We had a significant snow dump right after Christmas. winter has been pretty steady for us so far here in the U.P.  We’ll continue to have some snow through May, and it’s not at all unlikely that we’ll still have some chunks of ice floating in Lake Superior in June.

I’m not complaining. The city keeps our streets ploughed. Our heating works well where we live. A few inches of fresh snow last week looks pretty from my window. Yesterday, hubs and I went for a drive just for fun before pulling into a favorite restaurant for supper. The snow looks nice from our windows and the city takes care of snow ploughing for us. Looking pretty is all the snow we need.

We’ve lived up north for 16 years and we’re happy here. But, Tennessee will always be home for me. Checking the Weather Channel and Facebook, and saying lots of prayers, is how I’m staying close right now to my kith and kin and holding them close in my heart. My family and friends down south don’t get anywhere near the amount of snow we do each winter, but the amount they do get is worrisome for them.

There’s no physical storm in my WIP, but some family and personal storms. I’m trying to draw on that underlying anxiety in writing some scenes in my new book, which is moving slower than I’d like. But, I am making progress.

If the snow keeps it up outside my window overnight, I’ll snuggle up with my cushiest pillows and invoke the nearness of my imaginary comfort llama.

Please share in comments if you live in storm-affected areas or have family who do. It’s hard feeling helpless and distant in times like this.