Thursday, October 15, 2009

Snow in the air!


The morning is cold, dark and rainy. I had to wake the chickens up when I fed them this morning. By tonight, it appears I will get a few flakes of snow, assuming I will be awake when they fall. Northern Pennsylvania is forecast to see a lot more than a few flakes. (Take care on the roads to all of you who live up there).

Last night I was rushing around outside trying to get done some of the outside work I should have done this past weekend, when I was playing around outside instead. So I brought in the last of the plants and cleaned out the rain gutters. Tonight, I will finally have to turn on the heat. Next week it will warm up again, at least a little, but 3-4 four days of a cold rain with an easterly wind is too much to ride out without heat.

Today’s forecast for snow got me thinking about other snows in October here in southern PA. I remember getting some often enough, though I don’t recall when the first accumulating snow has fallen down here. It turns out that was 1.5" on October 19 in 1940, which is why I don’t remember it.

Traces of snow have fallen as early as October 9, and I even posted a few photos of snow on nearly green leaves a few years ago, though even that was in November after a long, warm fall that ended suddenly. This year I don’t feel quite ready for snow just yet, as I am also not yet accustomed to how early in the day the sun sets. I keep expecting another hour or so of daylight, and it simply isn’t there.

After a couple of busy and active days for both animals and birds, yesterday was unusually quiet. I saw only a few crows, and one of the ever-ubiquitous bluebirds. The foxes didn’t come calling, and the raccoons didn’t wake Baby Dog, which is something of a miracle. Yesterday the weather was already feeling raw and looking overcast, so perhaps the migrants and locals were already hunkering down for this storm. I think I will join them.

5 comments:

Cathy said...

Carol-started to snow up here around 10 am. Coming down at a good clip right now which is 10:45am . Might get up to 4 inches of the white stuff. Already have a few pictures, post them tonight.

Carolyn H said...

Cathy: I saw snow on the radar and figured you were getting some of it. I'll bet the photos are pretty, but be careful driving!!

Carolyn h.

Grizz………… said...

Still light drizzle, on and off, here—and is predicted to remain for at least a couple more days. No snow in the immediate forecast, however.

I can't get used to the early twilight either. It still seems like there should be more daylight time in the evening.

Hey, I think hunkering down sounds like a plan…

Anonymous said...

Fall is the best season ever! Gorgeous pic. I honestly wish Fall lasted a little longer ... Winter comes so quickly here it seems like Fall is only a few weeks. We've had a few days without rain though, and that is terrific!

Carolyn H said...

I think the further north you go the shorter the fall. When I was in Alaska, I swear fall lasted all of one day, then the leaves fell. Gorgeous, but you couldn't blink.

Carolyn H.