It's Not Raining- It's Icing!

I know, I know, another weather post from Arkansas! But seriously the weather is crazy! We love it here and don't think the weather is bad enough to move for (when tornado season starts again I may change my mind!:))

School was cancelled yesterday so the kids could be home before the freezing rain started. If any of you are wondering what freezing rain is- it's rain that freezes as it's falling since it's so cold outside. It's scary because it causes black ice on the road, and since it's so cold outside the ice just gets thicker and thicker. To add to the problem- no snow equipment to clear the roads- fun drives for anyone out on the road! I picked the kids up from school and got home as the rain started. A friend of mine went to her her son from school 2 hours later- the buses were running WAY behind! As she was driving she watched 2 cars go off the road into a ditch and they were going around 5 miles an hour- it's so slick! I had just gone grocery shopping- so we were fine on food. That is one thing we learned very quickly here- avoid the store when it's storming- people act like it's the end of the world and that they will be with out power for weeks. We try and keep enough on hand that we can use- if we needed to.

The rain has not stopped since yesterday after noon- it's so pretty outside, in a cold scary way. Darrell was stuck on a conference call last night at work so he had to drive on some slick roads. He said the parking lot was like an ice skating rink- he almost fell a few times, and luckily the parking lot was empty, because his car was sliding too. This morning her went to work- I was really nervous- but he wanted to at least try and make it in. He made it and after a few hours they sent out an email telling everyone to put safety first and go home. I was so glad he came home- and we always love to have more time with him! The mayor told everyone to stay off the roads, and only be out if it was an absolute emergency!

Right after he left for work, I heard a really weird noise outside, and when I looked out the window I wish I would have had my camera handy. My next door neighbor had started his car to defrost his windows, and in the 10 minutes of him doing that his doors froze shut- with his car running! The strange noise I heard was him running and kicking his door trying to break the ice! He finally got in after close to 20 minutes- by then I could have got my camera but I don't think he would have appreciated it!

We promised the kids they could go outside and see the ice- they thought they could play, but were disappointed to find out it was all just like little pebbles of ice- not fun to play with. As they walked across the grass we laughed because the grass was completely covered in ice, that they could stand on it and it wouldn't break- They had to jump to break the ice and actually stand in the grass! Here's a few pictures.

I never trimmed my rose bushes, and this is what happens when you don't trim them and they get freezing rain to weigh them down!

Our satellite kept freezing over so Darrell would go out and dump hot water on it so he could watch his college basketball. As he came in he showed me how the rain gutters were not over flowing with rain, but with ice, it would come down. I know the video is hard to see since it's dark- but it looks like someone is pouring salt off our house- that's the ice!

It looks like giant pieces of salt!

Here's a picture of the ice accumulation under the gutters.

We are hoping to not lose power- it's flickered a few times, but it's stayed on so far! I made potato chowder soup for dinner- soup sounded so good, and I decided to be somewhat domestic and make hot chocolate on the stove. The girls were very impressed with my cocoa making ability!! I usually make it in the microwave- somehow it tasted better being made on the stove I guess!