Snow again!

It is officially spring but the weather doesn't know it. We had a very, very wet snow last night that brought down the flower-laden branches of our trees and bushes, reducing them to piles of snow on the ground. We are really wondering about whether there is permanent damage. For a 40 foot tree to suddenly look more like a 10-foot white bean bag is alarming, let me tell you!

We had gone to Portland yesterday and came back late, driving through to the foothills where we live just after the worst of a big storm went through the area. Neither Seattle nor its suburbs have much in the way of snow removal equipment, so when a storm comes through, you just have to slog your way home as best you can. Considering the steepness of the hills involved in our particular route, it was hazardous, to say the least. We crept down the big hill in first gear literally an inch at a time, cautiously keeping a respectful distance from the car ahead of us and just hopeful that the folks behind us would do the same. (Just keep breathing deeply, Cathy...) On this hill the trees are already hanging precariously over the road and the weight of the snow was bringing down some pretty big chunks - but happily not on top of us.

When we finally crossed our little valley we breathed a sigh of relief - too soon. The other big hill - the access road to our neighborhood - was blocked by flashing lights, a tow truck and a bunch of stopped traffic. No dice. But we reversed directions, took the back way around (up an even steeper hill) and made it home... where we found our big tree bent completely over.

We each found a pole in the garage right away and started whacking branches to get the snow off until the tree started to straighten up. I know we broke off a few of the branches, but since it wasn't actually below freezing we hoped it would mostly stand up to the impact and shake itself loose from the wet snow. We dropped a lot of water on ourselves!

Bit of a stressful night there.

It makes you wonder though - what was wrong for all the dozen or so cars we saw abandoned along the side of the road at odd angles? Is this a Northwest phenomenon? Why do we always make it when so many do not?

And this morning, we appear to have a much wider, shorter tree in our front yard. I'd say about twice as wide and half as tall. Looks much like a very wilted bouquet. Sad, really.