What did you do on your winter snowcation?  I haven’t actually heard anyone use this word, but you clearly know what it means.  A snowcation is where you are forced to stay indoors because of snow.  And we certainly had that last week.  A lot of snow!

My snowcation started on Saturday because Tom was concerned about the weather.  He is always hoping for some epic storm event because it gives him a chance to feel heroic.  We were supposed to go to Miamisburg but felt like we would be more worried about the weather than able to enjoy being with people we love.  So we rescheduled and stayed home.

Overnight Saturday and through the day on Sunday it snowed steadily and we ended up getting 14 inches at our house.  Tom measured it Sunday afternoon during a lull but it started snowing again soon after.  It felt like everything was closed in Ohio.  Our church canceled services and even stores and restaurants were closed.

Sunday and Monday were level 3 snow emergencies.  That means you are not supposed to be on the roads except for emergency situations.  Usually Tom and I hear lots of traffic noise from State Route 3 in our back yard.  Sunday and Monday very few cars went by.  The plow crews worked really hard and the roads were as clear as possible by Monday evening.  The street we live on wasn’t plowed until Monday afternoon, so we couldn’t go anywhere if we had wanted to.

The only place I wanted to go on Sunday and Monday was Ashland to see my dad.  Tom and I were going to go on Sunday (nope) and then on Monday (nope) and finally made it up on Tuesday.  The roads still weren’t good in some places, but the main roads were clear.  Adding to my frustration was the phones being out in Ashland on Monday.  There was some kind of internet blackout and we couldn’t get Dad on the phone all day.  I’m sure he wondered why his family had abandoned him.

So, what did you do during your winter snowcation?  I made the most of my time at home – sort of.  I had a nice mix of relaxation and doing stuff around the house.  Continuing with my plan to clean the house thoroughly in the new year, I cleaned the living room, the front entry, and the dining room (loom room).  I cleaned out drawers and added to the Goodwill pile.  Tom helped me move furniture so we could get the floors.  I only have the kitchen and laundry room to go.

I warped my big loom.  Last year I was going to make snowflake towels as Christmas gifts but got distracted by other projects.  This year I am getting started early.  The warp is on the loom and I am ready to weave.

I read a couple of books and watched the NFC and AFC championship games.  They were both really close games and I cheered for all four teams.  We also watched “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” again – a fun movie but certainly not a great one.  I got some knitting done while watching television.

Monday I baked chocolate chip cookies.  I was planning on baking a double batch, but I didn’t have enough flour or chocolate chips.  I didn’t restock the way I usually do when I was done with my Christmas baking.  There was enough flour for one batch and I added some M&Ms to the chocolate chips.  The cookies turned out good enough to take some to my dad on Tuesday.  Chocolate chips are his favorite cookies.

Tom and I both shoveled snow.  He shoveled a lot more than I did, but I got it started Sunday and Monday mornings.  There are mountains of snow all over the place – more snow than I have ever seen in Delaware County.  Columbus is still digging out because they don’t have anyplace to put the snow.

So that is what I did on my winter snowcation.  Forced days at home can be fun – as long as they don’t go on too long!  It gives us a chance to catch up with ourselves and remember the things that really matter.  How about you?  What did you do on your winter snowcation?