Glad it was just a learning experience and not worse. But to be honest it sounds as though the conditions were such that nothing short of full winter tires would have been of much use.
I occasionally take my summer-tired toy out in the wintertime, just to keep its juices flowing. I drive like a granny though when I do it! And I don't go out when the temperature is below freezing. Even so the grip from the tires is immensely diminished, but on dry roads the car will go where it's pointed -- at those granny speeds.