Unless you’ve been living in a cave, are not from the U.S., or have no access to outside news, you know that the better part of the East Coast has been dealing with way sub-freezing temperatures, snow, and ice. Even Florida saw wintry weather, and they almost never get yucky winter weather! Here in coastal North Carolina, we got ice and snow. That in and of itself isn’t really remarkable; it’s certainly not the first snowstorm we’ve gotten since we’ve lived here. A layer of ice then snow usually brings some widespread power outages – around 24 hours of no electricity and quality family time. This is followed by a day of full sun and 55 degrees to bring on the melting.
That didn’t happen this time. We got a little icy precipitation and we were supposed to get 1-3″ of snow. We got more like 6″ of snow. And we have yet to see temperatures climb to 40, let alone the coveted 55.
On the plus side, we didn’t lose electricity, for which we are grateful. This snow has been hanging out since Wednesday night, and it was beautiful. Thursday, it was brutally cold and we enjoyed some time playing in it. Friday was still very cold, and the girls enjoyed throwing snowballs at the house. Today, colder still. Tomorrow promises more of the same, and lows are staying in the teens, so the ice isn’t going away very quickly. But… Monday’s coming!
As I looked at the weather forecast on my phone and felt the delirious excitement of what’s to come, I remembered this episode of Northern Exposure. You may remember this dramedy from the early 90s about a young New York doctor sent to a small town of quirky residents in Alaska to help pay off his med school loan. In this one particular episode, as the days begin to get longer, the residents are excited and planning a huge celebration. At last, the long darkness of winter is over!
That’s me as I think about this coming week. The temperatures will rise and the snow will melt completely. I will be free to leave our property safely to run errands and take care of business for the first time since New Year’s Day. I’m almost giddy with excitement! Me, who spent so much time in December bemoaning how busy I was with all the running around! I get to run errands and spend over an hour in grueling torment at Dance2Fit. Yes, it’ll be glorious!
The week has brought ministers snow surfing; teens, kids, and adults playing in snow; snow people; snow angels; snowball fights; widely impassible roads; and many school and business closures. Even our church is planning its first web-worship, live on Facebook. It’s also brought salty waves kissing snow-laden beaches and eerily desolate footprints on an empty, snowy pier. The week made a liar out of me again, as I’d told my oldest when we moved down here that we probably wouldn’t see snow much anymore.
These are the trials and joys of living at the beach. Snow here is pretty unusual, so the excitement of “just a snow day” ramps up exponentially. But just like spring’s rains and summer’s heat, too much of a good thing makes it less of a good thing, and we’re ready for the thaw and the promised 70 degrees of later this week.
The time stuck inside being warm has made it easy for me to move on my soap restocking. Follow me on Instagram and Facebook to see what we’re brewing up that’s new and awesome. And I’d love for you to join our Facebook group for the first peek at new products and the first tidbits of news from Coastal Carolina Soap Co.