Winter Jam 2014

Yes, it's snow, in Georgia. A lot of snow for our area. It came on us pretty quickly and didn't stop for 8 hours. This photo is of I75 at 12:55 p.m. Complete and total gridlock. Everyone was released from work and school about the same time due to inclement weather. This is what happens when southern folk are let loose on roads that are covered in snow and ice. We have no experience driving in these conditions. The roads weren't pre-treated either. 

My normal drive time is 35 minutes on a decent day. 1/28/14 proved a lot different. My car never reached the 20 mph mark. Most of the way, I coasted, as everyone else. most of my time was spent tapping my brakes gently and praying. That was a scary drive home. Took a total of 4 1/2 hours. That was good compared to some other stories I read about. My poor husband works 3 miles from home and it took him close to 8 hours to get home.

Do you see this mess? I live at the top of that hill. It is still impassable as of  1/30/14. I made it safely off the interstate and pulled in to this. I had no choice but to abandon my car and start walking. Do you see all of the cars? 4 of them had people in them. The rest are stuck or abandoned. I was one of the lucky ones. A very kind man on a 4 wheeler picked me up half way home and took me as far as he could. What a kind soul!

This was at the top of the hill. Good thing no one else tried to navigate the road until it melted.

But even through all of the bad, I still found time to find beauty everywhere.

In my 49 years on this earth, I had official snow days. Today is my second full day at home. Feeling a bit of cabin fever but the sun is shining and the ice is melting. It's going to be a great day!

Hello Autumn

Ahh... there is nothing like experiencing Autumn for REAL. I am a Floridian transplanted in Georgia. In Florida, Autumn consists of dead leaves collecting on the ground in late November to December. There may be one species of tree that might have a yellow tone to the leaf before it falls.
I am in the middle of a beautiful canvas right now. Trees have gorgeous foliage on them. From pale yellow to a fiery red and every color range in between. I find myself having my camera handy all the time because I have been known to pull off the road to photograph a tree or bush. It is just beginning here in the northern regions of Georgia.

My heart is in Florida

I have been away for a while. I recently moved to another state. The first time in my adult life I have moved out of state. Ok, the first time in my LIFE I have moved out of state. I was born and raised in a small town. I had my children there and they have began the circle again with their own families. Life and the economy started spiraling down and after suffering for a couple of years, my husband thought it was best to relocate to find better opportunity. So, we set out January 6th, 2013. I went from a house (small, quaint and in much need of repairs) to a spacious apartment (which has a maintenance crew!. The first thing I realized is that ground level living is much easier on the joints. Top floor has a gorgeous view but oh the climb...
Second, Umm, the winter doesn't end after Christmas up here. As the matter of fact, we had snow flurries a week before Easter. My family was at the beach on Easter. Oh how I miss Florida.
I went from a 2 1/2 minute drive to work to leaving before daylight, anywhere from 12-18 lanes of traffic, 25 minutes to an hour each way.
Grocery shopping has become a game. How little can we purchase to survive a week? We have to carry those bags up 39 stairs. It may not seem like much but it is when your hands are full!
I can't go out in my pajamas to take the pup out anymore. My neighbors will talk about the new people on the third floor.
The shopping and scenery is wonderful though. Mountains, hills and rock formations, fantastic blossoms on the Cherry Trees, Dogwoods and another round of trees waiting to bloom right behind them. Giant bumble bees buzzing around looking for sweet nectar, birds chirping at all times of the day and night. It IS a beautiful place.
But I can't help but miss my little quaint home that is filled with my children taking care of it for us. The leaky roof, the tiny bathroom, the kitchen and the plumbing that needed attention. The yard that had more weeds than grass.
I miss Florida.
I will push forward and give this phase in my life a chance but I won't close the door on my home. It is still there, waiting for us to fill it up again if we choose to return.

Sandy and her wrath

Waking up this morning to all the devastating images and video of Hurricane Sandy. It is all so surreal. I live in Florida. I have seen my share of hurricanes. This time though, it is more disturbing to me. New York holds a special place in my heart and to SEE how vulnerable it is to mother nature.... I don't have words to express how I feel about this.
I have friends in New Jersey and I have no idea how they are this morning. I pray they are all well. My words feel empty.