This. Is. Winter.

It's finally stopped snowing for a few days but the temps are still COLD!  Highs are in the 30's every day and it's been cloudy and overcast with a few glimpses of sun.  But, it keeps the snow from melting!

This past Monday we actually had a SNOW DAY!!!!  It's the first time that in 2.5 years that the school district I work for actually CLOSED all schools.  We had feet of fresh powder....the sun was trying to come out... and I didn't have to go to work!!!!  Best. Day. Ever!

Snow days in NC were always wonderful, but when you live 1/4 mile away from a ski resort, snow days are AHHHMAZING!!!!

I spent Monday morning shoveling snow (imagine that) and around noon I headed to Heavenly for a few laps with my neighbor.

Lately, I feel like every time I look outside, I'm just baffled at how beautiful it is with all of the snow.  I love it and I can't stop taking pictures of it.  So... here's a photo dump from the past week:

(I know some of the following pictures are repeats from previous posts on facebook... )

CAN'T PUSH THE SNOW OFF THE DECK ANYMORE!
WE'VE ACTUALLY GOT TO SHOVEL IT OVER NOW.

FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN'T VISITED US HERE YET, WE LIVE ON A HILL.
SO, OUR DECK IS CLOSEST TO THE GROUND AT THE FRONT CORNER
(IF THAT MAKES SENSE) AND ITS PROBABLY 6 FEET OFF THE GROUND
IN THE LEFT SIDE OF THIS PICTURE.

SO... MY POINT IS, THAT'S A LOT MORE SNOW THAN IT LOOKS LIKE. 

STANDING UNDER THE CORNICE OVER OUR DOOR. 

MIKE HAS CUT THESE CORNICES AT LEAST 3 TIMES BEFORE
THIS PICTURE WAS TAKEN.  

STORM CLOUDS ROLLING OUT

THE SUN CAME OUT!

AND THERE'S SO MUCH SNOW WE CAN ALMOST
TOUCH THE BOTTOM OF THE CHAIR LIFT!

FRESH POWDER RUNS ON A SNOW DAY!!!
LOTS OF UNTOUCHED, DEEP, FLUFFY POWDER!

BEAUTIFUL VIEW FROM THE FRESHLY
SHOVELED BACK DECK. 

A FEW LINGERING, LOW HANGING CLOUDS OVER THE LAKE. 

PEEKS OF SUNSHINE!!!  

LOOKING DOWN ON SOUTH LAKE TAHOE

MANY STREET SIGNS ARE COMPLETELY
COVERED DUE TO HUGE BERMS FROM THE PLOWS.
THIS ONE IS STILL VISIBLE... BARELY. 

BEAUTIFUL MOUNTAINS ON MY DRIVE DOWN TO THE VALLEY. 

CAUGHT THE SUNRISE THROUGH OUR ICICLES!

BEAUTIFUL. 

SUNLIGHT IN ICE.

ON MY DRIVE INTO WORK ONE MORNING. 

I SAW A BALD EAGLE!!!!!  

THAT'S A BIG BIRD IN THAT TREE!

HE WAS SO BEAUTIFUL!
I WISH I COULD'VE GOTTEN CLOSER TO GET
A BETTER PICTURE BUT I DIDN'T WANT TO
DISTURB HIM. 

THE VIEWS FROM THE VALLEY ARE EQUALLY AS AWESOME
AS THE VIEW FROM THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAINS. 

SO MANY BEAUTIFUL, FROSTY TREES!

CAN YOU SEE THE SLOPES OF HEAVENLY?

BEAUTIFUL MOUNTAINS EVERYWHERE. 

THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE VALLEY WAS BRIGHT AND SUNNY. 

I LOVE LOOKING IN MY MIRRORS AND SEEING
THIS VIEW!!!  NEVER GETS OLD. 

In other news, a tragic event happened at Squaw Valley ski resort this week in which a patroller was killed.  It was truly a tragedy but if there's any good that came from it, it's that the entire WORLD has come together to make donations to the family.  Truly, people from all over the world have contributed to this fund which continuously exceeds the targeted goal.  It's reassuring that in a world that seems so divided, there are still lots of good people with good hearts out there.  We are all in this together after all.  As the wife of a ski patroller, thank you to those who donated out of respect for this man and his profession.  It's not about the money, it's about the outpouring of love and respect for this complete stranger whose life was cut way too short while trying to make the mountain safer for others.  

And my last comment is this: apparently another big storm may be in our forecast for next week.  YIKES!  Can you believe it?   Stay tuned!!!!!  

Much love from Tahoe!  XOXO.