Where I live in North Texas, we got hit with an ice storm. It came in late Thursday night and stayed with us all weekend. We were literally frozen and stuck at home for 60 plus hours. I’m not even kidding about that.
See when we get stuff like this, everything – and I do mean everything – shuts down. No school. No work. No church. No nothing. School was canceled the night before so I knew I wasn’t going to work the next day. There was no way I was going to even try. When I got up the next morning to see the weather it turned out to be a good decision.
I’m sure most people don’t understand why everything closes down here. It’s because we don’t get snow. We get ice and sleet. It turns the roads into an ice rink and that’s not something I want to drive on. Ever. So we knew we would be homebound for the weekend.
So what did we do cooped up in a 1400-square-foot house for all that time? Lots of different things actually.
Friday was sort of a nothing day but the husband did venture out to the store to pick up a few staples. I made an impromptu stir fry with stuff I had in the freezer. He worked off and on that day while the kid glued himself to the computer or the 3DS.
I braved the cold to take some pictures. Here’s one of the icicles on my lantern in the front garden. I have 
to admit I’m a little worried about my three rosebushes. I don’t know if they will survive this artic cold. I hope they do. But if they don’t, then I guess we’ll replant something come spring.
On Saturday morning, we got up and cooked a giant breakfast. It felt like Sunday. The roads were worse, meaning everything that came down and was sort of slushy on the roads was now frozen into a sheet of ice. The big trucks were getting stuck on the bridges in downtown Fort Worth. I was so glad I wasn’t out in that mess. Some people were stuck on the Lake Lewisville bridge for over 10 hours because they couldn’t move. I can’t imagine being stuck on a bridge for that long in this frigid weather. How awful for those people.
We did some house cleaning and I did some baking. Since the Christmas decorations were down from the previous week, I started pulling things out to decorate for Christmas. We had intended to buy a real tree but didn’t get it last weekend because the spot for the tree wasn’t ready. I regretted that decision. Hindsight, ya know?
It also gave me some time to read Holly Lisle’s Create a Plot Clinic which I found to be very good. Things have sort of clicked in place for me reading how she creates a plot, especially when she’s stuck. It gave me some more tools I want to try when I’m stuck. Because I’m certainly STUCK on this last book right now. I need all the inspiration I can get.
I also managed to get some crafty stuff done. I bought this glass block from Lowe’s a few weeks ago and some glitter spray paint and ribbon. Then I went to the dollar store and bought some poinsettia and holly stems. After I spray painted it with gold glitter paint, I put white lights inside it, sealed it up and covered it with ribbon. Then I made a pretty little bow and added the poinsettia and holly. And VOILA! Inside cuteness. I think it came out pretty good! It’s really pretty when it’s plugged in and lit up.
Total project cost was about $20. You can’t beat that! And almost all of it came from Lowe’s. I’m going to make another one so I’ll have a set and then they’re going to go up on our entertainment center with some glittery angles in the center and a strand of Christmassy holly. I’m also cross-stitching a small ornament. I’m nearly finished with it. I have two more to do after this and if we’re stuck at home again, I figure it’s a good time to get it done.
We also watched a lot of college football and some hockey. I made chicken soup and beer bread. Husband did laundry. Sunday is more laundry plus we braved the roads for the tree and our weekly groceries. After being stuck in the house for that long, though, we had to get out. Cold or not. Ice or not.
They say Monday and Tuesday are going to be bad too for driving. I will not be driving in this mess. My husband has taken pity on me and will be driving me. Bless his heart.
I know there are those of you who read the blog that live in the same area as me. How did you fare with the treacherous weather? And those of you who live farther north, how about you? Did you make it through the wintery blast?
At least you had power. I had candles, a fireplace, and gas range burners. But it stayed pretty warm in here. Your rose bushes will be ok. Just let them be, they will probably look dead. Make sure they get water occasionally this winter and cut them back some in about February before the sap starts rising. Those are hardy old fashioned plants. Mine have survived every hazard.