Winter Storm 2010: Day Two

So I guess I may have underestimated the winter storm.. Last night proved to be a new experience for this Southern Belle. Living in the South, I have seen several inches of snow, but 3.5" of ice is a whole new ballgame.

It continued to rain & sleet until about midnight, which of course made for impossible driving conditions this morning. Everything was frozen solid in a thick sheet of ice! We lost power the first time last night around 7:00 p.m. as we were in the middle of making Aunt Marianne's calzone recipe. Since the oven was out of commission, I lit my entire stock of candles, and we feasted on Bagel Crisps and Boursin left over from Christmas.

Not knowing when the power would come on, Dan and I resorted to placing bets how long it would take MLGW (Memphis Light Gas & Water) to sent out the troops. I said 8pm, and Dan said 10pm..... Guess who was right! Me of course, as if you had to ask!
The power came back on at 8pm, I jacked the heat up to about 72 degrees for fear we would loose power again. Dan was suffocating, but was a good sport. We got to enjoy an episode of"Dirty Jobs" before we lost power for good.

The wind was blowing and we could hear the branches breaking off. It sounding like shotguns were being fired in our backyard! Dan walked out side just as one of the large pine trees in the back yard was loosing most of its branches. With that close call we decided to call it a night. Phones were dead , no heat, and our power was out, so what else is there to do but sleep?

I guess the power came back on at 3am, as the alarm clocks and lights abruptly illuminated the house, but not for long. We lost power again, which made for a cold, sleepless night.

Good news is that we finally regained power & heat at 6am and have been going strong ever since. Dan is happily perched in front of the TV watching IU basketball, and I have plans of catching up on my reading & cleaning the garage. The pups have been passed out all day!

Here are some pics of the ice...

Our driveway was a solid 3" sheet of ice. Frozen trees everywhere!

I hope my poor Japanese Maple survived!

Before and after pics of my dead asparagus fern.

These were the branches falling from our pine tree last night! Poor tree! Bonfire anyone?

The Bradford Pear across the street split in half. Koswkers is helping collect the branches at least!

Our little ice babies!