Monday, October 31, 2011

Seriously Ridiculous

So, did you hear we had a little something called SNOW!! this past weekend? I don't even know where to begin.


A British co-worker of my hubs who resides in the UK will be relocating to our area in January. January! Bless them. His lovely wife has only been in the US once or twice, never for any extended period of time, and I'd never met either of them until this weekend. They were in town to do some house hunting and we had plans to meet for dinner on Saturday night.


Welcome to NJ!
Where a foot and a half of snow falls before the end of October.
Yes we had a foot and a half of snow this weekend...didn't you?


The predicted snowfall started mid morning Saturday and when I say it was snowing I mean it was SNOWING!! Those caps and exclamation points are obnoxious I know, but so was the SNOW!! It absolutely poured all the live long day and on into the night. We, along with the entire population of our little town, had popped into the brand new supermarket to pick up a few things on Saturday morning. Coincidentally the brand new supermarket just so happened to be hosting their grand opening celebration that morning too. Timing people. Snowstorms and grand openings make for quite the mix.


As we came out of the market and made our way home, literally just a few miles, hubs and I decided we best call the co-worker and his wife in their hotel and have them come on over early. They were staying about 20 minutes away, were in a rental car, not accustomed to driving on the right side of the road, and did I tell you it was SNOWING!? Hubs suggested they pack a bag. Good thinking hubs!


Their realtor had naturally cancelled the house hunt trip scheduled for Saturday...after all, she needed to be shoveling and plowing and clearing downed trees like the rest of us, so they made their way to our house and we hung out in my kitchen most of the afternoon. Every few minutes one or both of them would walk to the windows and say, "I just can't believe this."


We know.
We can hardly believe it ourselves and we live here.


I did my best to reassure the Mrs. that this was not typical weather for an October Saturday in Northern NJ and I think she mostly believed me. I did add though, that since they'll be arriving in January this is the sort of weather they'll see then. Good to know what you're getting in to, right?


Maybe.
Moving house is always a bit nerve wracking but moving country really amps up the fear factor. Being greeted by a foot of snow in October does not exactly help calm those fears.


We ended up venturing out to a nearby restaurant for an early dinner. Another couple who live nearby were meeting us too and we had a wonderful meal by the fireplace in a lovely local spot. Afterwards they came back to our house and spent the night since there was no way they were getting out anywhere.


We awoke Sunday morning to a crystal clear blue cloudless sky. In general the day after a storm is gorgeous and Sunday was no exception. Well, unless you count stuff like this.


Yes that is a giant tree felled by the weight of wet heavy snow. Conveniently it fell across our front walkway. And that's just one we lost or may lose. Ugh. We drove around town and the damage from this storm looks far worse than what we had during the recent hurricane. There were trees and power lines down everywhere you looked...thousands are still without power today and in fact, area schools are closed here. In October. Due to snow.


We took our guests on a little tour of the town on Sunday...can't have them thinking it's all work and no play living here, can we?


We walked out onto the boardwalk by the lake and saw that someone had gotten creative during the storm. It takes a lot of snow to make a snowman this big people!


I posted pics on my facebook and several friends have asked if its all melted today. Uh, no. It is melting but we still have plenty hanging around.


And in spite of what it looks like outside today is Halloween. That day when little munchkins don costumes and parade from house to house asking ever so sweetly for candy. We have a little problem though-


It's called a tree blocking the sidewalk to our front door.
No worries...


Hubs got a little bit creative too.

26 comments:

  1. I have never seen it snow like that!! Sitting here by the fire still no heat. Happy Halloween!!

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  2. WOW! I just moved to Northeast Ohio and this snow storm is causing ME some worries and we didn't even get any. Bless the poor couple moving to the NE in the middle of winter! Hopefully they're fond of snow!

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  3. Omg so crazy! My sisters in NJ 2 of 3 are without power! Trees down everywhere! Glad you are safe and warm! We have trick or treated in Utah in the snow wearing boots and parka's! yikes unbelievable really!

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  4. Sure glad I live so far south that it doesn't snow but once in 50 years or so. The photos tho, are beautiful.

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  5. I thought about you over the weekend when I saw the pics on television! Your snow pics are beautiful, by the way!

    I'm glad you stayed safe and warm--and made the best of the surprise October snowstorm...I can't help but wonder if your weekend guests are having second thoughts about moving...LOL At least they weren't among the people stranded at the airport!!!

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  6. Amazing and I am SO glad it's at your house and not mine. We could go the whole winter without snow and I would not miss it a bit!

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  7. I wondered if you had gotten hit! I'd like a little snow, but I can happily wait until December or January! At least you got some beautiful pictures?

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  8. to tell you that i can't even imagine would be an understatement. it's about 10 am here, and my girl just came indoors... because it's too hot. texas, you know. ;) although, i do have to say that snow makes for beautiful pictures! you guys sound like wonderful hosts... i'm sure you did wonders for your new friends' nerves. ;)

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  9. It's beautiful to look at your winter wonderland, I'm sure that your company will remember this visit for a very long.

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  10. UNBELIEVABLE ! I wondered how much you'd gotten up there. We got less than 2 inches and it's all gone, but it came on the BIG ANNIVERSARY party day. Wow, your pics are beautiful and I think it was providential that God would give your British friends a taste of what they'll be heading into. I mean, there are surprises and then there's reality...in that order, right??:) I'm sure you made keener memories that if you had just stuck with plan A!?

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  11. The trick or treaters will have fun no matter what. We had a nice snow on Thursday. An occasional dusting of snow is not unheard of in October, but we were in the upper 80's on Tuesday and had 5 1/2 inches of accumilation at La La Land on Thursday. No telling how much melted before things started to stick. Our snow didn't last long. It was in the upper 70's on Saturday. Crazy weather!

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  12. Whoa! Seriously, is right! It is pretty but as someone who doesn't exactly care for snow in the dead of winter...getting this early would just be irritating to say the least.
    Here's praying your 'real' Winter treats you well.
    Just sayin'

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  13. Oh my word! That's INSANITY! I do remember one Hallowe'en where there was a sprinkling of snow, but nothing like that. Your poor UK visitors.

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  14. So sorry about the tree. The pictures are pretty but OMG! I can't believe it is already snowing. I can't imagine moving to the states and looking for a home and being welcomed by snow! Hope they are still excited about their move. Certainly doesn't feel like Halloween.

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  15. WOW! thats a lot of snow! All the children in their costumes are going to be freezing...

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  16. The snow is beautiful ... but whoa! That's a LOT any time of year, let alone the end of October. As much as I LOVE snow, that's about a foot more than I'd care to experience! Kudos for keeping your sense of humor and for being such a gracious hostess to your hubby's co-worker and his wife.

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  17. I know it's not nice to say.... but I'm glad it's you and not me! Last year it snowed the first weekend of November and stayed around until April.

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  18. Oh my goodness! Perhaps you can take comfort in the fact that it should go away. We had a Halloween snowstorm years ago where it snowed 23 inches and it STAYED UNTIL APRIL. I am not kidding you! That's the difference between NJ and Wisconsin!

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  19. The pictures are beautiful-the first snowfall is usually pretty. :( for your trees. I bet it sure doesn't feel like Halloween.

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  20. Seriously ridiculous is right! Our kids who live south of here are still without electricity. I hope this is not a sign of the winter to come. :(

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  21. I just love your pictures, though I'm sorry you had to endure such a nasty storm to take them.

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  22. Love the pics - and glad to just see it here and on FB! A few of my Sparta friends posted pictures too. I know the snow came early (TOO early) but the pics remind me of why I moved away from northern NJ. So, thanks!
    I tried to identify your neighborhood. A few of them look alike in Sparta!! I lived in Newstar Ridge when there.

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  23. The snow LOOKS beautiful but of course if you have to shovel it or it interferes with your plans,it's hard to appreciate it.
    I lived in North Bergen when I worked on Wall street and snow was a pain in the butt.

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  24. Wow! I'm right over the river (about 45 mins from Philadelphia) and we only got a few inches. Can't believe how much you got!

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  25. Oh my! We had seen on the news that you were getting it and you sure did. You're pictures are beautiful though.

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