Archive for ‘February, 2017’

Another round of Winter: Part 2

I woke up about 2:00 a.m. and looked out to see how much new snow.

Nothing! But, it was cold and not raining.

When I got up at 5:30 a.m., it was snowing lightly and looked like it had just started with maybe an inch of new.

Morning treat time after breakfast: not snowing and maybe 2 inches of snow.

It did that a couple of times.

Obviously, it was doing more other places in the valley!

At lunchtime, it was calm and we all went outside.

Fun, fun, fun!

I think the total snowfall at my house ended up just a bit over 3 inches.

Later that afternoon…

… the cat saw his shadow.

Sunshine and blue sky!

Much as I love snow, I was glad we didn’t get the 15-30 inches forecast at my house!

On with February and the continuation of Winter 2016-17!

Sunday: between Part 1 and Part 2 of another round of Winter

We started Sunday very relaxed!

While Auggie was napping, I sipped my coffee and formulated the day’s plan:

  • Morning walk and a bit of walk-path maintenance
  • I had a bit of cleanup to do with shovel and snow thrower
  • If weather holding, make a quick run to hardware and grocery
  • Stock firewood on the porch
  • Laundry, vacuum, i.e. chores that require electricity
  • Make sure I have food easily prepared on the woodstove
  • In between the above, clear as much of the roof as I can

    • We walked and tromped down a few paths, I ran the thrower to clean up driveway edges and the front walk and then off to the store 30 minutes before the blizzard warning started.

    I wasn’t the only one at the store. Between the Super Bowl and the forecast monster storm, it was a madhouse in the grocery!

    I persevered and came home with all I wanted.

    Yes, that is a raindrop!

    Ominous clouds low over the mountains…

    But at home…

    Rain and above freezing temperatures (36F) turning everything less than beautiful!

    I proceeded with my list.

    It kept raining.

    I didn’t go up on the roof, but did some additional clearing with my roof rake from the ground. Sean, my wood worker person called to say he could get here to help with the roof on Wednesday. I think that will be fine. Much as it would have been nice to clear it, it will likely take the snow but it WILL need to be cleared before next weekend’s forecast warm up.

    Still raining and actually the roof is draining nicely down the cleared edges – no water building up behind ice dams – yea!

    NOAA had originally said this storm would start with rain changing to snow. Then they said it was too cold in the valley and that it would likely stay cold and we’d get all snow. Then they put the Blizzard warning on. By 2:00 they removed the blizzard warning and reading between the lines it looks like the heaviest snowfall might occur north of me.

    Bear and I are just back from our “before bedtime” walk. We walked in the rain.

    Another round of Winter: part 1

    We’ve had a couple of forecast winter storms that didn’t happen.

    But earlier this week, the NOAA sounded very certain of a Friday through Monday double threat:

    My supplies were stocked up so no last minute run to town…

    … and the snow started a bit earlier than forecast. Typically weather events are late. But, not only did the snow start early, it was only 11F and it was coming down like it meant it.

    We woke up to 9 inches of new snow and it was still snowing.

    I did some test runs with the snow thrower. The snow was so light and fluffy that it threw fine, but still a lot of snow which required going very slow. I cleared the walk and about 10 feet in front of the garage and motorhome …in an hour. Typically, I can clear most of the driveway in an hour, the walk in 15 minutes and in front of the motorhome in another 20.

    I multiplied and added extra rest breaks and knew I would be fortunate if I could clear by end of the day. Plus, I needed to clear the roof vents and “rake” the roof edges where ice dams were forming. And walks with Bear!

    I called (actually emailed) for reinforcements…

    Thank you neighbor Mike! Mike and the mighty backhoe cleared the driveway.

    I managed the roof and enough snowshoe trails to let us walk in the woods.

    Auggie was in and out and finally had to spend some time removing ice balls from between his toes.

    I’m writing this at 7:20 p.m. and both Bear and Auggie have gone to bed! I am about to follow – no kidding! Working outside in the cold and snow … I am beat.

    Plus we need to rest up for part 2 starting tomorrow afternoon…

    YIKES!