A Weekend to Remember, that's forsure!

Okay, so we knew that there was going to be a winter storm up in the mountains over the weekend. That is why we left early on Friday to head out there before the storm got too out of control. We arrived around dinner time and before it got dark and really bad on the road. The snow started up Friday evening and continued all the way through Saturday. It was Friday, in the middle of the night, to early morning Saturday; did the storm started really acting out! Lets just say, it was bad. All through the night it was snowing, raining, and snowing again (over all about 15 inches of snow fell). The temps dropped so all of that rain froze to ice. The wind picked up like crazy to which in turn snapped huge tree branches, that caused them to come crashing down on the roof of Dad and Mom Stafford's house. It happened at least three different times, each shaking the house as the branches landed. It was around 2:00am Sat. when the power went out...and never came back on the rest of our time there. There was also lots of lightning. It was a full on storm. The kids and Jeff had no idea what was going on during the night. They all slept right through it! Of course Jeff had his ear plugs in. I WAS UP ALL through the night. I couldn't sleep, not with all of the racket going on outside. Plus I was praying to God, asking him to protect the house and us in it (I was terrified that the trees would fall). It was all pretty dramatic. Now thank God Mom and Dad had a generator. We were able to run the refrigerator, the heater in the night, and the TV. Yes, that is correct, we were living like the pioneers, except we did have the TV on. It was so funny, because we were having our dinners, and washing dishes with the old oil lamps lit. We could still use the oven too, because it was gas. So even though we had no power all weekend...it all worked out, and we could all visit and stay close. Jeff and I also shoveled a lot of snow (or should I say the huge and heavy snow berms)! I am so sore today because of that crazy workout! Mark and Paula did make it up on Sunday afternoon for a visit. They stayed for dinner and for most of the Oscars. It was great seeing them. We got a call from Mom Stafford yesterday afternoon, while we were on the road home, and she informed us that their power had finally turned back on! Even through the storm and no power, it was a wonderful visit.

Also, the pictures of the tinder, is what Jeff's Dad built for his steam engine. Dad built this thing from scratch, and it is beautiful. We love the fact that his Dad has a part of making this engine complete and come true. It will be treasured, and very special that Jeff and his Dad could do a project together, even a state away. The picture of the snowy mountain, is actually of San Jacinto, out in the desert off of the I-10. It was a picture moment. I didn't take any dramatic pictures of the weather and branches on the ground up in Crestline (I didn't want to be outside unless I had too).