SNOW GNOMES

Okay, we might have bragged a little too much about the wonderful "winter" we've been having, but when the temperatures were in the 50s on Christmas Day, can you blame us for being pleased that Nova Scotia didn't get hit with a hard winter like last year? All good things must come to an end, especially when snow gnomes decide to get even with us for all our bragging.

A week ago an unexpected storm dropped about 8 inches. It's nothing by Salt Lake standards this year, but plenty of snow because it's very wet and dense. No light and fluffy here.

We found out we're responsible for keeping the snow cleared around our car. On days it snows we have to be out of the lot by 9:00 am so they can clear the rest of the area. Every morning Elder Holbrook has to scrape the windows and shovel the area around our car. We do miss our attached garage at home but have gained a great appreciation for the car's remote start. On the morning this picture was taken, the cars on either side of us were already gone.

Over the weekend we had a Nor'easter come through making last week's snow looks like a skiff. Rain turned to sleet, then freezing rain and all that got covered up by snow and then blown around for fun.

Inside looking out through the drifts--the window in the Primary room at church

The back of the church. The snow under the eaves was blown off the roof and is not from a snow blower.

We saw these next three scenes on our way to church.

Yes, that's a bobcat clearing the public sidewalk! When there's too much for it to push out of the way, it scoops and dumps piles of snow off to the side and then continues burrowing again. We've commented on how well they keep the walkways clear, and now we know how they do it. We've seen lots of bobcats clearing walks, small lots, and even some driveways. Wonder what the bobcat-to-population ration is here. It's gotta be pretty high!

Sister Holbrook has enjoyed her "corner office"--she gets to watch people and cars go by. That is, until last week when they piled the plowed snow from the parking lot almost to her window.

By Friday it had compacted quite a bit from the weight of the heavy snow, but after the weekend weather there was more snow piled higher and deeper on Monday morning! We're guessing after the second storm the snow is at least 10 feet high and roughly 20 feet at the base. This is her view out the side window now:

There are snow flurries almost every day, and another storm is predicted for this weekend. Winter has definitely hit. They keep the roads plowed so we're not having trouble getting around. It's so nice to be "stuck" in the office!

We found out that December is usually fairly warm and winter doesn't hit until after the first of the year. Now they tell us, after we taunted those crazy snow gnomes.

Through all of this, we're glad we have the warmth of the gospel in our lives. We are so blessed to be able to serve again in a different place and in a different way. The Lord has placed us among some people with strong testimonies and others who are just learning about our Savior. Both strengthen us.