Weather Alert Archives - 2 Cats and Chloe

5-ish on Friday: Snow day in HRVA!

We have faced another week of snow here in Virginia. Not as much as they have had in say, Boston! But we’ve had more than our state can handle. One inch and everything shuts down for a few days: stores, schools and even the military bases! So just imagine what happens when one week we get 6 inches and followed by 10 inches the next week! Yup! I’m completely snowed in right now!

The funny thing though, I work from home and rarely leave the house on a normal day. I assumed “cabin fever” would never set in for me. Boy was I wrong! I have been having dreams about someone helicoptering me out of this place, only to whisk me away to the Florida Keys! Apparently, it’s one thing for me to choose not to leave the house… it’s another for me to not have said choice!

Rather than photo dumping all my snowy pics on you - I figured I would take advantage of “5-ish on Friday” and just share a few!

2 cats & chloe: family snow pic // newport news, va // snow day
Yesterday I did a mini “Roll Call” on twitter, asking everyone to tell me about their current weather status! I’d love to do the same in the comment section below! Tell me where you are in the world and what Mother Nature is up to! Here’s to another weekend in the snow, and only three more days left of my Whole60!

Today I’m linking up with these blogs!

Winter Hit Virginia Last Night

by Susan

I sit here staring the blank, white, word press canvas that lights up my screen. My cat is snoring up on his perch, located at the far right end of my desk. My puppy is curled up on my lap, falling in and out of sleep. She must be uncomfortable, because at 15 weeks old, she is getting to be just a wee bit too big for this. While I love my puppy cuddles, here’s hoping she grows out of lap time before she is a full size border collie and 40 pounds heavier.

Winter hit us last night. For the first time all season. Yes, we’ve had a handful of bitter cold days here and there - but today actually looks and feels like it’s winter. The trees, power lines, bushes and even my Christmas swag (that should’ve come down weeks ago) are frozen in place. The trees have a shiny, glass-like look today. It looks like if you threw a rock at them, they would all just simply shatter.

From my view, the ice has thoroughly covered and coated everything. My desk sits directly up against two windows so when I am not staring at up at my computer screen or down at my calendar - I’m staring out at the trees which normally have a dull wintertime look to them this time of year. Today though, today they look shimmery and slightly magical.

This morning I ventured out for a quick sprint around the yard, camera in hand, hair wet, no socks. I’m a crazy person. But I needed to capture a little bit of the beauty in the midst of this grey, ugly day.

Stay warm and stay safe - especially if you’re experiencing the same gross-but-beautiful winter weather that we are here in Virginia.

Hatches to Batten: Arthur is Coming!

by Susan

One of the coolest things about the blogging community is that you get a tiny little glimmer of insight into lives that may be nothing like your own. For example, there are some of you, possibly a lot of you, that will read this post and think “Seriously, what does it take to prep for a hurricane?!” or “This looks like too much, unplanned fun. Does this girl even work?!” or maybe “Is the saying ‘the calm before the storm’ legit?” The answers to these questions are a lot, too much, and yes.

We are currently at the Calm-Before-The-Storm Phase of this impending Fourth of July hurricane weekend. During the week, when I’m not coordinating events, I work as an independent marketing contractor for a national home warranty company. This job gives me a bit more flexibility when things {like hurricanes} pop up and I need to help my family out. Yesterday I texted my boss at 7am with a slightly cryptic message:

“Arthur will be a Cat One at landfall.

Heading to NC to batten down hatches.”

So yesterday, I spent the day packing up anything and everything at our river house that had a possible “could catch wind” factor. We flipped over tables. We pulled in all bird feeders. We made sure windows were closed. We double checked to make sure our webcam was working. We strategized about the placement of our boats in the yard and under trees. We took the pontoon boat off the lift and out of the river. And then we drank. {If this was more than a Category One Storm, we would also be taping windows and things of the sort. Here’s hoping it doesn’t pack too much of a wallop.}

Surprisingly my mom trusted me, with the high winds and the rough water, to drive her beloved pontoon boat to the ramp. It was either that or I take her truck and huge trailer {which I’ve never towed before.} Pretty positive she was thinking it was going to be a lose-lose either way. But I successfully drove, docked, and trailered the pontoon on my own. Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!

But first, let me take a selfie.

Meet my sister. She is too cool for selfies. But she’s all about some panoramics.

After everything was successfully in it’s hurricane-safe places, there was nothing left to do sit on stationary porch swing and enjoy a glass of wine. #whenin~~rome~~perquimans

Yes, the swing is sitting on the ground.

After wrapping things up at the house we went into town for a quick bite to eat.

Hertford is known for just a few things:

1. It’s the size of Mayberry. It’s precisely one street and two stop lights big.

2. A turtle log. {Exactly like it sounds: A log, that turtles sit on.}

3. An S-Bridge that needs to be saved.

4. Inexpensive food and treats found in the back of the drug store.

So of course we were heading straight to Woodard’s Pharmacy.

As a kid, a whole quarter would get you three scoops of ice cream. Now, with inflation and all that jazz, we are up to 75 cents plus tax. Look out Cold Stone!

Hertford, Woodards Pharmacy Ice Cream 75 Cents!

Woodards Pharmacy Ice Cream, Hertford, NC

I did learn though, that even though they may be giving away their ice cream, where they actually make their money is on the essentials. $8 for my lactose pills was just a little but outstanding. {The bad outstanding, not the good one.}

In other news, I’m not sure why all ice cream stores do not sell lactose intolerance tablets. It’s beyond brilliant.

So that was pretty much my day here on the east coast of Virginia and North Carolina yesterday. I thoroughly enjoyed “The Calm” before our Fourth of July Hurricane. We are planning on heading back to the river tomorrow afternoon to check in, do a little clean up, and then enjoy the sunshine that follows the hurricane. {After all my years and hurricanes here, I will swear to you, the first glimpse of sunshine after a hurricane is ALWAYS the prettiest blue you will ever see.}

Until then friends, enjoy a hurricane free Fourth for me!

Hurricane Day!

by Susan

Forget snow days… hurricane days are much more Lame, with a capital L. You totally can’t go out and play on hurricane days. Snow angels are out! Rain angels are in!

Ladies, gents, I have been locked in my house for three days listening to the wind and rain beat against the back of my townhouse. Oh, and poor Chloe… her obsessive compulsive doggie disorder really kicks in during the rainy season. You know your dog has issues when she doesn’t like wet feet. Apparently dry feet trumps not going to the bathroom for days. This morning she finally decided it was mad-dash pop-a-squat no-guts-no-glory time. Thank you Jesus. I was beginning to worry!

Since I haven’t really done anything super exciting these past few days, I decided I should make “Things To Do During a Hurricane” list for you readers up north that will be stuck at home for a few more days. Ready? Assuming you have electricity and internet… here we go…

1. Ration your rations. Yes I stocked up on quality junk food. Yes I went through 75% of it within 24 hours.

2. Drink. Water. Wine. Cider. Rum. Whatever your drink of choice is. Drink it. Unless you don’t have running water for the toilets. If you are like Chloe and you can hold it for 48 hours, you’ve got nothing to worry about.

3. Do not fling and spill an entire mason jar of Dark Chocolate Almond Milk across your living room. It is a sticky mess that your pets cannot help you clean up. Although your boyfriend may believe one square of paper towel is enough to clean this disaster up, it is not. One roll is more like it.

4. Keep your puppy dog’s feet dry, at all times. Otherwise she may freak out, and/or get your carpet all wet. And, your boyfriend carrying your dog in a purple coat is just super adorable.

5. Wear sweat pants. Not only to stay comfy and cozy, but after eating all that junk food, let’s be real… elastic waist bands are FTW.

6. Don’t do your hair. Mother nature is going to throw your locks for a loop. Don’t brush it. It will just get worse. Roll with it, and try to appreciate your Hurricane Hair.

7. There is a loop hole with Number Four. If you go outside you must, I repeat, you must wear your galoshes, ski coat, and still prepare to get soaked.

8. Check in on your friends and family. It’s a good deed. And it may lead to some fun. I highly recommend using as many emoticons as possible. When else in your life will you have enough time to converse with pictures?

9. Don’t believe everything you see on Facebook. The picture above is NOT the McDonalds on Shore Drive in Va Beach. Google it before you share it 13k times. Here’s what I found.

10. Craft! You have nothing better to do! Actually, ya do. Craft with a purpose! I made up 100 happy little Halloween S’mores as Realtor gifts! These will be distributed Tuesday and Wednesday because “I would love S’more of your business!” Cute right?!

Well, that’s it for me today. I never actually got out of my jammies so getting ready for bed tonight will be a piece of cake. I hope you are all safe and sound. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you. The news coverage of NY and NJ look crazy… Check in below and let me know what the status is for your home town, even if Sandy isn’t visiting! 🙂