Wednesday, February 02, 2011

The Stars Have Arrived

You know when Al Roker from NBC and Jim Cantore from The Weather Channel arrive in Chicago you can bet you are going to get hit big!  Or else, why would they be here if it wasn't a big story?


As I opened the front door, I found a snow pressing of my door design.

We get a little jaded in this area because many storms have been hyped on the media and then it's a miss.  All of the really big ones have missed us for over ten years, but this one everyone seemed to take seriously.


In the lower part of the picture I have about three feet of snow drifting up against the storm door, could not get this one open.

It is still snowing and we are up to 20" in my area, and I am looking at Al Roker on TV covered in snow on Michigan Avenue.  The Today Show has been preempted by our local snow coverage.


This is the view from the door that I can't open, going to have to make a little path if I can get out through the garage.


The little sticks poking out of the snow are about three and a half foot bushes.  The drifts are in all shapes and sizes many much higher than this one.


My Veggie Garden
Do you think this is what they mean when they say you can plant spinach and lettuce on top of the snow?

I'm in the house for at least today and maybe more, alley not plowed, streets not plowed, the National Guard has been called out, and the powers that be are telling us to stay in our homes!

30 comments:

Lona said...

OMG! Eileen! I have been listening to the news this morning telling about how bad it was up around Chicago and thankful that it missed our part of the state so far. Your pictures sure tell the story of your storm. It rained here mostly and the wind started howling through this morning. It has turned to flurries now so we were fortunate. You have your work cute out for you digging out of that. It will take forever for all of those drifts to melt. I hate to even think of how high the drifts are there out in the open countryside.
Stay safe my friend.

Cher' Shots said...

I live in Upper Michigan and we were spared this particualar storm. However; I sure can relate -been there, done that! This too shall pass!
'hugs from afar'

Anonymous said...

Dear Eileen, How very alarming for you. If the media circus has arrived, I am afraid that it could signal very bad news for any resolution to this situation in the immediate future. I really hope that the electricity stays on since it is so frightening without any power and I am very concerned that you can keep warm.
Thoughts are with you...stay safe!

allanbecker-gardenguru said...

Thanks to your camera, many readers all over the world now understand what a real snow storm is all about.

Diana LaMarre said...

Wow, it looks like you got hit hard! I am right now watching the weather channel and they are showing pics of all the cars that were stranded on Lake Shore Drive.

I lived in the burbs during the Blizzard of '79. Do you remember that one? It was a few weeks earlier -- mid Jan. if I remember correctly. After the big event everyone was selling T-shirts saying "I survived the blizzard of '79".

Roses and Lilacs said...

Looks like you got more snow than we did. You are right, this was a serious one. Snow mobile clubs were out rescuing stranded drivers in drifts. The police were getting stuck trying to get to accidents. What a mess.

I spent the afternoon shoveling so I'll be able to get to work tomorrow. Wouldn't mind just one more snow day at home:)

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Lona, we have not had a storm like this in years. We have spent the day trying to dig out. Thank you thank you, for the big snowblower that we kept saying we were going to sell for a smaller one. I think we'll keep it!

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi cher shots,

I am sure you are used to this but we have become spoiled of years with no more than six or eight inches. We will reomember this for awhile.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Allan, I a sure you have seen your share of blizzards but it's easy to forget when it hasn't happened in years.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Edith,

We have a group of storm chasers in the U.S. that follow any impending disasters weather and otherwise.

We spent all day cleaning up just so we could get out the doors, walkways, driveway, etc.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Zoey,

1979 was a memorable year in that we had 80 plus inches of snow, it just never stopped all winter.

Eileen

Darla said...

I have been reading on blogs about all this snow, even seeing the photos I cannot wrap my brain around it...hope you have everything you need...

meemsnyc said...

We had a pretty wicked blizzard in December. Looking at your photos gives me flashbacks of digging out. Stay warm!

Jim Groble said...

Pat and I were supposed to visit my mom this weekend. she has 2 feet of snow in the driveway. She is safe and our youngest daughter is with her. We pushed the visit back a couple of weeks.
Your pictures are from Dr.Zhivago, cool and scary at the same time.
Stay safe and warm. jim

garden girl said...

I figured it would be big when I saw Cantore on Michigan Avenue on Monday night.

Your photos are beautiful Eileen! Looks like it was windier in your area than here - our drifts aren't as deep as yours are.

Balisha said...

I had WGN on most of the day...Yesterday, I heard Rick Kogan's exwife being interviewed from her car. She had been stranded on Rt. 47 for 19 hrs. with 4 dogs.The snowplows were in the ditch and she was patiently waiting to be rescued.I couldn't imagine myself in that situation. I guess that just proves that we should all have our trunks filled with survival things and a full gas tank...you never know what can happen. Your pictures tell the story. I haven't ventured out with my camera. Balisha

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Oh, what a sight! I'm a Floridian so I just can't imagine it. It is gorgeous. Just hope you all stay safe and warm...

XO,

Sheila :-)

Karen said...

Oh, WOW, Eileen, I guess you got hit hard! We only picked up four inches from this one. What a shock when you opened your door...a snow wall! Did your snowblower make it through all that? I had my snowblower out last night in the Back Eight in some 4' drifts and it was HARD work. I had to shovel in front of the blower to break a trail for it, and ours is a BIG one, too.

I'm glad your power stayed on, I hate it when that goes out, too. Thinking of you, stay warm and safe!!

Fishtail Cottage said...

okay - that is just the coolest picture of the "snow door" that looks out to your front porch. Looks like you photo shopped that... Wow - you should definately send that in to the news stations - something i have never seen & worth framing! xoox

Fishtail Cottage said...

ps - you should link the post of your sisters garden to Cottage Flora Thursday's on my blog...& peek around to see others garden (it will warm your heart)...xoox

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Darla,

It is hard to believe that this type of blizzard can happen so quickly. Luckily, the media prepared everyone days ahead. The grocery stores were packed two days before the storm.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Meemsync,

We haven't had to dig out like this for a long time.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Jim,

You were smart not to try to come. My good friend was at her son's in Dayton and I am sure she did not get back on Wednesday as planned.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

You're right GG, I knew when I saw Cantore that we were in for a big one!

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Balisha,

Can you imagine being in a car with four dogs? Maybe they were company and protection.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi QM,

It is hard to imagine until it hits. Then all you can do is wait and see what happens.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Karen,

I think we got the big hit on this one. I know you have a lot of snow on the ground but this one came quick and fast.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Fishtail Cottage,

My door was small compared to the full door they showed on TV. The snow drift had covered the whole door, about 6 feet up.

Eileen

Catherine@AGardenerinProgress said...

I saw Al in Chicago on the Today show too. Now that I've gotten to know so many people through blogging I wonder about how they are doing when I see these big weather events on the news. I can't believe all that snow. Hope you don't need to go anywhere.

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Catherine, today was the first day we could get out literally. It is super cold here now so we went out to the store and came right home.

Eileen