Yes, folks, I know that you are depressed (and cold) but winter is here. It IS November, after all. And even though my geraniums, which I got back on Memorial Day Weekend, are still alive, I’m sure that in the next few days, the snow and cold are going to win out and they will perish.

In Lower Northern Michigan, where I have my abode, we’ve been having snow for several days now. It hasn’t accumulated much in my area though, maybe piling up to about 2 inches in my driveway after melting a little during daylight hours.

Currently, my area has a winter weather advisory that is in effect from now through Friday at 7 am. They say we might get 3” during the day and 3” tonight and maybe 7” on Friday. And it looks like NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) also has “snow showers listed” in my area through at least Sunday. So, once again, winter is here.

The NOAA website says, “Heavy lake effect snow expected today, Friday and Saturday. Periods of heavy lake effect snow can be expected from today through Friday and into Saturday night. The heaviest snow looks to occur this afternoon and evening and again Saturday afternoon and evening. 6-12 inches of snow is likely for many areas near and west of U.S. Highway 131 by Sunday. Lesser amounts are expected towards Highway 127. Plan on slippery travel and low visibility.”

So downstate looks like it’s going to be almost as snowy as it is here. NOAA has many weather alerts that they have put out for the next few days.

I guess some of us shouldn’t be all that upset about an “advisory” when there are “warnings” for places like Allegan, Ottawa and Van Buren counties for up to 14 inches of snow. Even Calhoun, Barry, Eaton, Ionia, Kalamazoo and Kent counties have warnings of up to 12 inches.

It’s probably going to be one of those few days where you look at the Michigan weather map and only see blue – like the whole state is gone.

There are some though who are EXCITED about the snow – skiers, snowmobilers, ice fishermen and women… and my one-year-old Terrier puppy! This is his first snowfall because I got him last Christmas and didn’t take him outside in the snow. He was too small and he was learning to pee on pee pads.

So far, he’s pretty excited about the white stuff. I can’t wait to see what he does when we get some REAL accumulation. Lucky for him, his daddy will snowplow a path in the front yard and around the birch tree so that he can do his business. And his mommy will try to be nice and not throw snowballs at him as he does so.