Snowbound

We haven't read Whittier yet, but snowstorms always bring the words of his poem "Snowbound" to mind.

The wind blew east; we heard the roar
Of Ocean on his wintry shore,
And felt the strong pulse throbbing there
Beat with low rhythm our inland air.

Granted there is no ocean in Pulaski County, just a river and a few water filled ditches, but the main idea that strikes me comes from the first four words "The wind blew east." That east wind is always a dangerous one.

Yesterday the wind blew from the east, northeast, southeast for most of the day. The wind is still from the east today.

Blizzard warnings go into effect in an hour or so and last throughout tomorrow.

What will this storm bring?

My husband has cleared the drive so we can get in and out at this point. I have a feeling all of his work will be for naught when the snow begins to fall and the wind picks up speed.

The crockpot of Italian beef made enough to keep us in sandwiches for a few meals. We have plenty of snacks, more meat in the freezer, and a recipe box full of recipes to try.

The five gallon bucket is sitting in the tub, full of water, and the washer is filled to the top, ready for an emergency.

Part of me is hoping for a 'snowbound' couple of days, just to stay home, no schedules to keep, no traveling, just napping, reading, watching a few movies. Part of me sighs as I know that the girls' basketball teams that my husband coaches will have to re-schedule games for the weekend, hopefully, because sectional is coming up next week and time is running out. Part of me fears that the electricity will go out and we will be huddled by the fireplace, trying to keep warm. Part of me fears for the health of my in-laws, and I pray that there are no health emergencies that require a trip to the hospital on icy, snowy roads.

"Snowbound" is a 'winter idyll.' I just hope our experiences in the Blizzard of 2011 are just as idyllic.