Let it snow . . . .

The broom will come in handy today. For the first time this year, we have substantial, sticky snow. I went out to get the papers www.spokesmanreview.com and bonnercountydailybee.com and came back with powdered-sugary white fuzz clinging from my calves down.

Our driveway runs east-west, and the snow is blowing from the north, so we already have 6-8 inch drifts this morning, and they're growing. Bill, no doubt, is excited with the prospects of "having" to get the old Ford tractor and rear blade out tonight to plow. Men love their tractors, so this will be a great day if the snow holds.

Skiers love their snow. I'm guessing this TGIF will be a great day for them too. They've been severely short-changed this winter. No doubt, a full line of cars with snowboards and skis atop will go blitzing past our driveway later this morning enroute to the new powder at Schweitzer (http://www.schweitzer.com/winter/index.php). I checked out the site, and they've got snowflakes falling as their weather icon. There's a lot more at the site too, including a mountain cam so you can see it for yourself.

The snow may cause a problem for my planned trip to Boise Sunday. I'm flying there to attend a luncheon where one of my former students, Sue Self Scully, will be honored as Idaho's Assistant Administrator of the Year. They told her she could invite someone who had influenced her to become an educator, so she sent me a note about a month ago and extended the invitation.

I heard from her last night. She said the schools are closing across Southeast Idaho because of an anticipated BIG snowstorm. So, she may not be able to make the drive from Pocatello to Boise. I'll know tomorrow whether it's still a go or not.

Debbie and I will leave at midafternoon today bound for Newport so tha she and Willie can head on into Spokane for their flight this evening to Boise. Debbie will begin her final semester at BSU on Monday. By May, they can return to a somewhat normal marriage, since Willie has spent the past year living five days in Sandpoint and weekends in Boise. They've managed their commuter marriage admirably, and we've been thrilled to have Debbie here this past week.

Guess that's it from the Love house. Enjoy the weather wherever you are.

Update, 7:45 a.m. Bill and Willie have headed to work. Willie drives to Newport, where he works at the Newport Miner newspaper (http://www.pendoreillerivervalley.com/). So, he took off a bit early in anticipation of bad roads. The earlier 6-8 inch drifts have grown; now more than a foot in some places. My horses look like white woolly worms with legs.

Winter has definitely blown in. Haven't seen any yellow school buses go by; could be a lot of happy youngsters and teachers with sugar plums or skiing in their dreams.