Winter Weather

This past weekend we had a severe winter storm that swept through many states and crippled large areas from snow, ice, and sleet. In North Texas, the storm dumped 1 to 3 inches of sleet late Thursday and early Friday. Throughout the night, I listened to the sleet hitting the windows on the north side of the house and woke to a beautiful winter scene. While my husband and I looked out the window at the ice encrusted tree limbs, our power went out.

Now power outages aren't a rare occurrence where we live, due to the number of large, ancient oak trees in our area, but winter temps can be unpleasant. Right away I called Oncor to add our name to the list of customers and then set about getting ready for the duration.

As I said, we've had power outages before. In February, 2010, we were in the dark for five days from the heaviest snow fall I've ever seen. Our total was eighteen inches. That year we settled into the living room with a Dearborn heater retrieved from the barn, quilts and blankets and each others company.



Our House 2010



Our Front Yard 2010

This past Friday, December 6, 2013, we settled into the living room with quilts and blankets and each other. BUT, this time we used our newly installed gas fireplace. We had heat and ambience. Our stove is gas, so we cooked and had coffee. After eight hours our electricity was back on and stayed on the remainder of the weekend.

                                                Our Tree and Ice Covered Porch 2013


We are so much luckier than many thousands of others and I'm very grateful. The roads across Texas and the surrounding states are still treacherous to travel but, with rising temperatures today, should begin to thaw. The power has been restored to the majority of people and life is slowly returning to normal. I pray the folks in the eastern states, who are now in the midst of this storm, are able to stay safe and warm.

Now, if I may, I'd like to share with you a short story I've published. It is a modern day romance that takes place in the Texas Panhandle during the snow storm of the century called, Lilah By Midnight. 

Blurb for Lilah By Midnight: 

Lilah Canfield's career as a country music performer is on the line. It's New Years Eve and she has one last chance to save her career with a performance in Forth Worth at Billy Bob's Texas. Bad thing is the worst snow storm in a century has hit the Texas Panhandle making passage on the highways dangerous at best and closed at worst. When her motor coach slides off the road into a snow bank outside her hometown of Mistletoe, Texas, will Lilah make her gig and save her career? Or will she give it all up for a second chance with her high school sweetheart and first love? 

It's been two years since his wife passed away and Jack McCommas is ready to move forward for himself and his eight year old daughter. When he and a friend stop to help the folks in a stranded motor coach, he can't believe Lilah Canfield's standing in front of him and is literally shocked to realize the old spark is still there when they touch. If she chooses her career, will he be able to let her go a second time? Or will he try to convince her to stay in Mistletoe?

Lilah By Midnight, is available at Amazon for Kindle here:    http://tinyurl.com/opgrccg

Thanks for stopping by today, and if you'd care to share your memories of snow and ice storm experiences with me, I'll give a copy of Lilah By Midnight to one lucky commenter.

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Carra


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