoot!
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Saturday, February 19, 2011 - It was so funny to see them both outside. At first, I couldn't see the little kitty. He's been very elusive. However, I have heard them yowling at night. That's a real nice waker-upper. NOT!

It's so funny that they've found each other. I'm torn about feeding them because I think the little guy is definitely a feral cat. He was outside during the below zero weather and apparently is quite hardy.

They were very skittish, so I had to hide behind one of my plants to get their pictures. No quick movements. They did keep looking at me through the window. And they didn't skedaddle until Bob came home and opened the garage door.

Haven't seen them since but I'm sure they'll be back. It's so cute. bye for now, djb

Here's the balloons and flowers I brought to the cemetery for Andrew's birthday. Notice that the snow is starting to melt....a little bit.
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Tuesday, February 15, 2011 - Happy Birthday, Andrew!

As is my custom when the snow isn't too deep on the boys' birthday, I brought in some festiveness to the grave today.

As I was bending over and taking off Jarrett's balloons that got whacked by the blizzard, two ladies walked over through the snow to the grave and began proselytizing. Imagine my surprise. I mean, WHO goes out there in the winter!?

I wasn't particularly offended. Surprised, yes. It did seem sort of inappropriate to be stalking people in a cemetery BUT I knew that Andrew sent them.

Jesus loves me, this I know. Hey, we sang that at their funeral. Andrew just wanted to remind me. What an interesting development.

I need to call Fred tomorrow about more security at the cemetery! Happy Boofday, my sweetie. Love you forever, Mom

Yesterday afternoon, I heard a loud noise outside, when I looked out, this is what I saw!
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Thursday, February 10, 2011 - Apparently, the township sent this guy out to move some of the gigantic snow mountains away from the street.

It would've been easier to do if it hadn't been garbage day. But he did move one of our ginormous piles back from the road. I'll have to get a picture of that when the temperature gets up to zero.

Right now, it's still 10 below. It was down to 12 below for a short time. It always does that shortly after the sun comes up. Yes, it does seem counter-intuitive. I'm sure there's a logical meteorological explanation.

And, the birdies are outside congregating around the bird feeder like a bunch of crazed lunatics. I imagine they're just a little bit COLD!! Chirp, chirp, brrrrrrrrrrrrr bye, djb

Here's the sunset last night. This was taken around 5:30 p.m. Definitely lighter later. oh boy!
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Saturday, February 5, 2011 - Last night, when I looked outside, this sunset stopped me in my tracks. Gotta get my camera, so said I.

I had to put shoes on and went outside on the part of the green carpet that is shoveled. Then, I snapped a few pictures...

Then, when I came back in, the sky got darker and more brilliant looking. So, I had to go back out and snap some more.

I LOVE the sunsets this time of year. They kind of make up for all the mountains and mountains and mountains of SNOW. Kind of....

This snow is NEVER going to melt. Maybe in June...

Icy ya later, djb

Here's Woody at the feeder yesterday. I just love seeing the birdies enjoying themselves.
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Here's Mama Cardinal pausing and posing. That greyish/bluish darkness behind the bird feeders is the HUGE pile of snow alongside the road.
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Friday, February 4, 2011 - Yesterday, I had blizzard fatigue. I just couldn't write about snow or anything related to snow. When you think about how long this is going to be around, it is kind of depressing. Although it's still quite beautiful.

The morning after the blizzard, I still remember feeling trapped and somewhat claustrophobic when I looked outside and saw the gigantic pile of snow left by the snow plow at the end of the driveway. You couldn't get out of here if you wanted to.

Not that there was anywhere to go. Everything was shut down. Life pretty much came to a standstill.

And I just now heard on the radio that we have MORE brutal weather coming next week. This time, it's just more below zero days.....not two feet of snow! So, I guess that's a good thing.

I was thinking last night.... what if we get another 20 inches of snow??? WHAT in the world would happen then??? Right now, there are so many huge mounds of snow, it boggles the mind. Huge doesn't even begin to describe it....more like GARGANTUAN MOUNTAINS. Yeah, that big.

bye for now, djb

Here's the view outside on the deck at 6:48 a.m. That snow drift is probably 4 feet high. There's lots and lots of snow out there. Plus, the winds have picked up considerably. Yikes!!
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Wednesday, February 2, 2011 - Second posting of the day.

The sky is getting brighter outside. So now, I can see just how much snow we did get. A LOT.

Amazingly enough, about 6:45, the snow plow went by. I could NOT believe it. What an exercise in futility. You can't even tell that he was there. Talk about zero footprint.

You know you're in for trouble when Jim Cantore of the Weather Channel comes to your town! He was in Chicago last night. The last time I saw him, he was surrounded by lots of snow and was being blown around like he was in a Snowicane.

Two things I found out - no garbage pickup today. (I already knew that was a no go.) And our newspapers will be late. Hopefully, they just forget about it today. Even if they do deliver them, how is anyone going to find them in the deep snow???

And you really don't want the snow blower to find them!

later....djb

This is what the driveway looked like at 5:13 a.m. this morning. It's still snowing but the blizzard-effect has subsided somewhat. That means that a person can actually see across the street! Last night, I couldn't see Gene's house.
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Wednesday, February 2, 2011 - HAPPY GROUNDHOG DAY and HAPPY AFTER-THE-BLIZZARD DAY!!

The first thing I heard on the radio when I woke up just after 4 a.m. was: "the roads in western Kane County are virtually impassable." Hey, that's where we live. Yikes!! That would explain why I haven't seen the snowplow or any other cars go by since forever.

The next thing I heard was that McHenry County had been declared to be in a state of Emergency. And I thought we were in the state of Illinois.... Yikes and double yikes!

I couldn't take many pictures of the blizzard last night because they would all have looked like the picture up above. Plus, I don't subject my camera to less than ideal conditions. And yesterday was the least ideal I've seen in a long time.

The snow wasn't the scary part -- it was the 50+ mile per hour wind gusts. That's what makes it a blizzard. Winds above 40 mph and snows that cause zero visibility for 3 hours. Check, check and double check.

I don't understand WHY people didn't listen to the advice of anyone who told them NOT to drive yesterday afternoon and evening. The only person I can imagine who would be essential is an ER doctor, maybe a cardiologist....

You don't really need an obstetrician to have a baby. Most obstetrics nurses could probably handle it as well as the doctor.

Besides....when you go to any hospital -- unless you're bleeding profusely or your bone is sticking out of your skin, they usually just poke an IV into your vein and tell you they're going to do some TESTS first. And, the doctor will be in to see you...... later. haha

This is from the Chicago Tribune online (4:21 a.m):

Kane County Lt. Sheriff Pat Gengler warned that all roads in western Kane County are impassable and closed.

“At this time plows are not able to run and tow trucks are also not functioning,” he said in an e-mail. “Anyone who attempts to travel does so with very little chance of immediate assistance should they become stuck.”

All I can say is, WOW! and Stay Home, people.

Better go make some more coffee. Happy Groundhog Day, djb

Grandpa is pulling Diane and Ron on the sled (on the farm) during the winter of 1969. If you look close, you can see the stogie in his mouth.
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Here's Uncle Ron and Aunt Diane sitting on the sled in DeKalb in November 1969.
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Tuesday, February 1, 2011 - Okay, so you know what I did this morning -- scanned and cropped SNOW pictures!

I think we're getting snow fatigue. That's what the people who live out east already have. We're tired of all this white stuff falling from the sky and making everything beautiful.

Plus, annoying....

Who said, "I'm dreaming of a white Groundhog Day?" Oh yeah, that was Bill Murray, right.

Better go check the Weather Channel for more hysteria. Big snow ya later,djb