Snowing in Kentucky

I have slept restlessly for several nights and this was one of the rare mornings when J. was first out of bed.

He even dished out the cat food.

Teasel came back to the bedroom after wolfing her portion and told me a long sad story about a starving cat.

I hauled on warm sweat pants and a dilapidated hoodie, thrust my feet into slippers and followed Teasel to the kitchen.

Her pitiful tale was debunked by the row of cat dishes on the kitchen floor.

Outside snow was drifting down in fitful flakes. 

When I opened the sliding door for a hasty photo several cats dashed into the fenced enclosure.

They were back in by the fire very quickly, shaking their cold paws.

Looking through the branches of the 'burning bush.'

Snow had thickened by mid-afternoon, clinging to the nandina.

Snow accumulation at 3:45.

It doesn't look like much, especially to those of us who have lived in New England or the interior 

American west.

Schools here are closed, meetings and events cancelled.

The library and several businesses in the town center announced early closings.

Roads are nearly all hard surfaced, but they are narrow and follow the many creeks that plunge down into ravines or twist deep into the 'hollers.' 

I needed to stock fridge and pantry with a few items as J. will be away next week, along with M. and G.

I will be preparing one hot meal per day to share with grandson D. who, with a pal, is meant to keep the home fires burning next door.

J. will be taking the van to the airport in Nashville.

He has had the red diesel truck for sale off and on during the past year.

Of course, it sold just in time to leave me with only old 'Snort'n Nort'n' available to drive.

I could if I had to, but Nort'n, the old Dodge, is not woman-driver-friendly, and I wouldn't want to maneuver 'him' in close quarters.

So, J. offered to drive me to Wal Mart [our local detested emporium] as he had an errand in that direction.

Cupboards and fridge are now stuffed with the sort of things that young men like to eat!

Cat food and litter in good supply.

Speaking of the cats: the ones who have indoor/outdoor privileges don't understand that unfriendly weather doesn't 'go away' in a few minutes.

They demand 'in', get warmed and dried, insist on going back 'out' only to act dismayed by the blowing snow that is still happening.

The smell of a beef roast in the slow cooker has filled the house for most of the day.

I baked Russet potatoes, made coleslaw with one of our recently harvested cabbages.

Taking advantage of the hot oven I stirred up a batch of 'hermits,' the soft spicy molasses cookies such as my Mother often made. I used dried blueberries in lieu of raisins.

The predicted overnight temperature is 16 F and the wind is biting.

With a rather 'safe than sorry' attitude I dragged my 5 rosemarys inside from the front porch.

It is meant to be much colder the first of the week, so I think I will walk around the large plant pots for several days until temperatures moderate.

I hope the boy cats, bored with inclement weather, won't decide to rake soil from the plant tubs!