Sunday, February 14, 2010

You Can Run But You Can't Hide from Snow--and Happy Valentine's Day!

I seriously needed a break from the snow. I hadn't been out of doors for an entire week. So when my sweetheart suggested a trip to Kiawah Island, I was delighted.

During the eight hour drive, I took a turn behind the wheel while my husband snoozed a bit. We were crossing the stateline into South Carolina when I noticed tiny particles on the windshield. I squinted, looked twice, and then I said, "Honey, I think it's snowing."

David half-opened one eye, viewed the windshield and said, "Can't be."

Okay, folks. I lived outside of Chicago for years. I've driven through blizzards. Suffice it to say, Jo knows snow.

Minutes later, David's phone rang. Now he was totally awake. My husband explained to the caller where we were and where we were going.

The caller shared the weather report with David: Two to four inches of snow was predicted for the Carolina coast. It was snowing all along Highway 95. In fact, it looked like we were driving right into a blizzard. We stopped at a rest stop, and David took the wheel.

What did I do?

Well, folks, I couldn't take it anymore. I started crying. While the snow swirled around us, I had my own little meltdown.

This morning the headline in the Post and Courier notes that snowmen have invaded the yards in Charleston!

Yes, we drove south to escape the snow, and for the first time in 10 years, Charleston SC got four inches of cover on the ground. White powder dusted Kiawah Island, too. Our favorite restaurant, Rose Bank Cafe, was closed at lunch on account of "bad weather."

Sheesh. And now we're back here outside of DC, and guess what's expected tomorrow? SNOW.

Homemade Cork Stamp...

Before our trip, I did manage to send out a few valentines. I'd been saving corks from champagne bottles for some time, so I carved one of them into a heart-shaped stamp. Now it's not like I don't own a zillion stamps, but I wanted that special wonky look that cork gives.

Those cork-shaped hearts the pandas are holding are ones that I stamped. You can read how to make your own cork stamps here. (I've also posted a nifty recipe for broccoli salad.)

Okay, how was your Valentine's Day?

8 comments:

signlady217 said...

I'm so sorry you trip was ruined by more snow, esp. since you were trying to get a break from it. I think I would have cried, too!

Also, wanted to let you know the book I won arrived on Saturday. Yeah! Can't wait to read it. Thanks again for your generosity.

Camille Minichino said...

A great brunch at Oakland's Claremont hotel, followed by writing of course. Deadlines don't take holidays.

Love the cork stamps, Joanna, and I plan to try it.

And tomorrow - Monday - is another holiday: Galileo's birthday! I also gave this birthday to my first protagonist, Gloria Lamerino in the periodic table mysteries

Betty Hechtman said...

I feel for you with all the snow. It must have been terrible to be stuck in the house for a week. So sorry that your outing turned into another snow ecounter.

I'm embarrassed to say it was 80 here and I went walking in the mountains that are deeply green from the rain and didn't even have to wear a jacket.

Love the heart stamp!

Peggy said...

Hard to believe how strange the weather is - here in Western Canada, close to the Pacific coast we're experiencing a very early spring, our kids in the Prairies are enjoying just barely freezing (usually like -30C at this time of year) while the south and England are struggling through uncommon blizzards and cold. Hoping that warmer weather is just around the corner for you.

Terri Thayer said...

I took a long walk with a friend along the bay. It was fogged in. Sorry, that's the worst of it.

I've been snowed in plenty, though. And while there's nothing like a great unexpected snow day or two, six or seven in a row is overkill.

I hope the sun shines soon.

Joanna Campbell Slan said...

Oh, golly, it's snowing outside now. Camille, you're right about deadlines. Betty, enjoy the nice temp for me, okay? Terri, I wish I'd been with you on that walk.

"The sun will come out, too-morrow, too-morrow, bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow, there'll be sun..."

Joanna Campbell Slan said...

Peg, I think that today we're getting an Alberta Clipper. (I better check that out on google. Here I always thought that was a boat!)

SignLady217, enjoy! Let me know what you think!

Linda O. Johnston said...

How awful, that the snow isn't letting up. I hope you get your break from it soon, Joanna. I think we're expecting a little more rain soon in L.A., but most of our bad weather seems to be over--and it hardly compared with yours! I hope your Valentine's Day was a good one anyway.