My patio and backyard photographed around 4 p.m. Monday when the snow let up for a bit. You can see the snow depth by looking at the table and the vintage lawn chairs near the tree to the left.
SNOW HAS BEEN FALLING for more than 15 hours now in Faribault with an unofficial accumulation of 14.5 inches measured on my backyard patio.
The heavy snow made for some beautiful scenery.
Love these snow-laden branches.
Strong winds plastered snow to the side of our house, for awhile completely covering the kitchen window.
Coupled with high winds, blizzard conditions continue in the region. The Minnesota Department of Transportation advises no travel along roadways like Interstate 35 from Owatonna, past Faribault to just south of the metro. For awhile today, Rice County pulled its snowplows. My husband’s commute home from Northfield along Minnesota State Highway 3 doubled in time to 45 minutes. I convinced him to leave work early, around 12:30 p.m. Conditions were the worst he’s seen on the road in 34 years of driving to and from Northfield.
Randy begins the process of clearing snow from our driveway at 4 p.m. Monday.
Now, after three hours of tag team snowblowing and shoveling, we have our driveway and sidewalk cleared and that of a senior neighbor. My back aches and I’m tired. It’s been a long time since we’ve had this much snow in one shot.
Soon I’ll kick back, watch the evening news for snowfall totals across Minnesota. And then sometime during the middle of the night, I’ll startle to the banging of a snowplow blade on Willow Street or the beep of a city plow backing and clearing the intersection.
When I awaken Tuesday morning, I’ll separate curtain panels and peer outside to see the driveway apron packed with bladed snow. And the process of clearing snow will start all over again.
© Copyright 2018 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Oh MY! That is a lot of snow.
Yes, it is. As I type, the husband is once again removing snow, deposited at the ends of driveways and sidewalks by the snowplow. I got a pass on snow removal this morning.
Snow creates a magic that never fails to fascinate — but hopefully, you did not have to go in it. Thanks for the lovely photos.
My only time out in the snow yesterday was to shovel it. Owatonna had the state’s record snowfall yesterday with 17 inches.
Awesome snow photos, in my eyes although I live in Finland. Here kids enjoy reindeer rides and are happy with smiles on their lips.
Have a wonderful day!
Reindeer rides sound way more fun than shoveling snow.
Well, shoveling is good for a man. I lived on countryside 20 years. I did not use any machine, but shovel and snow sleigh shovel. 🙂 If You want see happy children pulled by reindeers, look at my nest post. Have a wonderful day!
I’ll check out your post. Shoveling is good for you, I agree. As long as you don’t overdo it. The type of heavy wet snow we had on Monday is termed “heart attack snow” given the danger it poses if you’re not careful.
Such a long day of digging out.
And more digging this morning, although I got a pass.
Holy snow storm you got a lot dumped on you. So glad Randy made it home safe and sound yesterday. I am glad you got it all cleared out but it made me tired and cold to look at the pictures. Enjoy a little warmth and a cup of coffee/tea/hot chocolate and a good book today. You have earned it. And take an Aleve —your back must be aching. All advice from Dr. Beth Ann.
I’m thankful, too, for Randy’s safe return home. He’s outside right now clearing snow before going, late, to work. He told me I didn’t have to help, for which my back is thankful.
You’ve had a lot to report these past few days- snow and your championship football game! Hang in there!
Forty degrees predicted here for Friday, which I am looking forward to so some of this snow melts. But that high temp will be only a one-day fluke, apparently.
Gasp! Those images brought back memories of Nebraska. BRR! Poor Randy… I always thought the snow pile that the grader/plow left across the driveway was the worst! It’s so much heavier and one has to heave it with much gusto. Here, snow is a novelty and I can’t wait to get out to shovel… but then we only get 4 or 5 inches at the most. Ha ha! I hope that snow you got yesterday won’t hang around very long.
As I write, he’s clearing that worst part of snow removal. He said I didn’t have to help, but I perhaps should have. It’s a big job. Yesterday I shoveled the piles down so he could then blow away the snow with the blower. That method worked well.
It looks pretty 🙂 I do not miss bundling up to shovel/snow blow/drive in the white stuff. White sand for me please! Happy Day – Enjoy
I would welcome a shipment of white sand about right now.
I will have to gather some sand and shells and send to you 🙂 For now if you need a break – check out my blog post – https://cravesadventure.wordpress.com/2017/06/28/beach-day/
Oh, you’re so sweet. I did hang an ocean scene print and an original flower painting last week to visually focus on warmth and spring rather than winter.
I’ll head to that post shortly. Thank you.
Ditto for Owatonna, only the snow plow has not made it to our street yet.
Well, I hope you get plowed out soon. Working from home, I assume???
Given we live along an arterial street, ours always gets plowed quickly. Sometimes it takes longer to do the side street. But that was plowed yesterday and clear again this morning.
When I see pictures like these, it makes me happy that I moved out of Oregon and into Texas! Stay warm and safe Audrey! 🙂
At times like this, I understand why retired people (snowbirds) flee to Arizona or Florida in the winter.
I lived in Eastern Oregon for years and people don’t realize it, but they have very harsh winters. I do not miss shoveling snow. Stay warm my friend. 🙂 ❤
I wasn’t aware of that. Today the sun shines bright upon the new snow. It looks warm outside. But it isn’t.
We had snow and ice last week. And a few days later it was up to 70! Now it is back to our normal range of 40’s. Take care.
I would not like to deal with ice. But the 70s, oh, I could handle that about right now.
now that is an impressive amount of snowfall. My daughter loved having a snow day. Clearing the driveway and sidewalks sounded overwhelming. I heard some TC horror stories where some children didn’t get home from school until really late in the evening.
You’re right on the late return home, 11 p.m. for some children in the St. Paul school district. Lots of upset parents, as one would expect.
I believe NW Rochester ended up with only 9.5 inches, but that’s enough to call it a good snowstorm 🙂 The snow was so wet and heavy making it harder to clear. We also did ours several times to keep up. I’m glad you convinced Randy to come home early that day and that he arrived safely. Your backyard looks beautiful!
I loved your snow photos from Rochester. I know you’re a happy girl now with all of this snow. Enjoy! I will try.
Wow you really did get a bunch of snow.
Yup. Too much for me.
Over Christmas, Erie, PA got 62.9 over 4 days breaking all their records. 53 fell in 48 hrs. MN can handle this – says the person who hired a husky teen to help with a small walk but still didn’t get mail for 3 days. Maplewood got 14 this time, we usually miss the big amounts as storms go south. Sounds like you and Randy have it under control, but you’re not kidding about the heart attack snow. At least ours gets smaller in a few days if the severe cold to stays away. Enough of that. I was in CO, had two flights canceled before arriving here late Tuesday. Airport stories are another saga. And it’s only January.
That hiring a husky teen sounds pretty appealing after all the snow removal we did this week. Glad you finally got home.