Raindrops and snowflakes in Las Vegas

Rain in the valley
Snow covers Mount Charleston
Las Vegas winter

This morning it rained in Las Vegas. According to meteorologist, it snowed on Mount Charleston. I have not looked at Mount Charleston today because I did laundry this morning. I hung the wet clothes on a clothes rack to dry. Since I do not have an electric dryer I have to dry them, anyway I can.

This afternoon, the sun came out for a little while, but now the clouds cover the blue sky again. I hope I can hang some clothes out tomorrow because even on a cloudy day, clothes dry quicker on a clothes line in an indoor drying rack.

It Snowed on Mount Charleston

White fluffy flakes fell
On Mount Charleston the week
Las Vegas winter

No snow predicted for the lower elevations; however, a cold front is moving in so I have to worry about freezing temperatures in the Las Vegas valley. If I want to see snow, all I have to do is look up at the Mountain and its white top. The sky is covered with clouds and the is a slight wind, if I go out I have to put on an extra sweater to deal with the wind chill factor. In addition, I have to check in my car to see if I left my hooded winter jacket in the back seat.

A Cloudy day in Las Vegas

Snow white mountain peaks
Sun plays peak-a-boo with clouds
Las Vegas winter

Driving home today I caught a glimpse of the mountains. The snow looked beautiful, of course, snow capped peaks always look beautiful when I don't have to drive up a mountain. I like going to the snow, I just don't like driving in it any more then I like driving in the rain. I like to watch the rain and the snow when I'm in a nice warm house with a cup of hot chocolate or coffee.

Coffee chocolate
Good on rainy snowy days
Drive away the chill

The Last day of summer 2009

Today is the last day of summer 2009. It's warm here in Las Vegas, but in Colorado it's snowing. My sister-in-law called me this morning from Colorado, they're planning on coming to Las Vegas the first week in October. At least, they are if the can get over the passes.

Tomorrow fall begins and the weather should be cooler in Las Vegas. The first day of autumn doesn't always mean it will be cooler for a couple of month, but I'm hoping for cooler weather. I do have to admit though that this summer hasn't been too difficult to handle. The power bill rose over $300.00 only once during the season. The last bill, the one I'm paying on October 6 was under $300.00, so I'm happy or as happy as I can be under the circumstance.

Reviewing January 2009

I have a great deal to be thankful for this year. All right, 2009 has just started, January ended and February begun. Still I have a great deal to be thankful for. In these difficult economic times it's good to review the items a person has to be thankful for once in a while.

I am thankful that I have a car that works and the tags aren't due again until January 2010.
I am thankful that my mother is still with me after the difficult time she had in 2007 and 2008.
I am thankful that we didn't run out of coffee in January 2010.
I am thankful for the food banks that give food to those in need.
I am thankful for my friends and neighbors.
I am thankful for my sister and brothers.
I am thankful for blogging ad opportunities on PayPerPost and SocialSpark.
I am thankful for PayPal.
I am thankful for writing.com.
I am thankful for recyclers who buy aluminum cans.
I am thankful for online banking and debit cards.
I am thankful for insomnia.
I am thankful for $4.00 prescriptions.
I am thankful for community medical centers that assist low-income people.
I am thankful that I live in Las Vegas where I have to drive to the snow if I want to play in it.
I am thankful that I can afford my prescription medication.
I am thankful for prayers answered in surprising ways.
I am thankful for free blog space.
I am thankful for the Homescan and the new toaster I got with those points in 2008.
I am thankful for the coffee maker I got with Homescan points in 2006.
I am thankful for the scales I got with Homescan points in 2007.
I am thankful for surveys that pay cash for the points I receive.

Writing about Snow in the Las Vegas valley

It snow in Las Vegas yesterday. Mom went to the dentist about 1:00 PM to have her lower plate adjusted. While we were waiting for the Paratransit bus to pick us up, it started to snow. The flakes melted at first, but then begin to accumulate. The snowflakes were huge white flakes. The type I remember from my childhood in Oklahoma.

It doesn't snow in the Las Vegas valley very often. When it does snow, the flakes don't normally accumulate on the ground or anyplace else. They normally melt and turn to slush and run off. However, yesterday the flakes accumulated on the ground, the cars and the roves of houses.

They canceled flights at McCarran Airport because the snow accumulated on the runway and McCarran has now equipment to clear the snow off the runways. Visibility was down to one or two blocks on the streets. I'm not sure what the visibility was at McCarran,, but it had to have something to do with caceling out going flights.

The snow didn't actually shut down Las Vegas, but it made getting around the city dangerous. There was talk about shutting down the schools for a snow day, which is rare in the city. I haven't heard yet whether that is going to happen or not.

I looked out my window and saw snow on the ground this morning. It's times like this that I wish I had a digital camera to take photos. Buying a digital camera is going to be one of my goals in 2009. I don't know how I've gotten along without one, but apparently bills and debts have gotten in the way of buying a digital camera. No more, the bills will always be there and they will get paid. However, I can no longer put off getting necessary equipment.

Winter Writing

I'm writing winter
in every poem of snow I pen.

Today the clouds covered the sky and hid the sun. It felt cold. I felt cold. I even put an a turtleneck sweat at work today. This type of weather in December brings back memories of Oklahoma and snow.

When I think of snow, I always think of Oklahoma. I remember snow from my childhood. I don't remember the first time I saw snow, but I know it must have been on a December day in Oklahoma. I always associate snow with December.

I know it didn't snow the day I was born. I was born about 11 minutes before midnight on a snowless December 24. I'm thankful I wasn't born 11 minutes later because I would have been a Christmas baby instead of a Christmas Eve baby.

Christmas Eve baby
waiting for the snow to fall
sees the twinkling stars.

I still have some time before my birthday to figure out what form of poem I'm celebrating it with this year. Maybe I'll write a poem about prime rib instead, I'd like a prime rib dinner for my birthday. I'd also like a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and chocolate ice cream. All thought, I would probably settle for a chocolate ice cream cake.