Seattle Snowpocalypse: Surprise Snow Snares Sistah in the 'Burbs

The park in our neighborhood.

(Note: The title of this post is courtesy of my husband)

As I write this, I’m looking out into our yard from the dining room windows. Several inches of snow blankets the ground and it’s quite beautiful. The bare tree limbs are now coated with a fine white powder. It's as if they're wearing crisp white tuxedo jackets and are ready for a swanky affair. My favorite aspect of snow is how quiet everything becomes. The stillness is peaceful and reminds me to slow down. I become hyperaware of everything – from my surroundings to my breathing.

Our neighborhood park.

Our kitty isn't so sure about all the snow BUT he really wants to be outside.

Round three of snow has just begun to fall. It’s a steady stream of flakes building upon what’s already on the ground. Rather than being delighted I’m trying not to focus on how much the coming week will be disrupted. Last Sunday we received seven inches of snow at our house, this past Friday we received another six inches, and now here we go again. The entire Puget Sound region is bracing once again for a crippling amount of snow. The landscape and climate here just isn’t conducive to accumulating snow in part because of all the hills (so so many hills). A recent KING 5 article explained why our roads can be particularly treacherous when we get a lot of snow. 

One of Facebook friends shared this graphic, which is also helpful in understanding WHY ALL THIS SNOW IS BAD.

I live north of Seattle and commute via bus into work. I attempted to go into the office last Monday only to arrive at the nearby park and ride to see several buses stuck. Rather than wait for another bus to take me back home I decided to walk. (Now I can officially say “I’ve walked two miles in the snow!”) I worked from home that day and the next. By Wednesday things were looking up again until the local meteorologists reported that we would be getting more. I got to the office early on Friday and left as soon as the snow started coming down again. Two and a half hours later I was back home. In short, the amount of snow we are getting is well past the fun stage. Schools and roads will close once again, flights will be canceled and local television stations will resume wall to wall coverage with the consistent warning to stay home if you can. It's been a decade since we've experienced a similar snow event. This amount of snow in February is also uncommon. 

The retention pond near our house is partially frozen.

I like this photo because of what's happening on the far right.

Prior to these back to back to snow events I was silently hoping for snow. I told myself “It’s so pretty.” In the five and half years I’ve lived here it would snow and by the next day it was usually old news. What’s the harm and wanting to see it again? Well I learned the hard way there is such a thing as too much snow.

But there's good news!

I just made my first purchase from REI. Side note, that was quite strange and it shows that I'm becoming more and more of a Pacific Northwesterner with each season. I bought a pair of Yaktrax to go over my shoes. For the next storm I'll be full prepared for walking over snow and ice without a fear of falling.

“Snow in April is abominable," said Anne. "Like a slap in the face when you expected a kiss.” 

― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Ingleside