On Tuesday, the 16th, Nancy and I started out for Pennsylvania for what was planned to be a quick trip up and return a few days later. Our goal was to bring Nancy's mother, Mary, back to Huntsville to live with us. Well, it didn't turn out the way we planned.

The day before we were scheduled to return, Mary complained of severe nausea and chest pains and was taken to the hospital in an ambulance. She remained in the hospital until yesterday, when she was moved into a skilled nursing facility. Up until that time, Nancy and her sister Elaine spent most of their waking moments in the hospital with their mother. We left for home after we were sure that Mary's health was improving and before the next winter storm hit the area.

You should know that by last Monday when it stopped snowing in Cresson, PA, the total snow fall to that point for just the month of February was 60 inches. There were areas along some roads where the snow was piled 15 feet high. The streets had anywhere from 2 to 6 feet of snow piled up along the curbs. I felt sorry for the people trying to dig paths from their homes to the street.

Nancy took both pictures. The top picture was taken in front of Nancy's Aunt's home in Cresson. Nancy's sister's husband Karl and I are standing outside the entrance and at the head of the path leading to the driveway. The yard had 2 to 3 feet of snow and was impossible to walk through. Karl told me that by Friday morning (the day after we left) an additional 12 inches had fallen with a 5-foot drift across the driveway.

Between last Sunday and the following Thursday, the temperature was above freezing each day. So some of the snow on rooftops melted. The picture to the right was taken on Wednesday outside of a Wendy's near the hospital. We thought that the icicle was worth a second look.