Wow, what a storm! Have you ever seen thunder, lightning and tornado-like winds in a snow storm before? Amazing!

We closed the store early on Tuesday to make sure everyone got home safely and after the blizzard we stayed closed on Wednesday to keep everyone safe.

After the power of the storm, the snow drifts were remarkably gentle and beautiful. In my 30 plus years of living in Winnetka, I've never seen the area so serene and peaceful. It was as if a two foot blanket (literally) had been spread out over the city.

So of course by 4:00 Wednesday I was stir crazy and had to get out of the house and do something.

I was worried about the store (and my beautiful front door with the fretwork!), so I got in the car and headed to MAZE.



It was slow going but I made it.



However, when I got there, there was nowhere to park! There weren't any other cars on the road so I just left the car in the middle of the road, engine on and purse on the seat!



I was right there on the sidewalk shoveling for the next hour and a half so I could have easily moved the car or chased down a purse thief! Fortunately, not one car came through.



Check out the awesome 'gauntlet' mittens I was wearing. They are without question the gift of the week! They were so warm and comfortable. My fingers didn't freeze and they kept me warm and toasty all the way up to my elbows! And they come in seven different styles with hide, bead and embroidered accents.

I was also worried about the boxwoods out front. If you have evergreens -- juniper, pine, boxwood, whatever -- it's important to clear off any snow or ice to prevent limb damage.



So I did my share of the shoveling and headed home. Yes, that's the result of an hour and half of shoveling. The drift at the front door was over two feet high!



When we arrived this morning, the village's trucks were out clearing the parking and sidewalks. Look at that gorgeous blue sky.



Now the parking is clear and the sidewalks are navigable. We actually had a few hardy customers in today! I love Midwesterners, we are tough!



Punxsutawney Phil says to expect an early spring (oh, I hope he's right!), but wintry temperatures are going to be with us for a couple more months for sure. So come on in (or stay warm at home and shop online) and get your gauntlet mittens and you'll be ready for the next blizzard!

I'm ready!