Snowy Sunday Morning - Again!

I awoke this morning around 7:30 AM and glanced out the window. Snow! Just as the forecast had predicted, it had started snowing overnight and was still at it. We had about an inch of accumulation  in all, before it stopped around 9:30 AM. Just enough snow to turn the world white once again this Winter. And now they are calling for more snow to fall tonight as well as forecasting more snow next Sunday! The groundhog was right and clearly Mother Nature is not done with this Winter weather business quite yet.

Iras, one Week Later

It has been a week since our surprising 4"+ of snow and freezing rain. While the snow has melted or fallen from the trees, it is still very present on much of the surrounding ground; especially in the front of the house. For the last 2 days, the temperature hasn't made it above freezing all day and today is expected to be the same. Our driveway is still only passible with 4-wheel drive so I haven't been able to drive my car. But today the sun came out for the first time in a week and it seemed possible that this latest episode of Winter weather might finally disappear for once and all! We are all ready!

Iras, Day #2

We awoke to rainfall this morning but unfortunately it was more freezing rain. The Winter Storm Warning had changed to a Freezing Rain Warning and was extended until 4 PM today. That time frame was just about right. I bundled up around 4 PM and went for a walk around the property. The temperature had finally gotten above freezing and I could heard dripping water everywhere. Once in a while a tree would dramatically dump part of its load of ice and snow with a crash.

Thankfully we didn't get as much ice accumulation as we did in Mid-December but it still coated everything. The last of the crab apples looked especially pretty encapsulated in ice.

The red branches of a young maple tree. 

The Douglas Fir trees were all coated in a mix of snow and ice.

I ran into two does during my hike. I feel for them. It must be difficult to find much to eat when the world is all covered in snow and ice.

Above, a stand of hazelnut brush and below the wreath on our front gate. The snow on the ground  was definitely getting slushier during my walk. Here's hoping the temperature continues to rise as predicted and this all disappears tomorrow.

Winter Storm Iras

As predicted, Winter Storm Iras rolled into town early this morning. This storm started down in Douglas County and moved northward, bringing both freezing rain and snow. We started the day with freezing rain but thankfully not too much. Then around 10 AM, the snow moved in. The weather service reports we received 4.5" and then it turned back into freezing rain.

By this evening, all of the snow is now covered in a light crust of ice. The low is suppose to be 25 tonight and the Winter Storm Warning has now been extended until 6 AM Sunday. Sigh. I am really getting tired of freezing rain and ice, and it's only January 7th! At least it made for a lovely view tonight on my walk around at dusk. All of the Christmas lights glowed against the backdrop of whites and grays.

Freezing Weather

As promised, extremely cold weather has set in. Yesterday's snowfall hasn't gone anywhere and the temperatures are bitterly cold. This morning's low of 13 set a record for December 5th. The old record was 15 degrees, set back in 1924 and today's high only reached 31! Tonight we are expecting another cold one, around 18 for the low. At least I can look at this picture of the snow covered Big Garden and be very thankful that all of my dahlias are dug and safely stored away from the freezing temperatures. It makes all of my hard work in late October and November worth every minute.

It's Snowing

When we awoke this morning, there was a bit of snow on the ground and it was snowing. It continued to snow on and off until around 2 PM this afternoon. The airport reported 4.5" which set a record for snowfall on January 4th. The old record was just 2", set back in 1901. Now our concern is the temperature. It doesn't look like it is expected to get above freezing for the next two days! That means all of this snow isn't going anywhere and driving could be very tricky.

A Touch of White

When I woke this morning, the outside world was dusted in a covering of white ice pellets. The sky is slate grey and it's cold once again. There is now a Winter Weather Advisory through Monday at 10:00 AM which includes a forecast for freezing rain later in the day. We are keeping our fingers crossed that it doesn't happen. After a cold but pleasant walk down to the big garden to fill the bird feeder, I have retreated back into the warm house to spend this last day of my holiday weekend resting and reading.

It's Cold Outside!

 It was 19 degrees at dawn this morning and the whole world is cloaked in white frost. It has been a very cold 2016 so far and the extended forecast is calling for a mix of snow and freezing rain tomorrow. While the experts are still predicting a Winter influenced by El Nino, at this point, they have been wrong. And I for one have enjoyed this return of  windy storms, heavy rain, and cold, cold nights. This is how Winter in Oregon is suppose to look and feel.

New Year's Walk

We started off the New Year by heading out into a very chilly, but sunny morning to take a hike around the Delta Ponds. The parking lot was pretty empty and we ran into only a few other hardy birders out enjoying the crisp, clear weather. During our 1 1/2 hour walk, we were fortunate to view a lot of different birds, especially waterfowl. But my favorite are always the Great Blue Herons and I was excited that we found four during our hike. The one pictured sitting above looked at cold as we felt! But the heron in the second picture, below, was intent on catching something for breakfast. He was so focused on the water, just waiting for a fish or frog to swim by. While I was glad to get back into the warm car by the end of our walk, our outing was a really nice way to ring in the New Year.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Ah! on Thanksgiving day, when from East to West.

From North and from South comes the pilgrim and guest;

When the gray-haired New Englander sees round his board

The old broken links of affection restored,

What calls back the past, like the rich Pumpkin pie?

When the care-wearied man seeks his mother once more, 

And the worn matron smiles where the girl smiled before,

What moistens the lip and what brightens the eye?

What calls back the past like rich Pumpkin pie?

John Greenleaf Whittier

The New Year and the Garlic is Up!

Happy New Year! The New Year began here sunny and cold! Our overnight low hit 19 degrees and today's high was only 38. Even in the early afternoon this bird bath was still frozen

 But I couldn't stay inside with all of that sunshine, so I bundled up and decided to check on the garlic that I plant back on December 13th. When I pulled back the remay fabric I was pleased to see many green shoots poking out of the raised bed.

I counted 18 of the 19 "Chesnook Red" plants up and growing.

The "Russian Red" garlic looked good as well. I counted all 11 plants up. I did notice, as you can see in the above and below pictures, that many of these cloves had pushed up out of the soil just a bit. I need to bring in some more Nature's Best and give the raised bed an inch or two top-dressing.But even with my very late planting, I thought all of the cloves seemed to be doing well. We are on the way to another good garlic harvest.

Hard Frost

We had our first hard freeze overnight. The temperature early this morning at our house read 22.7 degrees and one of the cars, on an early trip to town, displayed 19 degrees. Brrrrr!

The whole world was covered in a heavy coast of hoarfrost.

Intricate patterns on blackberry leaves.

I especially enjoyed the patterns that the frost left on the Queen Anne's Lace pods and on the fallen leaves.

A Cold Beautiful Sunrise

Another cold morning; the low hit 9 degrees. But as this arctic cold front lingers over our region, it is also keeping the storms away. With such clear skies, each morning and evening we have been treated to beautiful sunrises and sunsets.

Somehow the pink is even prettier set against all of the white snow still on the ground and in the trees.And speaking of snow....our poor little conifer down by the main gate, that we decorated with lights, is completely covered in a dome of powder! It actually looks pretty cool at night!

Record Cold

Wow is it cold outside. This morning at 7:00 AM the temperature recorded at the airport was -10 degrees. It turned cold quickly last night. By 11:07 PM it was already -7 degrees, which beat Saturday's all time record low.

At 10:30 this morning I bundled up and went for a walk. After filling all of the bird feeders, I decided to walk down the secret path. It looks like a deer crossed the bridge during the last day.

As I crossed the bridge I discovered the creek was half frozen.

The ice was covered with such pretty patterns.

Then I hiked further down the path. Again, I wasn't the first creature to have walked this was since the snow fell.

Rose hips glowing in the hedgerow.

I pushed my was back through the thicket to a different view of the creek.

It is so pretty, rimmed in snow and ice.

You could still see and hear it running in a few places.

While I was admiring the creek, I heard the familiar call of a pileated woodpecker. He finally flew overhead and landed on a dead tree between the creek and the main road.

He was to far out of range for me to get a good, clear picture. But I was still able to get a few snaps. Pileated woodpeckers are beautiful birds, but especially so against a snowy white background.

A Walk in the Snow

It was so nice, after yesterday's 8" snowfall, to have the whole weekend off to enjoy it! With the temperature not expected to climb above freezing all weekend, I will have two days off to play in the snow.

I got up early and took some pictures before the sun had risen over the hill.

With no wind, everything stayed caked and covered in snow.

I started my hike down the driveway. I think this must be deer tracks coming out of the woods.

The tree branches looked so pretty outlined in white.

The only marks in the snow where tire trails and animal prints.

We decorated our front gate last weekend. It certainly looks festive covered in a blanket of powdery snow.

Looking down the road toward town.

And looking the opposite way. Not a car in sight!

I walked in the peaceful silence down to my big garden. 

The blue gate glows in the fresh snow.

A perfect blanket over my garden. Once again, I am so glad I have all of my dahlias dug and safely stored away. I know that I would have now lost any that were still left in the frozen ground. Once in a while hard work does pay off!

We had a great year for wild rose hips. The hedgerow between the garden and the road was full of them this Fall. They look beautiful in the snow.

These tracks came out of the forest, went across the garden, an disappeared into the hedgerow. I am pretty sure it was a brush bunny.

Climbing back up the driveway. The sky was a perfect, clear cobalt blue.

I spent a good deal of the day filling all of the bird feeders. With the combination of a heavy snowfall, and the long cold spell which we are experiencing, it is so important for the birds to have plenty of food available. This little male downy woodpecker was at the peanut feeder off and on all day. After my long hike a took a cue from Parvati and went inside to get warm myself.