The Babbling Mind

I usually post this link but I forget it up until Christmas Eve so I thought I'd post it early. It for all the kids -big and little- so they can track Santa on his journey Christmas Eve.

Norad Santa Tracker.

Because if the US Military believes in Santa, he must be real!



( Hershey's Double Chocolate Cheesecake )

I'm still here! YAY! And it is a yaying situation because about 4,500 people in town are without power and there are still people stuck out on the interstate. So the fact that I have heat and internet and cable? YAYYAYAYAYAYYAYAYAYAY!! YAY! It's slowed down snowing but I'd guess we have about two feet of the stuff on the ground. It's hard to tell with all the drifting. We're supposed to get another six inches before it finally stops tomorrow morning.

But yeah, about two feet of snow. I got our ramp shoveled off of about fourteen inches last night and had to do it all over again this morning. Joy. I'm not even trying the driveway. It's about as long as a football field and has extra room for cars to turn around here at the top. I'd have a heart attack before I even made my way to the mailbox.

So yeah, both VA and WV are in a state of emergency and everything is canceled. I mean everything. Banks, churches, mail, everything. Still, it could be worse, so I'm thankful I have a big pot of veggie soup made for dinner and biscuts and the power to use the oven and keep my computer going. Hope everyone else in the area is staying safe and warm!

And now! Onto the recipe!



( Baklava )

I think I watched AB make this three times this week. I lost count due to all the drooling.

It started snowing around three this afternoon, about five hours ago. All roads in Greenbrier County are closed, as are all roads in Tazewell County. Here in my little corner of WV, five school buses of kids didn't make it home and they took them to Beaver Vol. Fire Dept to wait out the snow.

So far we have power, thank gods, but damn do I feel for the parents and kids having to wait out the storm. There are still kids on the roads down in Mercer County trying to get home too. Damn. It's been quite a while since we've had a snow this bad. I went out to my porch and measured the snow, eight inches of it so far and it's supposed to keep snowing all day tomorrow.

I hope all those kids make it home safely. Keep warm folks.

ETA:

Update folks. It's 11:30 and people are trapped in their cars on I-77 between Beckley and Ghent. Road crews are focusing on that area, digging people out and getting them home. Rt. 19 between Beckley and Oak Hill is pretty much snow covered and that's a main highway for our area. I'm hearing tales of tractor trailers jack knifing in a couple of places which is making the interstate roads even more hazardous. The two main roads through Beckley are pretty much snow covered too, so I'm really not holding my breath on seeing the snow plow until Sunday.

As for me, I keep on trying to shovel off my porch. I get a little bit done, go sit for a minute and go back and find another inch or two of snow has fallen. Yeah, this snow is really nasty.

If anyone needs road info, I've got numbers to call for Virgina and West Virgina.

WV- 1 877 WVA Road
VA- 1 800 367 Road

Good luck if you're going out! Me? I'm hibernating until Monday. And I can skip going out Monday if I really have to.

First snowstorm of the year starting tonight. YAY. Not. I like snow at Christmas as much as anyone but over a foot all at once? So not funny, Mother Nature. Not funny at all.



( Dark Chocolate Peppermint Bark )

Why is it you always get sick the day AFTER you go to the doctor?



( Chocolate and Orange Meltaways )

For the_minx_17. They both looked good so you can pick and choose.


( Pecan Praline Morsels )



( Creamy Pecan Pralines )

I've been informed that not only is it unusally cold in parts of Florida, but they were expecting snow last night in Southern California. So yeah, except for Hawaii, the entire US is freaking cold. It starts snowing in Honolulu though, and I reserve the right to freak out about the next ice age starting.



( White Peppermint Snowballs )

I think I speak for most of the United States -- except for possibly Southern California and Florida -- when I say: OH MY GODS, IT'S FUCKING COLD!



( Classic Shortbread Cookies in 4 Ingredients with added 1 ingredient Variations )