Blizzard Jonas: Scenes from Tennesse's Epic Snowstorm

A Blizzard Froze Our Pipes, So We Went With It

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So I realize that whole blizzard thing didn’t pan out quite so well for a lot of you—particularly anyone with plans to fly over the past week—but as I’ve been stationary this month and also am a born-and-bred Southerner who really only sees snow when she actively seeks it out (i.e. goes skiing), this weekend was a real treat.

Blizzard Jonas: Scenes from Tennessee's Epic Snowstorm

For Ella too, who was in pure dog heaven as long as we gave into her bossiness and let her roam freely outdoors.

After a couple meetings and happy hour with my former co-workers on Thursday, I got home from Nashville just in time that night; the accumulation was already building up on my drizzly interstate drive, and downtown woke up to a very snowy landscape the following morning. Only, at our house, out in the sticks, it was bone dry—well, until about noon that is when all of a sudden, the weather system hit our house like a gale-force wind.

Blizzard Jonas: Scenes from Tennessee's Epic Snowstorm
Blizzard Jonas: Scenes from Tennessee's Epic Snowstorm

Snow-Days-11-min
When SVV got home from work early due to the roads getting icy, I couldn’t contain my kid-like glee any longer. The three of us bundled up in our warmest duds and went out for a romp out in the snow.

Blizzard Jonas: Scenes from Tennessee's Epic Snowstorm

Blizzard Jonas: Scenes from Tennessee's Epic Snowstorm
Blizzard Jonas: Scenes from Tennessee's Epic Snowstorm

But it wasn’t all snow angels, snowmen and bourbon snow creams for us—our heat unexpectedly went out on Friday night at the weekend’s coldest point. We thought it was just a fluke, that our downstairs heater went out when the weather was at its worst; then an hour later, our upstairs heat shut off, too. UH-OH.

Blizzard Jonas: Scenes from Tennessee's Epic Snowstorm

It was in the teens outside, and the inside of our home didn’t feel much warmer.

SVV took every blanket we owned and layered them on our bed. More than anything, I was worried about our wee pup who was shivering something awful and had just been shaved the week before. Ella and I stayed bundled up in bed until midday the next day; we could have gone to my parents’ house, but that would have required a different challenge entirely—navigating the black ice in the dark.

Blizzard Jonas: Scenes from Tennessee's Epic Snowstorm
Blizzard Jonas: Scenes from Tennessee's Epic Snowstorm
Blizzard Jonas: Scenes from Tennessee's Epic Snowstorm
But the good news is, we are never without wine (or bourbon)(or beer).
Blizzard Jonas: Scenes from Tennessee's Epic Snowstorm

Around 2pm the following day, we finally pinned down the gas company and got someone to come over and have a look; due to owning an 1800s house without gutters, the snow had dripped onto our gas meter gauge and created a perfect layer of icicles on top of it.

Snow Storm in Tennessee

All it took was the technician scraping off the ice and coating it with a special spray to remedy the situation (and then another 12 hours until our house was fully heated again). Now that our siding is finally done, gutters are not long for the future of this house!

Blizzard Jonas: Scenes from Tennessee's Epic Snowstorm

Blizzard Jonas: Scenes from Tennessee's Epic Snowstorm
Blizzard Jonas: Scenes from Tennessee's Epic Snowstorm

Blizzard Jonas: Scenes from Tennessee's Epic Snowstorm

Once we knew we weren’t going to freeze to death, we figured we might as well take advantage of the gorgeous powder outside once more before it dissipated. Plus, SVV had been dying to take the GoPro out to follow Ella around.

Blizzard Jonas: Scenes from Tennessee's Epic Snowstorm

Blizzard Jonas: Scenes from Tennessee's Epic Snowstorm
Blizzard Jonas: Scenes from Tennessee's Epic Snowstorm

Blizzard Jonas: Scenes from Tennessee's Epic Snowstorm

So chase Ella we did. She loved every second of it. Almost as much as we enjoyed chasing our mini dire wolf in laps.

Blizzard Jonas: Scenes from Tennessee's Epic Snowstorm
Blizzard Jonas: Scenes from Tennessee's Epic Snowstorm

On Sunday, we were supposed to go into Nashville for a brunch, but the roads all around us had still not been plowed (this is the South, y’all) and I read that black ice was still common in many of the neighborhoods in the city; all signs pointed to us staying home, so we decided to listen to fate and not chance it.

Blizzard Jonas: Scenes from Tennessee's Epic Snowstorm

I was getting a bit of cabin fever at that point, having not left the house since Thursday, so we teetered down the road to our neighborhood park and let Ella prance along the snowy greenway off-leash.

Blizzard Jonas: Scenes from Tennessee's Epic Snowstorm

Blizzard Jonas: Scenes from Tennessee's Epic Snowstorm
Blizzard Jonas: Scenes from Tennessee's Epic Snowstorm
Blizzard Jonas: Scenes from Tennessee's Epic Snowstorm

Blizzard Jonas: Scenes from Tennessee's Epic Snowstorm

Blizzard Jonas: Scenes from Tennessee's Epic Snowstorm
Blizzard Jonas: Scenes from Tennessee's Epic Snowstorm

Blizzard Jonas: Scenes from Tennessee's Epic Snowstorm

Blizzard Jonas: Scenes from Tennessee's Epic Snowstorm
Blizzard Jonas: Scenes from Tennessee's Epic Snowstorm

Blizzard Jonas: Scenes from Tennessee's Epic Snowstorm

The blue skies and mid-30s meant that by Sunday late afternoon, the snow had mostly dissipated, leaving slushy puddles and mud all over our yard—but not before we had the chance to document it all, pre-melt. The snow crystals were so delicate they seemed to evaporate at our touch.

Blizzard Jonas: Scenes from Tennessee's Epic Snowstorm

Blizzard Jonas: Scenes from Tennessee's Epic Snowstorm
Blizzard Jonas: Scenes from Tennessee's Epic Snowstorm

Blizzard Jonas: Scenes from Tennessee's Epic Snowstorm

Blizzard Jonas: Scenes from Tennessee's Epic Snowstorm
Blizzard Jonas: Scenes from Tennessee's Epic Snowstorm
It was fun while it lasted. I’m glad we took advantage of every moment we had in this winter wonderland as it’s back to 50 degrees today—and I’m OK with that—and who knows when the next time Jack Frost will plant his glacial kiss on Middle Tennessee?
Blizzard Jonas: Scenes from Tennessee's Epic Snowstorm

Were your snowventures as fun as ours? How do you hole up and handle a blizzard?

Blizzard Jonas: Scenes from Tennessee's Epic Snowstorm

Blizzard Jonas: Scenes from Tennessee's Epic Snowstorm
Blizzard Jonas: Scenes from Tennessee's Epic Snowstorm
COMMENTS
  • January 26, 2016

    So, so pretty!

    xox

  • January 26, 2016

    So crazy to read all these blizzard stories from places that don’t normally get blizzards – all while here in northeast Ohio we got NO snow at all! Your pup looks like she had a blast!

    • January 31, 2016

      Right??? Team Mayhem visited me from Ohio this weekend and they said they got NOTHING last week! Of course, it all melted by Monday and is now currently 68 degrees outside 😉

  • January 26, 2016
    Joan van velsor

    I recognize that yellow and black blanket… Hand dyed, hand spun and hand woven. Purchased in Oxaca in 1969 by Scott’s Dad. I remember seeing it when I picked him up in El Paso. It has held up well over the past 46 years!

    • January 31, 2016

      Scott’s been using it every night on our bed even though the low last night was 58 outside and it’s currently close to 70, ha!

  • January 27, 2016

    It snows every year in the mountain region of Sardinia, but not in Cagliari, where I grew up. This winter has been incredibly (and annoyingly) mild – which makes it the fact that I have been sick for the last 3 weeks almost incredible. I remember when I lived in Colorado though. I was sooo happy every time we got some snow!

  • January 27, 2016
    Briel K.

    Wow, those are some serious icicles! Fun pics!

  • January 29, 2016

    Gorgeous photos, I loved the footprint. It’s hard to believe that much snow in your area, I’m too much of a winter wimp, unfortunately.

  • January 31, 2016

    You sure have a lot of cute coats for a Southerner 😉

  • February 1, 2016

    OMG this house is sooo beautiful! love how it blends in the white winter.. amazing

  • February 1, 2016

    Your dog is beautiful I am in love

  • February 8, 2016
    Priya sharma

    You know what, i love Ella…Ummahhh….you are so lucky to having this snow fall and the best and beautiful thing is that Ella also enjoying this snow fall here.Thank you for sharing your pics here..

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