Auriga Farm
Located in the Heart of Piedmont Foxhunt Territory in Northern Virginia
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Updated February 7, 2010


Sleighing in the February snowfall
In January I posted on my website..
"On the 20th of December..the waning days to close 2009 ... we were "treated" (if you agree with the term) to a Great Snowstorm of historic proportions. A rainy nor'easter from the Gulf Coast came sweeping up the eastern seaboard, capturing enough of the December cold air to become snow. Lots and lots and LOTS of snow! Grand total measured at Bluemont was 21 inches - almost 2 feet of the white fluffy stuff.

What can I say but...I was a bit premature.

At the beginning of February we were gifted with some lovely snow, just perfect for sleighing. I have never, in over 23 years, ever used my sleigh as much as I have these past few weeks. I went giddy with delight, and actually took out all three driving ponies in succession!

Sleighing with Flag

But it was a bit of a race as the temperatures were running the gauntet of between the teens to well into the 40's! Even with a half a foot of snowfall, the sun and springtime warmth rapidly went to work to reduce the fluffy white stuff down to muddy puddles on the gravel roads.

By the time I was harnessing up my third pony the roads had degenerated down to the gravel base, forcing me to keep just to the fields. Fortunately, we have hundreds of acres around us, and even though the snow was rapidly melting down to just a few inches, there still enough to glide the sleigh through a winter wonderland.

On February 5-6 we were treated to that "snowstorm of historic proportions"... a blizzard that dumped 29 inches on us, and upwards of 40 inches . The news cast aptly named it "Stormzilla". The 4th largest snowstorm in history. Best shown in pictures ...and videos:

Video: The start of the storm

Video: The 2nd day

Design by Auriga Productions - June 2000, redesign August 2009
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