Melting . . .

The ice is slowly melting since the temperatures have soared to 40 degrees.  But it is a slow process.

So far I have scraped off the ice for a path to the street via the front side walk and via the side walk that goes to the drive way.  Parts of the driveway are cleared, others are cover with two or more inches of ice (note, not snow, ice).  I had to use a pick ax to break up some of it.

The highways are clear.  Texas DOT said they came in prepared to clear off a couple of inches of snow and we got a couple of inches of ice instead.  We did have a dusting of snow, not much.  We got freezing rain (that is rain that falls normally and turns to ice on contact with the cold ground and other surfaces like roofs and streets especially over passes and bridges) followed by sleet.  Sleet you well know is frozen pellets in the air and stays that way when it hits the ground.  So basically we had an ice storm and it left more than an inch of ice, closer to two inches of ice on everything.

Ice takes a long time to melt down.  Only now after two days of bright sun shine is the grass showing in places.  The drifts are as much as a foot thick.  And that too is mostly ice.

I scraped off the paths a with a spade, flat front vice a shovel that is pointed, the paths.  Now no danger of slipping and falling, well mostly no danger.  You still have to be alert as it goes below freezing a night and forms black ice on roadways and slick spots on the paths.  Just got to be careful.

Our German and Ohio experience has help us be more cautious yet venturesome.  So we went out in the weather when others watched.  But we were careful and drove slowly.  I got passed a lot and hope those fools made it home safely.

So we are gradually recovering.  I am sure the merchants got hurt severely by the lack of customers in this region.  They were off to a good start and came to a crashing halt.