The Olympia Snowstorm WAS Really Beautiful! (I Say That Now That It's Gone)

From today's vantage point of sunshine and really mild, springlike weather, I think I can look back at the pictures I took during Olympia's big snow and ice storm - and actually appreciate them. When we were in the midst of being snowbound, hearing falling trees and cracking branches all around, and wondering WHEN our power would come back on - well, I noticed the beauty of the wintry scene....but couldn't really appreciate it.

First came snow....and more snow....and still more snow. How exciting to be among the areas with the deepest accumulation in the Puget Sound area! Facebook was full of photos of everyone standing in their yards with a yardstick showing how deep their snow was.

Then came the ice storm. Hmmmm, yes it is pretty, but oh my gosh the trees and branches were encased with THICK ice. And the cracking and crashing of trees, limbs, and branches began - taking out power lines left and right. Not having quite so much fun now.

Once our power was back on, and life was feeling a bit more normal, it was time to be oh so thankful that we didn't have any real damage. (And to see if my car could make it out of the driveway yet). The broken trees look so sad, and cleanup of the mess of downed branches will take quite a while, so the current springlike weather is really, really appreciated.

I used to tell people relocating to our area that sometimes we didn't get any snow at all, and the infrequent times when we got a lot, the temperatures usually rose quickly enough to bring back our normal winter rain and wash all the snow away. But, I am realizing that this winter is the second time in the last 3 years that we got so much snow that I couldn't get out of our driveway - for several days!

Maybe I won't tell people that anymore!

But, yes....the snow was truly beautiful! (Now bring on springtime!!!)