January….Part 2…snow, and more snow…wait rain too?
Sometimes it fools you January…thaws, melts, water running, icicles, shiny lake surfaces…then…snow, and cold, real cold, into the -20-30’s Celsius cold, then rain, or freezing rain…sigh, an old fashioned Winter, I was getting used to global warming, what happened? If I hear polar vortex once more I will scream, will anyone hear me? Ha! Did you know snow works as a sound barrier? Basically, snow absorbs sound, so when a fresh blanket of snow covers the landscape, it absorbs many of the sound waves, making it seem quieter outside, so you probably won’t hear me screaming;)
I’ve given up counting the days it has snowed so far, it seems they call for a few centimeters/inches and you go out and there is 20cm/8″ that have fallen…it apparently is not an exact science! How my shoveling muscles have improved!
I couldn’t see the other side of the lake yesterday during the heavier snow, lake effect? It’s well over the top of my boots and of course you fall down in it, oops, ice underneath, at least it’s soft to land on;) I shoveled my path down to the canoe, cleaned off the steps, was hoping to get some aurora shots…not. Clouds moved in when I detected a slight whiff of pink on the Northern horizon.
The few days of sun we have had are glorious! It helps! My bird photography assistants have not been impressed with the white stuff….
Unless it’s shoveled, they won’t leave the alcove! Groot has been employed by the Three Wise Snowmen as security and muscle, he even has his own sleigh to sit on! The Wise Snowmen were mugged by a group of mafia/cartel squirrels, several snowmen were thrown to the ground, thankfully no more chips and scrapes than they already have from their many adventures. Groot will also be checking for extorsion he said! The Chickadees are wary but can’t protect their friends! No squirrels are allowed near!
When the temperatures have reached a survivable level I have walked out the road to check the mail. Between the melts, ice, freezing rain and fresh snow it’s been a bit treacherous. Ice cleats most days, or if you stick to the middle where the tire tracks haven’t compacted it, you’re less likely to go for a spin…er kerthump!
It never ceases to amaze me the quiet…around the house the sound of bird chatter is never ending, out there…nothing…maybe some wind in the trees, or a falling branch, the faraway crunch sound of the plow on Narrows Lock Road…but mostly quiet. I came across a deer feeding along the road, she moved into the forest when she saw me. Stopped, and watched as I walked by. I noticed a birds nest swaying in the breeze, exposed now that the leaves were gone. Intricately woven out of bark. Beautiful!
I have been watching this old maple, it has three trunks left, a 4th is one the ground, iNaturalist came up with a list of possibilities but Oyster Mushroom was at the top?! These are quite recent, the last month. I imagine it will soon cover the entire trunk, the 4th branch, long since downed, I think these are turkey tail, they formed last Summer. The little wonders out there:) Then there are our visitors, freezing rain, snow or shine, someone hire these guys! They can’t help but make you smile:)
Mike disturbed this lovely creature cleaning up the compost as he was spreading sand. When he was done I sat outside and watched the show;) These beautiful raccoons are always welcome here as the clean up crew! If it’s not them it’s the fox, or a flock of crows or ravens, we see them carrying off food to eat. We here the coyotes howl, they stop by as well. The only nuisance animals I recognize regularly are humans;)
Life in the country, it’s about coexisting. Even with the humans..;) Hahahahaha!
It must be completely Canadian to always talk about the weather! It never ceases to amaze me we can go from this: Dec 28th…Freezing rain warning…Sun glorious sun this morning, hoping there isn’t a price to pay the weather Gods;) Generator set, check, gasoline, check, chainsaw, check, wine, check;)…it could be a long day tomorrow! Hopefully the impending ice storm goes easy on us or it will be a long walk out clearing the road as we go! Life is an adventure, and yes Rocket, we have lots of cat food;)
To this: Luckily we dodged the freezing rain bullet, I was having flashbacks to 1998, enough stress in the news out there without those ice storm warnings again! I was happy for it to be mostly rain and warmer temperatures! No trees down on the road!
to this…What canoe? Where? HOW much more snow are you saying?
Ah…January…how many more days to go? Ha! I am in desperate need of a beautiful sunrise where I don’t take my life into my own hands going down the stairs at dawn…Is it too much to ask for? Ha! I’m waiting. Stay tuned for the happy feathery things we call birds, both large! and small! If you want to visit, bring your snow shovel;) I promise not to sneeze on you, we’re getting over a bit of a cold but we’re good now! Saludos amigos!
