BLIZZARDSVILLE USA

Happy Sunday from Blizzardsville!

Gorgeous this morning

Here we are at dawn this morning in the kitchen watching the Snow Moon set and the light come up on the house next door.  The weather has been wild the last couple of days.

pinkThe winds were so treacherous last Thursday, the day we were supposed to go off-island, that the boat stopped running and we had to cancel the trip until the next day.  So on Friday, come what may, we had to go —  I put on my seasickness wrist bands and off we went across the water to the mainland because I had a date to be interviewed by Madeline Meile Holt for the Cape Cod Writers Center . . .

me at Books and the World

. . . for their TV show called Books and the World.  So here I am, and Joe’s in the background taking pictures . . .

me and lamb

We brought along our pet lamb but forgot to mention it during the interview.  I wonder what viewers will be thinking about him!  I was on this show years ago, when my first book came out, so it was fun to come back.  They said they’d send me a link to the show in a few days and if they do I’ll be sure to put it up.

The next day, which was Saturday, there were Winter Storm Warnings for central MA, and Blizzard Warnings for the coast and islands.  That was the day we needed to be at Costco.  So up we went, north, just south of Boston to the Costco in Avon, MA.  We arrived amid a flurry of customers rushing to get stocked up before the storm came in.  It was fun.   There was a holiday aspect in the air; Costco would be closing early so their employees could get home safely.  People were all bundled in snow clothes, hats and scarves, some of our Girlfriends braved the storm and came to see me, Twitter friends too, and I signed books for lots of nice Costco employees.  I met some darling children — and while I did that, Joe shopped for us and our neighbors Lowely and John, he filled his basket and packed up the van . . . then we ran for the boat, Joe was sure we could make it before Blizzard conditions took over.

on the way home

I wasn’t so sure, but here we are, homeward bound.  The whole time my chicken gene is telling Joe’s wild wolf gene that this was not a good idea.  Pure icy slush on the road, it was already a deluge and the Blizzard warning had not even gone into effect. But wolfman was not listening.  He was putting on some MUSICA … snow patters the windows like hail . . . wind blows . . . you can’t tell where road ends and sky begins.  Chicken gene has me thinking too much.

on the way to the Cape

I was forced to explain to Joe that there are two of us in the car. One is a victim and one is a wolf.  Snow is slanting into the windshield.  I take my mind off of imminent slide into cranberry bog by taking pictures.  Can you imagine how cold that water is right now.  OMG.

through Falmouth

But Joe was sure, he promised me it would be all his fault if something happened (which of course just made everything OK) and persevered through car-rocking wind blasts, eating Costco guacamole (yum) and Costco “pop chips” brown rice, quinoa, multi-grain chips (also yum), over the Bourne Bridge (arched high over the frozen Cape Cod Canal), down Rt. 28 careening past cars who were going five miles an hour, finally arriving here, in Falmouth, we made the turn to Woods Hole. My chicken mouth quit peeping because “we” seemed to be committed.  (Dad, I tried to tell him you wouldn’t like it!  He howled ow! ow! owwwww!)

through Falmouth

dollface wolfmanAs Joe sings “theres a song that they sing as they take to the highway …” I kept reminding myself that he was born here.  He speaks the language of winter.  He has Joe B.never gotten in an accident.  He can fix anything.  (What has that got to do with it?  I don’t know.)  And then, there’s the sign to the island blurring past, we are getting closer.  But we still don’t know if the boat will be running or not.  It’s blowing snow, visibility isn’t very good, if the boat does go, will the Captain be able to see the island or will we drive right past, lost in the blizzard, on our way to France?  Is he a wolf or does he have some intelligent chicken blood in him?

almost there

Woods Hole, we’re here … and that’s the ocean out there.  Visibility is wonderful.  Perfect weather for boating.  Is the boat even here?  Can we get on when our reservation isn’t until 7:30 and we’ve managed to arrive at 3:45?????  These are the questions.

Yay the boat is here

But yes, there it was, big mouth wide open, almost done loading but there was room for us.  No turning back now.  Thoughts of kitties are what I’m using for propellant because good sense would never allow this.  Wolf packs run the ferry boats.

on board

On we went, wristbands in place. Straight to the bar.

today

We made it, you know that because here I am.  A happy ending.  My hunny bunny got me home safe and sound just as he promised.  Wolves rule.  If chickens ran the world we might never get home.  I am sense and he is sensibility.  We are so brave.  Jack jumped up and rubbed against me a hundred times.  Girl rolled over for her tummy rub.  We unpacked the van and slept all through the storm and look how gorgeous it is today.

snowflowers

Snowflowers are on every tree, like spring cherry trees in bloom.

lamb cake

Joe’s outside filling the bird feeders . . . And I’m doing this.  Making a lamb cake to take to a dinner party tonight . . . the 1933 version of State Fair is on TV, I’ve never seen it — but it makes good background noise for stove heating and cake baking.

lamb cake

First I grease the pans . . . I’ll save the rest of the story until next time.  Have a wonderful day Girlfriends. 

bird 

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439 Responses to BLIZZARDSVILLE USA

  1. Nancy Mosman says:

    Yesterday, I read this to my husband, as he drove us over a mountain pass where, due to ‘feet’ of snow falling, the road had been closed for several hours, cleared for avalanche control, then reopened. He laughed and started howling… 😉 Pretty funny! Sometimes I drive my boys up so they can go snowboarding, but, nevertheless, I proudly confess to being in possession of major chicken genes! ‘Peeps’ unite!! 😀

  2. Joan in TX says:

    I think you have more wolf in you than most! I can’t imagine being on television or getting up in front of a group of people to speak about my new book or moving to the island alone on a wing and a prayer. THAT’S EXTREMELY BRAVE. But yes I agree that most people do like traction when they drive. But still your commentary of this trip was priceless and gave me a good giggle that I needed today.

  3. Jen says:

    Here in the far West, where we are now down to three or four snow incidents a year, half the population freaks out over the real and imagined dangers of the stuff on the roads and the other half drives as if they are on fire. I’m one of the freakers. I, too, would have been holed up somewhere else until it all stopped. Glad you made it back home safe and sound!

  4. Tay Cutchin Satterfield says:

    My goodness Susan !! That’s an amazing documentary and the weather is like nothing I’ve ever seen !! AND I LIKE THE SNOW and miss the seasons. We did have two ice storms a couple of weeks ago five days apart. I’ve NEVER seen icicles hanging from my roof !! But now it’s really warmed up which I do NOT like. I think it was 80 outside today and inside my house it was 77 so I had to turn the A/C on for a few hours to get rid of the heat and humidity. I would really prefer some “transitional” weather and temperatures. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have told you about my weather here in southeast Texas. I hope and pray that you, Joe, and the kitties stay safe and warm !! And I think the first photo may be your 2014 Christmas card !!!

    • sbranch says:

      I agree with you Tay, I like it cold too! Yesterday our icicles were about 3 feet long hanging from the eves. Everyday seems to be a new adventure in weather.

  5. Lynnette W. says:

    How fun, exciting and scary at the same time!
    The house looks beautiful in the snow (and always)!
    Can’t wait to see how the lamb cake turned out. 🙂

  6. Sara says:

    You are an absolute NUT, and I wouldn’t have it any other way! Clever, clever writing. As for the sheep snafu, you and Joe had to have a good laugh over that one. That precious sheep might be more of an identifier than you might think. You’ll know when you hear some middle-aged girlfriend exclaim “There’s that sheeplady, you know, the one who went to England and wrote a book!”

    There are worse things to be called, don’t you think?

    Still chuckling… Sara

  7. Hope says:

    Sorry for the silly question, I am a farm wife from Indiana, do you ride in your car on the ferry? How long does it take? You talk about reservations, how does that work? Does it cost a lot? I am used to driving tractors and trucks, have no idea how a ferry operation would work! LOL, I would probably end up with my car in the ocean!! Maybe you could do a post on it?

  8. Katherine says:

    Wolves rule, chickens drool!

    (lol– can you tell I spend my days with children? )
    😉

  9. Marilyn Nutter says:

    You have inspired me for years, thank you!

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