A Spring Snow Fall

We always do have spring snow falls, but this was pretty because the sun came out afterwards.  That is when it is okay by me to have a bit of snow past winter.....

This picture was taken way back in February on my way home from the baby shower for yet-to-be-born, Emerson. So whenever the full moon was in February, it was up during daylight hours!

Time Out

The Northwest had what was their (hopefully) annual 'Big One' for the winter a couple of weeks ago.  We were without power for about a week which for us, being on a well, means no water as well as no power.  Which, incidentally, we need to run the pellet stove, too.  Above you see Darrell outside on the second day knocking the frozen snow off of bushes and roofs.  We had several outbuilding roofs collapse a few years ago, under the weight of the heavy wet, frozen snow, so since he wasn't on crutches this time, he took a proactive approach :-)   The only source of heat we had was our little propane stove in the kitchen, but with no electricity for the fan, the warmth stayed directly in front of the stove, then dissipated. The animals and I spent a greater portion of our days sitting right there.  In front of it.  With blankets and pillows.  Man, it was cold! 

Before it got too cold in the house to do much, I started up a new hobby of teaching myself to watercolor. Library books galore on the subject!  Much of it is just trial and error.

 This is my first finished watercolor!  From my head, no less!  I kind of like it :-) 

My view from the sun room window is of the bird feeders.  I must have had 50 birds each day at them!  I scattered scoopfuls of seed out on top of the snow for them! Woodpeckers, thrushes, chickadees, towhees, juncos, song birds........ so many friends came :-}  Sunny discovered her new favorite perch in the window once she caught a glimpse of all the feathered creatures!

It inspired this stab at a watercolor.

The window opposite the sun room in the kitchen sports a view of my garden.  Not much to see when it is buried, but I took a try at the fence, as well.  Well.  I added the cute little bunny.  They are hiding underground for the winter.  Of course I only painted some of the scenes in my pictures.  Too hard for me to do it all when I am just learning :-}  Amateurish, I know, but I am okay with my beginning tries!

Following the Signs

Where do all of these arrows lead to?  And who put them there?

Aha!  Not arrows....... DUCK prints!

They'd been all over the yard by early morn!

Christmas Day Last Hurrah

Our White Christmas was a doozy this year! Lots of old snow, and lots of new snow.....

I love these top hats on the posts!

Looking off of our front porch

A couple of shots of that long, thick icicle off the house

Path off our front deck. The snow was deep.

The 'kids' all arrived late morning by hiking in, and by 3:30 PM all of us except Darrell were hiking back out. I had to work the next day, Bethany J needed to get out to say goodbye to all of her friends, and everyone else lives down in Monroe. We packed our backpacks and suitcases and started the trek up to the top of the switchback and beyond. Here you can also see one of our cars stuck in the ditch.

The two Bethany's come upon a fallen tree

She has the cat-child Gideon in that carrier!

The Fed-Ex van that has been stuck and abandoned on our switchback since Dec. 12 is completely buried now! You better hope you didn't have any packages on this van!

Trudging along.....

Now to back-up Ryan's truck to a spot where he can turn around. He keeps getting stuck in the snow bank.

Scott tries to direct him from the rear...

It takes one hour to back up as far as it might take 20-30 seconds to drive forward without snow. Now to shovel out a road to back into so we can turn around. It is after 5 PM by now, and getting dark.

Darkness overtakes us...

Driving slowly out, we cut through one small tree, then come upon one that is too big to cut through with our hand saw. The boys try to, but it is pointless. Trees continue to fall around us. We call a 'neighbor' who is just sitting down to Christmas dinner, but he and his two adult sons drive out in their tractor with a chain saw to help us. Here is the light from the tractor coming down the road... bringing a different kind of savior for us!

All the men try to get at the tree, but it is too high. They cut the branches off that are blocking the road so we can drive under. But we don't quite fit. The tractor creates a packed snow ditch so we can move up to the higher side of the tree, and we finally drive through! By now it is about 6:30. Three hours after leaving the house, we have traveled 1 1/2 miles! We are cold, feeling trapped and oppressed, but not down for the count!

Downtown, Ryan's neighbors have built a life-size igloo in their front yard!

This snow has been beautiful, but if anyone wishes for a White Christmas next year, watch out! I may come wielding a weapon! Enough, already!!!

Narnia?

Take Our Snow Please

As out the window,

I look, more snow today,

have only one thing to say,

take our snow please.

Six week-ends straight,

snow, snow every where,

have only one thing to say,

take our snow please, today.

So much snow, so much cold,

snow in the streets, snow in the yard,

snow on the car, snow on my shoe,

have only one thing to say,

take our snow please, we don't know what to do.

Winter, oh winter please end,

all of this snow, we don't really want it,

snow falling, flakes dropping

have only one thing to say,

take our snow please, don't delay.

~ jim foulk

Winter Beauty Part II

More winter photos from our neighborhood:

Olympics

Winter must be cold for those with no warm memories.