We survived our FIRST Blizzard in ND

Well, that is correct we have survived our FIRST blizzard in North Dakota, and I say first because I'm sure there will be more to come in the future because it is early in the winter season of '09.  Now keep in mind, we were told numerous times that last year's snowfall/accumulation (102") was not normal, it was WAY above average.  I've done a little research and have found, according to the National Climate Data Center's 2002 collection, that Bismarck gets, on average, 7-8" in the months of Dec. - Mar.  Well, on Christmas Day 2009, Bismarck got 9.2", which broke the 1916 record of most snow, 5.2", on Christmas Day.

Now where we live out in the wide open country, we really didn't see much accumulation other than our wonderful snow bank near the front of the house.

This first photo was taken on Christmas Day at 1:50 p.m. The snow drift is building as the wind picks up.  Throughout the day more snow fell and the winds were crazy.  The second photo was taken on Christmas at 8:25 p.m. You can see how the snow drift is getting taller and taking over our front yard and sidewalk.  By the day after Christmas . . .

This picture of the drift was taken at 10:50 a.m. on Dec. 26th, the drift was all the way up to our picture window.  Here are some more photos of our yard the day after Christmas . . .

As you can see, we really don't have a lot of snow in our yard.  Because is has all blown into drifts or just away into the open space!!

FINALLY, Cassie decided she wanted to venture out and play in the snow.  Actually, she wanted to tackle the tall drifts in the yard.  And she did, along with Mackenzie . . .

After she fell into the drift, it was waist high on her, and she struggled to get out, she just ran around a few minutes.  Mackenzie tried so hard to fall through the drift, but she just was too light weight.

Here's our nice drift right outside our living room's picture window . . .

The girls decided to play in it too . . .

Now, let's talk about snow removal.  In Ohio, we would have been paralyzed with this little amount of snow and it would have taken days to get the roads, main arteries, thorough throughs, side streets, and country roads cleared for passage.  Don't get me wrong, because of the blizzard conditions, every road, including the two major insterstates and all state routes were closed from the Montana state line to the Minnesota State line and then from the northern border of the state down to South Dakota.  No joke, they even have barricades that they close off all entrance ramps to the interstates when they are closed!!

This is what our driveway looked like before Jay shoveled the half so we could get my van out of the garage . . .

Not too bad, well not for me since I didn't have to shovel it.  Again, our place didn't take the hit like the homes in Lincoln.  When we got into town, we were flabbergasted or shocked by the amount of snow covering the neighborhood streets, the yards, and driveways.  We saw at least 30 snowblowers being used to clear driveways, and then the streets were being cleared by your traditional industrial sized snow plows (which we saw one stuck), Bobcats, and trucks with blades.  But the most unique snow removal apparatuses we saw were these . . .

Talk about the ultimate equipment to remove any amount of snow.  The plow actually working was taken out our front door this morning.  Gotta love the fact they plow the roads.  One last note, as I sit here and coclude this post, the sky is clear and the glorious sun is shining upon us!!