Dear All, It's been the worst of winters for everyone, everywhere. Last year I'd received a dusting on the farm. This Winter, it started snowing in Nov, and then all hell broke loose. It's been said that Maryland has received more snow than any other state. Well, for anyone acquainted with my farm, knowing it's the Bermuda Triangle of Maryland, we were so hammered. I have two stand alone shelters, each within 50' of my backdoor. This past month, in between blizzards, I climbed out of a window, because all doors were drifted shut, and made my way through thigh high snow to my shelters. Knowing the worst was coming, I prepped every cage with mega food, water, and bedding, should we lose power, which we never did, should I be separated from being able to get to them....I was. They had everything but me, and their out time. Oh Lord, welcome to my nightmare! After the second blizzard, I was unable to exit my home, but still had power. The window was still an option, but I was faced with 4 - 6 foot drifts, which I just could not navigate myself through. I posted an SOS on day Six on Facebook, Rocky's database, and Craigslist. Understand, the very people that I would normally expect to respond, were indeed trapped themselves. All of Maryland was declared a disaster by the Governor. Before anyone could help me, there needed to be a front end loader to clear the one mile path back to my home. For over two weeks, no one could get to me. Finally; That happened. I do rescue. That's what you all know me for. I was rescued. The responses to my SOS were incredible. Folks came with snow blowers and shovels from a 150 mile radius to rescue me. My doors were drifted shut, and they first freed me. Then they cut a path to my shelters. I walked up to the shelters and was just so very scared, not knowing if my provisions had seen my kids through. They had. I'd prepared them for the worst, the worst happened, and they were none worse for the wear. I stood there and cried my eyes out, then and throughout the rest of the day. The rescuers and me, well, we had something of a religious revival that day. An incredible team of about 25 total strangers to themselves, coming together, for a common cause. One came early, Steve Sorber, and made his way through over two miles of snow to get to me, walking and making his way, with shovel in hand. There's a special place in Heaven for this man. He works for the PA ferret shelter network, but heard my desperate plea for help, and came. Here's what's so very cool. I put out an SOS. I got more responses than needed, 25 people in all. So, I had all these people with shovels and the job was done, oh what to do??? Easy, I assign them all cages, and they took those ferrets out and played with them. LOL, Five adoptions as a result! It was a great afternoon, complete strangers coming together for the common cause of rescue, me and Rocky's. Please enjoy these albums, they mean the world to me. First, you'll see pics of my farm. Then you'll see the front end loader clearing the one mile driveway back to me. Oh jubilation!, now you get to the best pics you've ever seen, friends from far and wide coming to rescue me and Rocky''s!~ I'd assigned everyone cages to dote on, and in the group pics they are all holding the ferrets they'd loved and played with all afternoon. <http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=38663&id=1637928725&l=2efed6397b> <http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=39164&id=1637928725&l=8362496062> <http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=39166&id=1637928725&l=1fb04ee4ba> You'll see my home, and two buildings just beyond, they are the "Love Shack", my quarantine building, and the other stone structure, Rocky's main shelter where all that have been ADV tested, vet cleared, etc, housed for adoption and/or foster. These people are my heros, forever and ever. I hope that you see them as your heros too. ROTF, Me, Barb Clay, I do rescue. Rescued. Thank you all. It was the worst nightmare of my entire life, and you came and rescued me and my shelter ferrets. What a wonderful day when you all arrived. I never lost power to the shelters, if anyone would be so inclined to help with our electric bill, you can PayPal [log in to unmask], or send checks made out to BGE (Baltimore Gas Electric). Affectionately, Barb Clay Dir of Shelter Affairs for Rocky's Shelter Rep/The Ferret Council Parkton, Maryland www.rockysferrets.com [Posted in FML 6634]