We're giving my mom a length of fence for Christmas (we all agree that she does not need anything else to dust). We were warned that winter weather was on it's way to Oklahoma City so we knew that we had to hit the ground running when we got there.

We stopped to rent an auger (to dig post holes) on the south side of the city. We got to mom's house around 2:30 PM Christmas Eve Eve. Steve took down the old fence (about 220') while I went to buy posts and concrete. I got back and the fence was down. We put the Little Beaver together (that's the name on the auger) and Steve went to town.

It's heavy and hard to move but way, way faster than using a post hole digger.

My job was to help maneuver the part on wheels. And to be impressed – which I was.

Steve used his chain saw and reciprocating saw to take out old stuff.

So, this was yesterday. We quit around 5:00 and it was nearing 32 degrees. This morning it was raining when we got up. That turned to sleet by 8:00 AM. We got out and started putting posts and concrete in the holes Steve dug.

I drove my sister, Christy, and mom to Christy's Dr. appointment because the roads were getting icy and mom gets nervous on ice (that shows her good sense). It was slick and sort of scary. The Dr. almost didn't come in – we were all glad he did. By the time we got back to the house around 9:30 it was way worse. Steve was almost done with the concrete. We cleaned up and loaded the Little Beaver in the truck to take it back to the rental place.

By the time we got there – maybe 10 miles away, it was turning into a full-blown blizzard. We decided to come home – rather than go buy wood and maybe stop at the mall. We got home before all the roads locked up.

Those of you who deal with this all winter long would not be impressed, but OKC is not set up for this sort of mess. Sand and salt and are not keeping up. Ice, snow, lots of blowing. ALL if the highways and turnpikes are closed – some all the way to the state lines. It sounds like people are stuck everywhere – in malls, businesses, in their cars, in their cars in multi-car pile-ups. I'm pretty sure the churches will all be closed tonight, on Christmas Eve. I know we are staying home!

This is the view a couple of hours ago out of mom's back door – the door is frozen shut. Those galvanized poles to the right of the evergreen are where were going to be hanging fence today.

I forgot to say – on our way home, 1 block from her house, one of mom's neighbors was going too fast, lost control and hit Steve's truck. This is his new-to-him truck. His mom and dad gave him their 10-year-old Silverado (with only 51,00 miles!) a couple of weeks ago. He's going to be getting a new door next week. I'm guessing that the other guys Mercedes is going to cost more to fix, but Steve was still pretty cranky. At least no one was hurt and the other guy has good insurance.

The snow is supposed to end overnight. It's going to be really cold, but clear for the next few days. Maybe the kids will make it up from Texas for Christmas dinner – or not. At this point it's just nice to know that everyone is safe and warm.

I hope your Christmas is safe and warm and happy as well!