The Sky is Falling!!!

New Mexico is known as being an arid region.

The temperatures in the Albuquerque metro area

are below freezing at least overnight during the winter,

but we normally don't have the precipitation to get snow.

We may get an inch or two of snow a few times a year, but it quickly melts.

The snow fell during the early morning hours on Friday,

cancelling school.

Even my car parked under a car port
has a layer of snow on it!

It snowed periodically throughout the day and overnight,

creating a situation we rarely see; snow accumulation!!!

A few more snow-experienced souls have ventured out.
The grocery store and restaurants are across the street.

I have lived here for 15 years and have not seen this much snow!

We must be at 6 to 12 inches!

It is very fascinating, and very cold!

Photo of the bushes below my 2nd floor apartment.
View from my balcony looking down.

I took Ella out on my balcony.

There was enough snow for her to play in the snow on my balcony,

but posing for a few quick pictures was enough for her.

I'm cold! I'm going in!!!

The snow looks really deep!

We ventured out the front door and down the stairs.

Ella posed again by the railing at the bottom of the stairs.

There is a snow drift on the grass behind her.

There is a lot of snow!!!

Those of us who live here are convinced

that it is the end of the world.

We are trapped!!!!

The snow on the grass went up to her thighs

which is about 4 inches. 

I shuffled my feet through the snow, 

and stood Ella where I had "plowed" the snow.

With my shuffling, the snow depth was about 7 inches

up her back and toward her shoulders.

My glove-less hands

got that red, and biting cold feeling again,

and my feet in my sneakers weren't thrilled, either.

So much for our quick excursion out into the snow.

The expected high temperatures for today are 53 degrees.

umm....yeah.

********************

UPDATE:

By 11 am, the snow was beginning to melt.

There was a stream running down the parking lot.

The cement steps were still covered in snow, but more

people were beginning to come and go.

The place where I had walked out over the snow covered

grass and posed Ella was visible.

I ventured out to lunch since my car was not on ice,

there were no snow piles blocking my car,

and people seemed to be able to drive.

When I returned from lunch, the cement steps and stairway were clear.

I don't know if the snow had melted or if they had been swept.

By 2 pm, it was 41 degrees.

The area where I had walked early was widening

as it melted.

The parking lot was clear, but there was still snow on the grass.

Cars that had not been used had layers of snow melting off of them.

I have started to take photos of Ella on the slope over this

railroad tie wall. It is where I photographed her yesterday

with the sled, snowman, and snow angel.

This location allows me to stand up and still photograph

her from closer to eye level.

We could go out for more snow play,

but it really is just cold and wet right now.

The snow is dripping off the roof.

It has melted from the wood stump and most of my balcony.

The place Ella stood in snow this morning

is drying off for another day in New Mexico.

Snow Day

Round One

Three inches of snow fell overnight.

The school district I work for called a 2-hour delay.

Although it is a great day for yesterday's ADAD theme

of "cold", it also works for today's theme: thankful.

I am thankful that I did not have to drive to work

early in the morning with ice and snow on the roads.

I took Ella outside for a snow photo before my

expected time to leave for work.

Often, when we have snow fall during the night

it melts by the time I get home from work in the afternoon.

The best snow photo would be before work.

ADAD Thankful
ADAD 57: 2/27/15

Lesson 1:
This southern Californian put on her coat to go out for these photos,

but neglected to wear gloves or mittens.
It got cold really quickly.

My fingers started to go numb and turn red.

I know that feeling.

We went inside without any "playing in the snow" photos.

Round Two

Shortly after 8:30, the school district changed

the 2-hour delay into a cancellation.

For most elementary and middle schools in the district,

it was a parent-teacher conference day.

The school cancellation was a relief for high school students,

students on the alternative calendar, families and staff.

I started to look for my mittens.

I swear I have some...where are they?

In an uh...duh! moment, I remembered where my favorite

mittens had been stored.

In my coat pocket!

The same coat I had worn out earlier.

So, with mittens and coat on,

I took Ella out for more snow fun.

My sled is sinking in the snow!!!

How are you supposed to ride this thing?

Look!

There is enough snow to make a snow angel!

I can make a snowman!

How does he get eyes and a nose like our snowman,

Chile the Snowman?

I have a big snowball!!!!

Lesson 2:

Heavy jackets can be bulky and restrict movement.

Ella sat down to play with the snowball because I could not

get her to hold it properly.

The jacket was too bulky!

I noticed that Ella was getting wet

and my feet in sneakers were getting cold.
It was time to go inside.
There probably is a reason why they cancel

school on days like today.

I am thankful that the 2-hour delay was

changed to a full cancellation!

Ella's Day at School

Today was my lucky day!

I got to go to work with my person!

She is a 2nd grade special education teacher.

Today was a special day at school

because it wasn't a school day for students.

It was parent/teacher conference day,

except my person scheduled most of her conferences

for tomorrow so she could work today.

While I was at school,

I thought about the ADAD theme for the day.

ADAD 56: 2/26/15

COLD

This is my public school service announcement:

If you have a cold, use a tissue to wipe

your nose! Don't use your sleeve!

After straightening up the tissues

I sharpened some pencils.

My person said I was the best helper!

My person worked for awhile.

Then, it was lunch recess.

I got to play outside!

Thinking about COLD, it sure was cold outside!

We were only outside for about 10 minutes.

We played tic tac toe when we came in from the playground.

I played with the blocks while my person got ready for

her afternoon conference.

After her conference,
I looked around and thought if there was anything

else I wanted to do while I was at school.

I played with the letter cards for a few minutes.

Before I knew it, the clock said that we were allowed to leave.

Works for me!!!