Warming Up!

 On my way into town I noticed that the snow level was creeping up in elevation.  The nights are still quite nippy, but the days are reaching warmer temperatures.  The past few days we have seen numbers in the low 50's!

Winter Flashback

Hopefully we had our last snow for the season this past Friday night.  Wishful thinking, I know.  Still.  I hope.   Meanwhile, I came upon this old photo of my mother and her brother ice skating some winter day long ago.  Perhaps the 1940's. Or maybe the '50's?  Who's to know.......      Wouldn't 'cha just love her sweater for a vintage sweater party?!?!

Irrational Thoughts

Darrell bought me four beautiful poppy plates.......  takes me to thoughts of warm, sunny summer days.  Surely they exist somewhere, right?

Thanksgiving Snow

I frequently tramped eight or ten miles through the deepest snow to keep an appointment with a beech-tree, or a yellow birch, or an old acquaintance among the pines. ~Henry David Thoreau

Around the Corner!

December is here, and Christmas is just around the corner!  Ready or not...........  This was taken a week ago today.......  snow and cold have arrived right on schedule.

Frost Moon

 According to my calendar, the Frost Moon rose on November 21.  Except it was a snow moon here.....

What a Difference!

What a difference a year makes! These photos were snapped at the same spot on the same road near our house. Last year we had to literally hike out through the snow just to get to the kids' houses. This year we took a lovely leisurely walk in the sun! Yes, it was quite cold, but we counted our good blessings to be able to move around with ease this Christmas day!

Winter's Sunset

Saturday's sunset as viewed through our frosty window.

Frosty Valley

Subfreezing weather for the past week plus, has brought a beauty of its own.

The valley floor, as seen from our lower road, is a frozen wasteland, though the river still flows.

The boggy fields are iced over, and everything else is clothed in shimmery white. The clear skies during the day make everything very crisp and pretty.

Ice Skating

The pond is starting to freeze over at nights now, with temps in the upper teens and 20's. Today it was thick enough that the ducks were not able to break through it simply by means of their weight walking across it. They didn't quite know what to make of that! They were slipping and sliding along, shouting noisily.

I finally broke through the ice at one end for them, creating a small opening. They quickly slurped up the freezing water and took turns dunking their entire bodies. Brrrrr!

Cold December Afternoons

The sun goes down early these brisk days. Actually, it never really gets up very high in the skies all day long. Not high enough to peek over the tall trees on our property anyway. I corral the ducks back to their pen at 4:00 so I can best the raccoons out of a dinner of duck. On the rare day like yesterday that the skies are clear, the sun shines orange through the trees and coldness. It is very pretty. Way more than this photo lets on.

Frost

Frosty huckleberry twig
Frost diamonds on the snow

Frost strands on the car mirror

Frost is the greatest artist in our clime - He paints in nature and describes in rime
~Thomas Hood

Damage

I walked around outside a bit today to see what the damage from the snow was, since most of it has melted and added to the flooding.Truck carport collapsed

Partial collapse of trellis roof carport

Dog kennel roof collapsed

Clematis Trellis down, and driveway washing off towards pond

Hop Trellis

My Burning Bush will be half its size this year

My Japanese Maple lost half of its main branches

A lot of big, heavy evergreen branches are down and crushing other trees and bushes, making clean-up a bit overwhelming. And a couple of entire trees.

Nothing too major, but a lot of work ahead this spring for someone!

Is Man in Control?

Here are some photos I took yesterday on my way home from work: Lewis Street Bridge (SR203) heading out of Monroe

Along 203. It was closed, though those who lived no further than High Rock Road (the road we turn off on), could travel home. It was closed to all beyond that point clear to its other end point in Fall City, due to flooding over the roadway.

Along 203

Farm along 203

Notice they build the barns on berms just for this reason

Valley along 203

Water up to roadway on 203

Half way up our mountain looking down on flooded valley floor

Coming up Lake Fontal Rd towards home

Along our private road

Looking down on Snoqualmie Valley

Snoqualmie Valley

What is man that You take thought of him, and the son of man that you care for him?

O Lord, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth!

~Psalm 8:4 & 9

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

Dreaming of a White Christmas?

I am beginning to dream of Christmas in Hawaii or Mexico. Anybody else seeking some warmth? It was 9 degrees here this morning, and we are officially stuck at home. Can't get up the switchback at all now. Had to call in for work tomorrow. Too bad! ;-) And another storm coming in tonight.....

In the bleak mid-winter

Frosty wind made moan,

Earth stood hard as iron,

Water like a stone;

Snow had fallen, snow on snow,

Snow on snow,

In the bleak mid-winter,

Long ago.

~ Christmas Carol