Oh, swellerific. A blizzard is coming

ugh, we got a ton here in NC in the triad area.. and it's still coming down! we woke up about 3am this morning to go get groceries and stock up on stuff because we didn't get paid til midnight. walmart was hit so hard, there wasn't any milk! luckily we got everything we need, plenty of food, candles, blankets and matches.. plenty of food for the kitties and the dogs too, just in case.

i've got raynaud's unfortunately and going out to get groceries was a bit of a hassle. i can't spend more than a couple of minutes outside in this mess before my fingers and toes start going numb. i really feel for all the homeless during this awful storm.. i can't imagine what it'd be like to be homeless AND have raynaud's.

i hope every one stays safe! don't go outside unless you have to (unless you want to make a snowman!!)

NOOO!  Now it's sleeting.  

Ginny said:

I wanted to apologize for this blizzard.  It's all my fault.  

I've noticed that whenever I buy a big bag of rock salt, it does not snow again the rest of the winter, and sometimes even the next winter too.  Please forgive my carelessness and negligence of the administration of my powers over winter weather!  However, this power usually only works in my city.  If you live elsewhere, I'm not responsible!

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If my power goes out, I'm blaming you! [emoji]128514[/emoji]

I am not too worried about power. I am on the same power grid as the senior assisted care home next door.. If we lose power, we'd be one of the first ones back up

Margd said:

If my power goes out, I'm blaming you! [emoji]128514[/emoji]

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Lol....I promise to handle my power over the weather more responsibly!

Update:  well, we had several hours of sleet and freezing rain AFTER the snow plow guy cleared our roads so they are basically a sheet of glass right now.  And it's started snowing again.  The sleet/freezing rain tamped down our snow and made it look like we only have 4 inches but in reality it would have been about 7 inches by now.  Power still on at this point!  Hope that continues!!!  Not just for me but for everyone out there.  

I don't t think I'll be going to work in the morning.  At least not until daylight.  I keep hearing reports on the news about people - one person in my city - getting killed in car accidents today.  How horrible!  Everyone be safe!

Winchester said:

 
I thought about you when I saw the forecasts. Your area is going to get hammered. We're expecting 2-4 inches. Or 4-8 inches. In other words, we're right in that area that's on the borderline between the two amounts, so it's pretty much a toss-up. I'm just glad that it's on Saturday, which will give us some time on Sunday to dig ourselves out before having to go to work on Monday. 

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Now the total is up to 30"! Gasp!

Ginny said:

 
Update:  well, we had several hours of sleet and freezing rain AFTER the snow plow guy cleared our roads so they are basically a sheet of glass right now.  And it's started snowing again.  The sleet/freezing rain tamped down our snow and made it look like we only have 4 inches but in reality it would have been about 7 inches by now.  Power still on at this point!  Hope that continues!!!  Not just for me but for everyone out there.  

I don't t think I'll be going to work in the morning.  At least not until daylight.  I keep hearing reports on the news about people - one person in my city - getting killed in car accidents today.  How horrible!  Everyone be safe!

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Yes, by all means take proper precautions. A few days ago, we had freezing rain, and, like in your area, everything turned into a sheet of glass. Several times, just outside of my house, I nearly fell on my butt while throwing down salt (ironic, huh? )  

I have a little bag of salt I got last year but not about to put it out just yet.  It's supposed to end tomorrow morning.  Yes be careful!

We have been upgraded to 8 to 10 inches with possibiliy of more. Nothing going on yet.

LaRussa said:

I worry about how cold it would be if the power should go out but also I am very concerned about the food in the fridge, I wouldn't want everything to get spoiled.  I am already getting stressed about all of this.

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it may be cold enough out of the freezer to keep it frozen. Put it in the ice

Ginny said:

Update:  well, we had several hours of sleet and freezing rain AFTER the snow plow guy cleared our roads so they are basically a sheet of glass right now.  And it's started snowing again.  The sleet/freezing rain tamped down our snow and made it look like we only have 4 inches but in reality it would have been about 7 inches by now.  Power still on at this point!  Hope that continues!!!  Not just for me but for everyone out there.  

I don't t think I'll be going to work in the morning.  At least not until daylight.  I keep hearing reports on the news about people - one person in my city - getting killed in car accidents today.  How horrible!  Everyone be safe!

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Please be careful of the ice in England 50 years ago my dad got into a skid and alost totalled the 2 care. Be was ok but my grandfather died that b week and we lived the other side b London. It was a terrible uptime. Whe he died my dad came home by train weeping as I am doing now.
Just please be careful.

I got creative making a bunch of shelters with the Blizzard of 2016 arriving.

I will probably make an instructable page for how to create shelters on the cheap.
Right not the visibility outside is next to nil and wind is howling.

I have seen one feral so far, he got damp in the snow , but is holed up in an older shelter I have against a wall. It has straw and a purr pad. It's covered with cardboard that is covered by 3m contractor bags.

On top of that is a sheet of mylar with a rug on top. And above all of that is a sunsail with 8m plastic sheeting that I need prayers and good wishes will stay up as 25 more inches of snow falls tonight.

If anyone has tips to give, they're welcome and if anyone has questions, please ask! I am trying to help as many people online as possible take care of ferals outside.

I am far from perfect, but I think making an effort really helps them overall.

The amount is upped in my area also. On the border between 3-6. I predict 6

Stewball said:

 

Ginny said:

Update:  well, we had several hours of sleet and freezing rain AFTER the snow plow guy cleared our roads so they are basically a sheet of glass right now.  And it's started snowing again.  The sleet/freezing rain tamped down our snow and made it look like we only have 4 inches but in reality it would have been about 7 inches by now.  Power still on at this point!  Hope that continues!!!  Not just for me but for everyone out there.  

I don't t think I'll be going to work in the morning.  At least not until daylight.  I keep hearing reports on the news about people - one person in my city - getting killed in car accidents today.  How horrible!  Everyone be safe!
[/quote

Please be careful of the ice in England 50 years ago my dad got into a skid and alost totalled the 2 care. Be was ok but my grandfather died that b week and we lived the other side b London. It was a terrible uptime. Whe he died my dad came home by train weeping as I am doing now.
Just please be careful.

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Omg I'm so sorry! Hugs to you. That's terrible.  

Wow! @4theloveofcats, that's quite a lot of work you've done there.  And you have one "customer" already?  I hope he/she appreciates it!  That is so kind of you to do this for them during this winter storm!  Did you follow any guidelines when making the shelters?  I would worry about the shelters themselves becoming a trap for the kitty if a roaming dog happens to come upon it.  Is there any way of escape, or a back door, in case something like that happens?

Ginny said:

 
Wow! @4theloveofcats, that's quite a lot of work you've done there.  And you have one "customer" already?  I hope he/she appreciates it!  That is so kind of you to do this for them during this winter storm!  Did you follow any guidelines when making the shelters?  I would worry about the shelters themselves becoming a trap for the kitty if a roaming dog happens to come upon it.  Is there any way of escape, or a back door, in case something like that happens?

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Thanks. The customer/feral in the older shelter is a feral I took care of last Winter and brought inside for a while back then. 

He hated being inside, hated anytime I pet him and after a few months escaped. From May until a couple week ago I hadn't seen him at all and thought he was gone.

He has been coming around regularly again, but bolts when he sees me. The older shelter I saw him get into has a couple of exits. I put food on a heated snuggle disc but I don't think he's come out.

I have a bad habit of neurotically checking to see if the cats are in the cubicles and it can scare them off! Need to remember these cats usually have to fend for themselves...

We had a bad 40 mph gust here earlier  and snow started to blow into the covered area. I took an extra 4 by 6 carpet I had and taped mylar on it. Placed that over the gap. As I did, I saw another feral jump out of the shelter.

Felt so bad that she was startled by me making noise!   But with many more inches to come, I had to.

Hope she'll be back since I know the more kittehs snuggling, the better.

I am about to do some sleuthing and then check for little paw prints in a few. (And the guy I'm dating is here to keep an eye on me so I don't end up outside too long with frostbite !

The shed containing 6 other little "houses" is only wide enough for a cat to squeeze into (the metal doors are slightly ajar and covered with heavy duty plastic save for a 6 inch opening.

Lucky that I've only seen one dog loose around here in 5 years. Plus the yard is fenced in.

Many warm thoughts for everyone to stay safe and warm inside and out!

We've been knee deep in snow all week and there is more falling right now. I was snowed in Monday and Tuesday last week. Luckily I have a shed full of cat food and enough red wine to pickle a horse. This is what the cat's enclosure looked like on Monday morning.


 I went out for a bit of a walk around in my snow shoes. It's so pretty out there.



My cat proof fence is not holding up at all well. Part of the overhang collapsed so now it's more like a Bridge to Freedom for the more adventurous ones. I don't think there is anything I can do about it until spring though.


Evidence. Could it have been........................The Abominable Snowcat? 
Keep safe and warm everyone.

Ginny said:

Omg I'm so sorry! Hugs to you. That's terrible.  

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It was pretty terrible. I'd never seen my dad cry. Dad's just didn't do that. They were strong. Mum told me
he did again when I left England. I remember the accident as I was 21 and adored my granddad. In my religion the male blood relatives don't shave for a month. My dad's beard came through pure white.
Any case this is about you. Be careful please.

Norachan, what lovely pictures! Evidence of the Abominable SnowCat! 

We had four inches fall overnight.

Rick and The Beast just came back from being out for her morning pee. Rick said she didn't squat down very far, but she did pee. They ran around the house and then she made a beeline for the door. She doesn't like having wet feet, even though we dry them well when she comes back inside.

Later on, once it gets light outside, we'll go out and shovel a "Pee Path" for Jackie.

We are so glad that Rick's mother went into assisted living. Had she not, he would have had to stay with her this weekend in case her power went out or to keep an eye on things up at the house.

Be safe, people!