The Great Smoky Mountains Area

I took this picture last summer when we were visiting The Great Smoky Mountains area.This was taken after our drive up to Ober Gatlinburg in Gatlinburg TN.

We are planning a weekend getaway to Pigeon Forge for this coming weekend.It's only 200 miles from us which won't be too bad for a weekend getaway.Back in January we noticed on the school calendar that our grandchildren would be off this Friday for a teacher workday.Thanks to all of the snowy and icy weather we have been having the day will now be used for a snow make up day.We were so disappointed when they made that announcement earlier this month.Their Spring break is already down to two days...Good Friday and the Monday after Easter.The rest of the snow make up days will be added at the end of the school year.

We decided to go ahead with the trip even though it will only be a two night stay.We will leave Friday at 3 right after our grandson gets out of school.His sister gets out a little earlier since she is in pre-k.

Another wrinkle has been added to the mix.They are now saying that our area here might get some rain and snow on Sunday.We are still planning on going on our getaway and hoping that the weather won't be too bad for our drive home.

I have made reservations for us to go to the Black Bear Jamboree Dinner and Show in Pigeon Forge.Our grandchildren should enjoy that.

More Snow

Since I wrote yesterday we received a little more snow.I measured 6 inches this morning.Since the sun peaked in and out yesterday between the snow showers we actually received more than 6 inches but some of it melted due to the sun.

The funny thing about this snow storm is that it was never called a snow storm.We were only under a "Winter Weather Advisory" for a few inches of snow.I would call this an actual snow storm and not just a few snow showers.

There are two roads in this picture but are covered in snow.The road across from us goes up a steep hill.Sure glad we don't live up that hill.The road in front of our house goes up a hill too.We are so fortunate that we live half way up the hill.People can usually make it up to our house but then need to turn around in our driveway and go back down the hill whenever the road is still covered in snow.The plow came through yesterday but you would never know it now since the roads are covered once again due to the snow we got overnight.

Had to take some more pictures this morning.As I mentioned yesterday I never know when we will see snow again so I best capture it while I can.

Update....the snow plow just came through.We should be able to get out sometime today,yeah!

Snowy Sunday in February

Today's snow sort of surprised everyone.We were suppose to get snow the other day but it sort of fizzled out so we really didn't think we would get much this time either.

They had predicted that it was going to rain yesterday then turn to snow overnight.We never did see any rain and the snow started at 2 AM.We were hoping that the snow would hold off yesterday since we wanted to attend the Bluegrass show last night.The music was so good and we are so very grateful that the snow held off for a few hours.

I woke up to the sound of a car trying to make it up our road which is on a hill.I felt so sorry for the driver that kept getting stuck.A few hours later our town's snow plow came through and cleared our road then the sun helped to keep it clear between the snow showers.Our road is covered with snow once again since the snow showers continued after dark.The snow plow will come through bright and early and clear the road once again.

Ended up with between 4-6 inches of snow.Not sure of the exact amount since the sun came out a few times between the snow showers and melted some of the snow.We started the day with 4 inches of snow and ended the day with 4 inches of snow.During the day we had some heavy snow showers so I know the accumulation would have been more if the sun hadn't melted some of it.

I took this picture this morning from our back deck.I really enjoy taking lots pictures of the snow since I don't know if it will be the last snow of the season or not.We have had blizzards in March so snow in March is very common in our area.Seems like that is when we get our bigger snowfalls.

Something Missing?

Do you notice something missing in this picture?

We were sitting at a traffic light and I noticed something missing.I grabbed my camera and took this picture.

The Hardees sign was blown out thanks to the strong storm that moved through our area Wednesday evening.

I was read in our local newspaper that winds were clocked at 68 miles per hour Wednesday evening during the storm.They might have been blowing even harder since the high winds knocked out the power at the local airport where the local temperature and wind speeds are measured and recorded for The National Weather Service.

Hubby and I were eating at a small locally owned Chinese restaurant Wednesday evening.It was raining and windy at the time.There was only one other table being used at the time.The power blinked one time and I told my hubby that it would be funny if the power went out.A few minutes later the power went out! The couple that own the restaurant rushed around in the dark and found a few flashlights and a couple of candles.The wife was going to send her husband to a near by store to get some more candles but then realized that the whole area was with out power.

The husband brought a small candle to our table.His wife teased us and said that they were going to charge us extra for an early romantic Valentine's dinner.

It was rather scary driving home with no traffic signals working at the intersections.I was glad that I only had to drive about 5 miles to go home.How happy we were to see that there was power when we got about a mile from home!

Another Look

I am hoping that this picture is a little sharper since I am taking it with my new camera.

I now have a Polaroid 10 mega pixel Digital camera.I got a great off for it in an e-mail from buy.com last week.Since my other camera wasn't taking very good indoor pictures I decided to go for the new camera with 10 mega pixels.My other camera was 6 mega pixels.Hard to believe that my first digital camera that I bought was only 2 mega pixels.I remember buying it in April of 2001 thinking that I would have two months to learn how to use it before my first grandchild was born.Little did I know at the time that he would be born only a week later, 6 weeks prematurely.

Back to the picture...since I didn't receive any guesses I am thinking that y'all didn't care to guess.It is a screwdriver!

The screwdriver was packaged with my new PC pedometer.It was to be used to take the battery compartment off to place the new battery inside.The funny thing is that the same type of screwdriver came with my previous pedometer but since I didn't take the time to read the directions I threw it away and used a mini Phillips head screwdriver to take the back off of the pedometer.

I laughed when I saw the screwdriver again and said out loud..oh no not again.I still didn't know what it was.This time I read the directions since this pedometer is a little more involved.I then read that there was a battery and screwdriver included with the pedometer.It was like the joke was on me.I sure got a laugh out of that little piece of metal.It worked well to get the back off of the pedometer.I am keeping it since it might come in handy again some day!

What Is It?

I found this item to be quite interesting.I am wondering if anyone might know what it might be?

Hope to get some suggestions as to what it might be.

I will blog about it on Wednesday after hopefully getting some suggestions from some of you.

The Mystery of Footprints in The Snow

I took this picture early yesterday morning after our snow had ended.I found the footprints in the snow to be rather interesting.I knew from one glance who made them and how.

Our local morning newspaper has been at our front door every morning even during our snow storm.The foot prints are from our newspaper carrier coming closer to our front door to throw the newspaper on to our front landing.The couple that deliver our newspaper have been our newspaper carrier for a few months.They are the best carriers that we have had in our ten years of living here.Before they took over the route we had a carrier that didn't care if we received the newspaper or not.At least a couple times a week I had to call the office to have a newspaper delivered.We quite honestly had thought about dropping the newspaper when renewal time came.Thankfully it didn't come to that since the newspaper company let that carrier go.Then along came this couple that truly cares about their customers.

The other footprints are from when Ken brought our trash to the curb from around our back yard.Then his footprints back to our front door.

I back our car into the driveway whenever we hear that bad weather is coming.Sure made it easier to get out of the driveway yesterday.On our return home Ken was going to back into the driveway but couldn't quite master it due to the snow packed driveway.He ended up pulling straight into the driveway.

We are in a warming trend now.It was 8 when we went to bed last night but already up to 25 when we got up.We are suppose to be in the 40's today and in the 50's over the weekend.I honestly don't see a need in shoveling the driveway since the sun and warmer temperatures will melt the snow and ice quite nicely.

Who would guess that we would go from winter weather to Spring like weather in a few days?

SUNNY Once Again but COLD!!

I picked this picture to show since I like the way it shows the ground covered in snow without any footprints.Everything looks so pristine.I took this picture this morning from my back door.I pointed my camera out the door and pushed the shutter.Really didn't know what I would capture but I like my random shot.

The snow finally came to and end early this morning.We had another bitterly cold night.It was 7 at 8:30 this morning and it is already down to 9 as I write this.We are suppose to have a warming trend with the temperature zooming to the lower 40's tomorrow.That will feel like a heat wave to us.

Hubby Ken and I got out of the house today.We hadn't been anywhere since Monday due to the snowy weather.We went to Applebee's for a late lunch.There was hardly anyone there.Most people must still be staying in since our high was only 20 today.

After Applebee's we went to K-Mart.Weren't many people there either.The main roads were fine.It's the back roads and roads off of the main roads that are still snow and ice covered.The treatment that they put on the back roads doesn't work too well when the temperature is so cold.

The warming trend starting tomorrow should bring an end to the ice and snow covered roads.Schools were closed starting Tuesday and will remain closed tomorrow.Looks like they will be in school till the middle of June since they make up all of the days lost due to wintry weather.

Our winter Storm

The storm arrived yesterday afternoon.It has been snowing off and on ever since.The Winter Storm Warning is suppose to end tomorrow morning at 6 AM.

It was only 9 this morning when I got up.Didn't want to venture out in the cold so I took a few quick pictures looking out our front door and our back door.

We are also under a Wind Chill Advisory for tonight.Our low is suppose to go down to around 0 with a wind chill around -15.

The last time we went out was Monday when we needed to go to the post office to mail off some mail.I don't drive in this mess so we haven't been any where today or yesterday.We are hoping to get out tomorrow if the sun shines brightly enough to clear the roads of the ice and snow.Our roads continue to be plowed and treated but with only a high of 15 today and continuing snow the residential roads aren't completely clear.The main roads are fine it is just getting to them that is the problem especially when we are on a hill.

The Calm Before The Storm

We are experiencing the calm before the storm this morning.Yesterday we had a few inches of snow then it tapered off yesterday evening.

The snow will start to fall again this afternoon and continue on overnight.We are expecting 6 inches or more on top of the 2 inches we got yesterday.

If we manage to get that much snow it will be our biggest snowfall this winter season.

The sun is shining brightly which is deceiving since the temperature is only in the low 20's.Really hope we get this nice snowfall.If it does materialize I will post pictures tomorrow.Stay tuned..........

A Fun Evening

Yesterday evening we attended an Elvis Tribute.Lou Vuto is the guy who does the Tribute to Elvis.He is a local performer at The Memories Theater in Pigeon Forge TN.Since I forgot to take my camera I found these two pictures on his website and added them here.

Last night Lou wore a red jumpsuit similar to the one in the pictures.The show was a benefit for our local newspaper's Newspaper In Education program.

I have always been an Elvis fan.Back in 1976 when I was expecting daughter Kimberly Ken and I attended an Elvis concert in Atlanta Georgia.We lived in the Atlanta area at the time.I was a little disappointed in the concert since Elvis spent so much time gyrating for the ladies and didn't spend enough time singing all of his hits.

Lou sang a few of my favorite songs.....Suspicious Minds,Can't Help Falling In Love With You and The Trilogy.There are many other songs that Elvis sang that I love but those are a few favorites that Lou sang last night.

While doing some online research I found out that Elvis would have been 74 on January 8th.Hard to believe that he passed away at the young age of 42.He passed away in August of 1977 which is only a year after we saw him in concert.

We have seen two others that do tributes to Elvis.One was in Maggie Valley NC and the other in Pigeon Forge TN.Lou was by far the best.

We would love to go to Pigeon Forge TN to The Memories Theater and see Lou Vuto's full act.We saw another Elvis tribute at that theater a few years ago.At that time Lou was doing a tribute show in Gatlinburg.