Tartarus Sauce

 

Supergiant Games does it again with Hades II, the sequel to Hades I obviously. This company just has the secret sauce for making fun, engaging games. I hope they keep it up.

WOTM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thaw time. 

Back In The World

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After a week of trying to stay off the roads and not go anywhere, today I ventured out to do normal Saturday stuff. Hit Costco, the grocery store, and stopped by our local Wild Birds store to stock up on seeds where they were having some kind of crafting event. It was nice to get back to normal after iceageddon. 

Ice Sculpture

 

 

I took this off a section of Maggie's leaves and was surprised it stayed in one piece. Here's a little magnolia tree ice art to cap off the storm. 

 

Fern Six

 

 

It's Fern day six and probably my last post regarding the storm. Not that everything is fixed, there are still a whole lot of people out of power. But as for us, we're fine, the streets are clear, and I'm back at work so not much more to report.

 

For the first time since the ice storm it got above freezing. Just 33 degrees and no sun behind the clouds but it was still enough to get a real thaw going. In this video all the rain and crackly sounds are from things thawing out all around us. Enjoy the birds too, especially a crow making it's presence known. 

Still Skating

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I managed to get off more than I thought I would, so that was good. But there's still a hunk in the middle that's firmly stuck, and only the very bottom step is safe. The others are deceptively clear, but coated in a thin, but very slippery layer. I'll try again tomorrow and keep working at it. We don't want anyone falling. 

Dad came down and we went out to dinner. It was so nice to leave the house and see that life was getting back to normal around town. But we had to go in and out via the garage, no way we were taking a chance on these bad boys. 

Unfriendly Entry

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our biggest issue, which again we know is small potatoes compared to many, is our front porch and steps are thick with ice and impossible to walk on. So I started to chip away.

Fern Five

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Still haven't seen anything above 30 degrees, but each day the sun chips away at it. All of the trees are still coated in ice, but the streets and lawns are slowly getting clear. Here's a shot of our cherry blossom tree Ryu. As per the last few days, power is the issue for most people. It's still out for 100,000+ people. They said at one point half of all people in the Nashville area were without power. 

Fern Day Four

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It still hasn't gotten above freezing but another day of sun has really started to melt things. The streets are clearing up nicely, this icicle fell from our room and landed perfectly upright. It's not embedded in the wood or anything. Not sure the physics on that one. Travel is still a little icy-dicey but traversable, Mari went and got Dad some milk since he was out. The first of us to leave the house in four days. Things around us are still a mess, lots of power out. Lot's of trees down. Linemen working around the clock in cold conditions. We'll get there.

Fern Day Three

   

 

The third day of the ice storm and its aftermath is closing out. I've used the word fortunate a few times, but that's just it. We stocked up on food (that's just being prepared so good on us), but keeping power was the part that reduced our stress the most by far. We even have internet as a nice bonus. So all in all, we're doing fine. Many are not and we do not for a second take that for granted.

There is a certain beauty to it though. Pictures just can't capture the amazing sparkle everywhere when the sun comes out and reflects and glows over every surface at once. 

Deceptive Drive

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The sun is really helping, despite the cold. A few people have even ventured out into the neighborhood. The road may not look so bad, but I assure you that's a solid sheet of ice under there. We keep hearing sirens and have heard of several accidents, including one that took out a power pole. The LAST thing people need right now. Stay home people! All respect, thoughts and prayers to the cops, firefighters, and electrical linemen out there working for us in this mess.

Holly Ice

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The railing and holly bushes outside our front porch. Just caked in ice. It's still below freezing but the sun is out and it's starting to melt some of the surfaces. It's going to be the coldest night yet though, tonight is supposed to get down to single digits maybe even 0 degrees. Did I mention how grateful to the universe I am for power? Dad's house has power too by the way, just throwing that in there. We've been in constant touch to make sure he's ok. 

Fern Dawn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fern day three dawns. We got internet back at some point last night, so that's nice but we weren't pushing our karma by hoping for it when so many are in much worse straights. Power is crucial and we have it, that's all we're thankful for.

Fern Day Two

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bartles, covered completely in ice at the end of day two of the Fern storm. Amazing. Pretty. Scary. We are feeling very fortunate because we have power (still not internet but who cares) and its going to dip into single digits tonight. Many, many people around us don't. Some 200,000+ people around Nashville don't. Very fortunate indeed.

Red Reprieve

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A bright spot in a nervous day, a cardinal seeking shelter within Maggie. We lost power for a bit which was scary given the conditions but it came back on. We lost internet earlier and it's still out but that's the least of our concerns. 

Wilted Maggie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lots of trees have snapped off limbs, a pine tree up at dad's snapped off at the top. We don't think anything is broken on Maggie the Magnolia but the weight of the ice is dragging her to the ground. We'll have to see when this thaws how she recovers. Luckily our most brittle trees, the bradford pears Bartles and Jaymes, are so far holding strong. 

Fern Freezer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yesterday, I foolishly said something about Fern "not being so bad". The ice storm over night was no joke. Every surface outside is glazed in ice, there's at least a half inch thick solid block of ice on the ground. Power is out all over the city, trees are snapping by the score, it's a complete and total mess. I've never seen anything like it, comparable to the great flood and the tornado at least if not worse.

Fern First Day

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As evening comes the snowfall has been steady but light, as you can see here from a day's accumulation. But the real problems are supposed to come tonight as temps fall even more and we get heavy rain, turning to ice for the dreaded ice storm. 

Fern Fall

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Winter storm Fern is tearing through the south on its way to the coast, but so far is not that bad. Lots of snow but it's too dry to even make the obligatory snowman with. Here's a red bellied woodpecker grabbing a snack in the flakes. 

Cold Snapper

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We're supposed to have a pretty big cold snap and winter storm come in, so I'm replacing the old and not working heat tape on our external, tankless water heater to help avoid freezing. This is the old wire for reference so I could make sure I covered the pipes similarly with the new. I know, riveting content here on Snicker Snack.

Outies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I took this because I couldn't remember which way the plastic covers over the screws on the tankless water heater opened. And now you will too. 

Mean Grill

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mari's Toyota, glaring in the rain. Just liked the picture. 

Build A Mansion

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Blue Prince is an interesting game, the mechanics are hard to describe. Each day you have to go through a mansion your character is trying to inherit, picking one of three random rooms at each step. The rooms contain clues to the overall mystery, linked to other rooms you may or may not get each run. Anyway, unique gameplay, interesting story, some of the puzzles were a little too obscure and frustrating but overall a fun, quick game worth checking out.  

Yet Another Pecker pic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I know, I probably have a lot of similar pictures but I love the little downy woodpeckers. I liked this one because it was a nice trifecta with the cardinal and the sparrow above. 

Herd Mentality

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I wish I had gotten out back sooner, but one the largest herds of deer we've ever seen went by, there must have been twenty plus. 

Free Mouse

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A mouse that can wander. All part of the plan. 

Wireless Tap

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A new keyboard, sans wires. Part of the new, improved setup.

Small Screen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Getting ready for a new setup on the ol' computer desk. 

Ninjas And Samurais

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assassins Creed Shadows is the latest in the long running series. I really enjoyed it. It's a generally strong IP, I'm sure I'll play whatever comes next. 

WOTM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The wolf of the month, new year edition. And so we leave the holiday season behind and return to reality.  

The End Of 2025

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy new year to all. Let's buckle up for '26! Life goes on despite the politics, I hope you all find the good and the joy that's around us!