Treepocalypse

We are in fact trapped here.  Many roads are blocked, and a lot of them are main roads that take you here or there.  We sound as if we live in a lumberjack community, with chainsaws sounding off all over the land.  The ice is beautiful, a sea of glass that is simply indescribably beautiful.  Nevertheless, I'll attempt to do it:  the trees are made of ice, or at least appear that way.  The smaller branches are not visible due to the excess of an icy coating - the end result is what appears to be a carefully crafted tree made entirely of glass.  Multiply this times the thousands of trees that are around us, at least the ones still standing.  Many are leaning over, burdened by the tremendous weight.  The wind blows, and the forest sparkles, a million shimmering points of light as each branch sways in the wind.

The best time is sunrise or sunset, when the trees glow with colors orange, yellow and red.  Driving along the road and looking at all the trees, it appears as silver garland, the kind that drapes a Christmas tree.  Only it covers every single tree.

The ice that falls to the road shatters, the roads appear as if they are covered in broken glass from an accident involving a truck carrying mirrors.

It goes without saying that there was much closed today, including school for Madison.  The roads in general were safe, believe it or not.  The ice didn't make it to the roads, mainly because it is currently resting on all the trees.

We didn't make it to piano class either, although Mrs. Pam sent by email our latest homework assignment - and clue.  That was important to Madison.  She had to know the latest clue for Winter Wonderland, which was given to her over the email.  So far we have balls, ladders, tightrope and bouncing.  This all makes me think of a circus, but we're still hesitant to guess with absolute certainty.  We'll find out soon enough!

Meanwhile, we stay here at the house.  Nana and Ye-Ye are fine, despite the fact that they have no power.  Neither do many of our friends, so we count it a blessing that we in fact do have power.  What we did with that power wasn't exactly admirable though:  we spent a lot of time playing video games, or watching movies.  We did have a pretty epic game of Monopoly today.  This went on for a long time, well over an hour.  It is the one we got two years ago with the theme of "Brave."  As with most games of Monopoly, this one had no end.  Daddy was at one point trying to lose, but still fate kept everyone in there and balanced:  it was Mommy, Daddy and Madison.  She was learning a lot of math with this game, paying rent, collecting rent and making change.  She also held one of the utilities (Fire Falls), which required a payment of four times whatever was rolled on the dice.  Suddenly, Madison had to know her multiplication tables with the number four, in order to collect the right amount of money.  In the end, she was obsessed with getting castles - that's this game's version of a hotel.  She had three of them on her properties right in front of the Free Parking square.  We called it "Madison's Death Zone," and yet we all kept surviving to make it to "Go," and start all over.

In the end, Madison had fun.  Of course she won, with Mommy coming in a close second.  Daddy was in third, but he owned the Circle of Stones and the Ancient Ruins (this game's version of Boardwalk and Park Place).  So everyone pretty much won in their own way, and a good time was had by all.  It did get a little old after an hour or so, I have to be honest.  Monopoly is a game of patience!

We got the popcorn ready afterwards, and sat down at the couch.  The fire was perfect in the fireplace, and the atmosphere just right.  Tonight's feature was "Rise of the Guardians."  We picked this just so we could see Jack Frost again.  Although it appears as if he's in our neck of the woods once more!