This has been a very odd winter. We've experienced this kind before, but not often. Recently I told a newcomer that I don't think there is any such thing here as "normal" weather. The meteorologists like to use that term, but I prefer "average." So far it has been much warmer than average, with more rain than snow. It's too warm to keep the fire going in the wood stove all the time, so I end up wearing a shawl to keep the chill off. Several times we have gotten some snow (about 7.5" yesterday) and then (like yesterday) it turns to rain and makes a huge, sloppy mess. The hard-packed snow where cars have driven in our driveway is now solid ice. I won't go outside without traction devices on my boots. My husband slipped and fell on the ice a few days ago; he wasn't using traction devices. Thankfully, he didn't break any bones, and the chiropractor didn't find a great deal amiss with his spine. But he has bruises and sore muscles. That's no fun! It is supposed to get colder in a couple of days, and maybe we will see more snow and less rain. I have mixed feelings about that. I don't have to shovel rain, but snow does brighten the yard for a while. Let's see...November and December are gone, but we still have at least 3 months of winter to get through. Plenty of time for snow to show up.
Thanks to 