Unfortunately, in reality (a place I avoid at the best of times) cleanup of all this precipitation is going to take a very long time. This also means that Hannah is working from home and Pete's school is closed, which leaves everyone together in the house - a situation as restful and calm as you would expect.
The only thing to do was to head out on an expedition with the little one, accompanied by cake and apple juice when sustenance was required. We set our sights on Wheaton Park but quickly found that the sidewalks are still two-foot deep and untouched. America is the land of the car, and that seems to mean that local government is making sure vehicles can drive around before they bother with us pedestrians ("well - duh!" says every American reader).
We turned back to our local playground. There's been some controversy in the neighbourhood that the people contracted to keep the streets clear have not been doing their job due to badly maintained equipment - three snow-blowers, two bobcats and a snowplough broke down (that one's still parked out the back of our house). There are a few conspiracy theories flying around, but the practical upshot is that our estate is like a giant snow maze; pavements end in snow mountains, false paths spring up and disappear everywhere, and the only way to get anywhere is via the roads dodging crazed slipping drivers as you go.
We eventually made it safely to the snow field. It's as deep as before but things are much more pleasant without flakes blowing into your face at 35mph. The sun was out so Pete and I did what every self-respecting British family would and had a picnic. After that we played, trudged, climbed a snow pile or two, and tried to give Hannah some time to get work done. We came home to the news that - joy! - Pete's daycare is shut again tomorrow. Looks like I'll be introducing him to the Star Wars films a few years earlier than planned...
Melt faster!
OK, let's get out of here.
Many hands make light work! A loose conglomerate of next-door neighbours managed to make a passable path in front of our doors.
Unfortunately things are a little more wild frontier outside our estate. This is the nice wide sidewalk up Amherst Avenue.
Someone made a snow tunnel! I'm going to try to best this with a full igloo.
Picnic time.
This will all become a beautiful muddy lake sometime soon.
It is easier to get onto the swings when the ground is two foot closer to them.
Attempting the north face...
...and attaining the summit!
This is the sidewalk down the main road. A job well begun is a job half done? Not in this snow.
All objectives achieved, it's time to head back home and wait for the melt. Hahahaa...
