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The Winter Olympics Need My Snow!!

By Monica Murphy

Home Stager with Preferred Staging, LLC

February 06, 2010 04:18 AM

I recently read where there was no snow predicted in Vancouver, site of the Winter Olympics, between now and February 12th, and that they have to truck in snow from other locales.

HELLO, VANCOUVER! YOU CAN HAVE MY SNOW!

Of course that's not feasible, as I'm in Northern Virginia. But as of 11:00am today, we've already had 27 inchesout here in the suburbs of Washington DC, with at least 6 more inches to fall before it's all over.

27 inches!

As I'm sure you're well aware, the Washington DC metro area is in the midst of a massive snowstorm - perhaps the worst in recorded history for this area. The most to have fallen was 28 inches in January of 1922 in Washington DC. We will definitely surpass that - at least here west of the city!

Its also believe that the biggest snowfall for this area was way back in 1772, when both George Washington and Thomas Jefferson wrote in their diaries about a 3 foot snowfall. Of course, this was before records were kept, but I tend to trust our Founding Fathers. Hey, wasn't young George supposed to have said, "I cannot tell a lie"??

Here are some other photos for those of you who are snow starved.

This is what greeted me when I opened my garage door. I backed my van into the driveway to make it easier to get out (when and if I ever get out):

van

No mail for us for the next few days... and snow and ice on the lamp post:

mailbox lamp post

But you've got to admit, it is pretty...

backyard

Staying warm and cozy in Northern Virginia!

All the best,

Monica

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June Piper-Brandon

Coldwell Banker Realty - Columbia, MD

Creating Generational Wealth Through Homeownership

And, while they are there they might as well scoot up the road and pick up mine too.

Feb 06, 2010 04:23 AM

Monica Murphy

Preferred Staging, LLC - Potomac Falls, VA

ASP, IAHSP, RESA

OH, June! I think you got it worse than me!

Feb 06, 2010 04:28 AM

SHARON CHARBONEAU

UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES - Sechelt, BC

Monica & June,

You are too kind!!

Whistler is fine for their events; however our local hills in North Vancouver need cold enough weather to make the snow stay and allow them to make more.

Suddenly we are having spring like weather which is fine for walking around; not so great for our athletes in snow events.

GO CANADA!!!!!

Feb 06, 2010 05:19 AM

Monica Murphy

Preferred Staging, LLC - Potomac Falls, VA

ASP, IAHSP, RESA

Sharon, I guess you're too far west for those Alberta Clippers that come our way? All of that wonderful cold Canadian air meets up with the warm air from the Gulf of Mexico, and WHAM! We're hit with the near-perfect storm.

They've already closed schools here in Loudoun County for Monday and Tuesday, and the kids didn't have school on Friday in anticipation of the bad weather.

And we're supposed to get MORE snow on Wednesday!

Feb 06, 2010 07:00 AM

Kathy Streib

Cypress, TX

Home Stager/Redesign

Monica, we lived in Leesburg, VA for a few years and being from the south, enjoyed our experience with the snow there. However, while beautiful when it's falling, I'm just as happy to be here in Florida for now. Thanks for the photos. Stay safe and warm.

Feb 06, 2010 09:24 AM

Monica Murphy

Preferred Staging, LLC - Potomac Falls, VA

ASP, IAHSP, RESA

Well, Kathy, if you enjoyed your snow experience, perhaps you'd like me to ship some to you? How big is your front yard??? I've got plenty to spare!

Feb 06, 2010 09:31 AM

Nancy Maurer

Whitehall Interiors & Home Staging LLC - Sparta, NJ

Home Stager - Serving No. NJ

Monica -- I lived for a number of years in DC and never saw snow like you are having! My heart goes out to you because I remember when an inch or two would fall, the city would be absolutely paralyzed. Maybe it's a good excuse to stay snuggled up in your house and gaze outside at the beautiful scene around you...ENJOY!

Feb 06, 2010 11:55 AM

Sally Weatherley

EXIT STAGE RIGHT - Vancouver, BC

Vancouver Home Staging, Home Stager Vancouver, B.C

Monica, I live in North Vancouver, and I can tell you, it's like spring here - not a snowflake to be seen for miles. I was driving on the highway the other day, and a huge truck with a hitch attached flew past me. It was full of snow that they're trucking in from Manning Park. They are laying hay down up on our local mountain, Cypress, where the snowboarders will be competing, and then placing a foot of snow on top of that. They are also sprinkling trucked in snow about so that the media photos will look good. As Sharon mentioned, Whistler is ok, but here in North Van, we could definitely use some of your Virginia snow. I'm a volunteer and will be working for the next month in the information booth at BC Place where the opening and closing ceremonies will be held - very excited about that.

Feb 06, 2010 12:09 PM

Kathy Burke

Sensational Home Staging~~Danville, CA - Danville, CA

S.F. East Bay Home Staging

The pictures you posted and that I have seen on-line are AMAZING...Especially for us in California! Enjoy for the moment!!!

Feb 07, 2010 01:49 AM

Monica Murphy

Preferred Staging, LLC - Potomac Falls, VA

ASP, IAHSP, RESA

Nancy, this is one of the most snow-filled winters I can remember in my 20 years of living in the DC area. Last year we had only 1 day of snow the entire winter! The final total for my neighborhood was at least 31 inches!

Sally, how much fun will working/volunteering at the Olympics be! I envy you - being a part of something like that - stories to tell the grandkids! Maybe you'll be on TV!

Kathy, I certainly am enjoying the moment... but another "moment" is due to hit us AGAIN on Wednesday! Schools are already closed for Monday and Tuesday, and I dread the idea of the kids not having school all this week. If they close on Wednesday, they might just close for the rest of the week - so save on the cost of heating the schools for 2 days. That's what they did the week before Christmas when we got 22 inches on December 19th - no school Monday or Tuesday, and the break started on Wednesday. I love my kids dearly (ages 9 1/2 & 12), but we're going to go cabin crazy!

Feb 07, 2010 04:25 AM

Lynn Crawford

A Different View - Olney, MD

Staging DC & Maryland

Monica - I feel your pain. We've also had over 31" and have drifts of several feet in our back yard. It's taken my poor husband over four hours just to clear our driveway with a commercial snow blower. However, that's not going to help much since the news is reporting we may not see a plow on our street until sometime Tuesday - just in time for the next storm. We're one of the lucky ones who only lost power for about ten hours. There are still several hundred thousand without power in this area.

I actually had a client get upset with me because I wouldn't schedule a consult for tomorrow - how am I supposed to get there? It's absolutely beautiful but spring can't come soon enough for me. I've lived in DC all my life and have never seen anything like this.

Feb 07, 2010 05:39 AM

Monica Murphy

Preferred Staging, LLC - Potomac Falls, VA

ASP, IAHSP, RESA

Lynn, I grew up in Erie, PA, where you could set your watch by the first snowfall (Thanksgiving) and the last (St. Patrick's Day). We had snow all winter, but nothing like this. Your picture is amazing. I'd love to see another shot in 2 months when the grass is all green and the flowers are blooming!

Yes, and the next storm is coming Tuesday to Wednesday with another 5 inches predicted!

Feb 07, 2010 10:18 AM

SHARON CHARBONEAU

UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES - Sechelt, BC

ON THE SUNSHINE COAST OF B.C.

This is what the front of our home looks like now....

This was last year. We had a surprise snowfall before Christmas which lasted into early January. I was thrilled as I grew up in Ottawa where heavy snowfalls and school closures were a way of life, as you describe.

Most drivers on the Coast of BC, including Vancouver, North Vancouver, West Vancouver.....cannot drive in the snow and abandon their cars. I found that to be pretty funny when I first moved West from the East. Quite different weather and lifestyles.

I learned to ski on hardpacked snow, often with ice: the first time I skied Whistler I didn't know what to do as the powder covered my skis & almost my boots! I had to learn a totally different style of skiing. Falling in powder is easier on the bawd than ice!!

snow

Feb 07, 2010 11:51 AM

Vivian Gilbert

Home Staging by Vivian LLC - Potomac, MD

ASP, RESA

Hi Monica. Amazing pictures. I drove on 495 today and it was BAD. I gues I thought the road crews could work miracles. I went to

the Maryland Terrapin basketball game against UNC. Thank goodness MD won. We also recieved 30-36 inches, unbelievable.

Vivian

Feb 07, 2010 12:06 PM

Monica Murphy

Preferred Staging, LLC - Potomac Falls, VA

ASP, IAHSP, RESA

Boy, Sharon, its like springtime! Beautiful house, by the way!

I know what you mean about culture shock when you move to a different part of the country. But I've lived in the DC area for 20 years now, and I've lost my snow driving skills, although I like to think I'm a little more confident than some others. At least I don't abandon my car!

Feb 07, 2010 12:43 PM

Monica Murphy

Preferred Staging, LLC - Potomac Falls, VA

ASP, IAHSP, RESA

Thanks for the update, Vivian. I'm supposed to destage a house in McLean tomorrow, but I have to wait until the morning to find out if the furniture rental company will even be open. Personally, I'd like to reschedule for later this week, but with more snow on the way, I'm almost wanting to just get it done and over with!

The federal government is closed tomorrow - which is RARE - so you know this is serious. The last time I remember that happening was when I worked for the National Park Service in DC way back in 1996.

Feb 07, 2010 12:46 PM

Valerie Sagheddu

Apostle Art Home Staging & Design - Stroudsburg, PA

~Home Staging Professional, Poconos, PA

Wow! You guys really got hammered! Thanks for sharing the photos. We usually get a ton of snow here in the Poconos but this year we seem to be escaping the worst!

Feb 08, 2010 01:30 AM

Monica Murphy

Preferred Staging, LLC - Potomac Falls, VA

ASP, IAHSP, RESA

I just got the latest from the National Weather Service - winter storm warning in effect from Tuesday afternoon to Wednesday night - additional 10+ inches possible! YIKES!

Now we're coming to the issue of where do we put it all? Growing up in Erie, PA, they used to just dump it into Lake Erie. I don't think dumping it into the Potomac River is quite the same...

The sun was out all day yesterday and now today. Very pretty, but it's melting the top layer of snow, and overnight it all froze. Great for sledding, bad for driving. As a matter of fact, my destaging was cancelled b/c the trucks from the furniture rental company were all snowed it, and only 3 drivers were able to make it to work.

A neighbor said on Saturday that we weren't going to see the light of day this week, and I think she's right! You know it's bad when the Federal Government shuts down!

Feb 08, 2010 03:56 AM