Tuesday, December 08, 2009

Cold thoughts in snow


Snow from this past weekend remains around my cabin today, as the temperature has stayed cold. The major difference between the photo I’m posting today and the current reality outside my door is that the sky is now overcast. The dreaded "wintry mix" is expected later, which should it arrive as predicted, will ruin this pretty little snow and replace it with something less pretty.

In this area, a "wintry mix" is essentially a euphemism for freezing rain. Sometimes I wonder why they don’t just say freezing rain, as "wintry mix" doesn’t seem to mean anything else. Oh, the forecasters say it could also be rain or sleet or snow, but I can’t even tell you the last time the forecast for a "wintry mix" produced something other than freezing rain. For the moment, I am trying to take some comfort in that my county is supposed to get less of that than counties to my west and north. Still, I live on a mountain and forecasts are notoriously wrong, so I’m not dancing just yet.

Although it’s dark when I get home, I’ve still circled around the cabin a few times, looking for tracks in the snow. I haven’t found much other than deer, which is just as well. My chicken pen will keep out raccoons and fox, but I don’t have a prayer against weasels. The chickens are close enough to the cabin that I can hear them squawking at night, should something attempt to breach the pen then. Of course, that assumes I would be at home to hear them. I’ve never actually seen a weasel within a mile of the cabin. I just hope that continues.

9 comments:

squirrel said...

Looks like we are both in for wintery mix. I probably won't get out to get to work in the morning. Too bad...not! I guess I will just have to read and play with my microscope. Just hope I don't loose power. I don't really need it except for my water pump. Stay warm and I hope you don't loose your power.

squirrel said...

Oh I forgot to say I loved that photo!

Carolyn H said...

Squirrel, like you it's the water pump/freezing pipes I worry about when the elecricity goes out in winter. I can stay warm and dry but there's nothing much I can do about the pipes.

I may not make it in to work tomorrow either. I know I'm not going to risk it until the roads are no longer icy. It might be a night when I park down at the ski lodge and then walk up to the cabin. It's usually easier to get out when I don't have to navigate the lane up the mountain. Good luck!

Carolyn H.

Anonymous said...

I've been a frequent visitor of you blog for a while now. But this beautiful photo got me, I had to say great job. I so enjoy my visits.

Cathy said...

Ugh, they calling a wintery mess up here too. At least I'll be home watching whatever falls, falls.

Jacqueline Donnelly said...

Well, we asked for it, didn't we? Here comes the winter in earnest! Snow is great, but freezing rain is horrid. I wish Mother Nature would heed our requests. I hope your chickens stay safe.

Carolyn H said...

raletourn50: Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed the photo. it was a pretty morning the day after the snow.

Carolyn H.

Carolyn H said...

Cathy: i had snow followed by rain. doesn't seem to have frozen yet, but I'm afraid the slush will turn to frozen yuck tonight. So I may not, so to speak, be out of the woods just yet.

Carolyn H.

Carolyn H said...

Woodswalker: chickens were fine this morning--drier than the dogs on their morning walk, that's for sure!

Carolyn h.