Teresa House early this morning

Jerry keeps threatening to move “someplace warm, like Texas!” 

We're having a snow day here at the Ranch, after three days of highs under freezing (including two in the 20s for heaven's sake!)

Mike on his way to the Pavilion

The Ranchers love it, of course, as long as it's inside and involves movies and, hopefully, hot chocolate. 

This morning there was about an inch of snow on the ground, with ice underneath.  The wind was still blowing strong from the north, and the temperature was in the teens, so we told the staff to stay home and the Ranchers, too.

Casey came in anyway.  “What if my Virginia friends discovered I'd stayed home because of an inch of snow?” she said.

Jerry and I were up at 5:30 this morning and anxious as kids to see how much snow we'd gotten.  Jerry hustled off to check on the various animals and I made coffee and ate breakfast, then wrapped myself in my Mrs. Beaver greatcoat and headed out to take pictures of this amazing event at first light.

First I needed to check the chicks.  They were still in the coop.  Usually when the little little door is opened they come charging out, ready to take on the day.  Today, though, they stood perplexed, clearly baffled by that white stuff.

Now this is something new!

Finally a couple of hens ventured out, slipping on the snow and flapping their wings, looking for all the world like we do when we're about to take a tumble.  That was that!  Back they headed into the warmth of the coop.

I went back to the house and busied myself making chili for tonight's supper.  Now the sun is shining and the snow is melting fast.  I try to remind myself that just last Saturday we were all soaking up the rays on the beach in Cozumel.  Changes in latitude, but hopefully no changes in attitude.

Jerry's already planting seeds right and left in anticipation of spring.  We'll have a few more cold snaps, maybe even another deep freeze, but soon enough winter 2011 will be a thing of the past, and we'll be bracing for the summer heat. 

In Texas, we've got it all.  Enjoy the pictures taken this morning before the thaw.



Fancy Pants & Friends



Lodge Road

The Learning Center