Flatline weather. After a particularly early snow in November 2019, I had high hopes for a robust white winter, full of scenic opportunities to get outdoors. Much to my disappointment, however, it's been record-breaking ordinary and completely grey for months. I call it "climate flatlining." Just dull and cloudy. According to our local meteorologist, you have to go back a decade to find a January as cloudy as last month. Likewise, February is dishing out the same thus far. The Vitamin D drain in my body is almost palpable and I'm longing to feel the least bit of sun soak deep into my skin once again. Landscapes have been rather boring around here to be honest and I'm anxious for something to change. This ugly photo tells a sad story. My husband and I have been land hunting for almost a year. … [Read more...] about Forestry Management ~ Worth the Trouble or Interfering with Nature?
Winter
The Roller Coaster of Life
Curve Balls We've had a few "curve balls" thrown at us over the past 4 months, some anticipated and some totally unexpected. Yet, through all the loss and hardship, we are coming out the other side more fulfilled, intentional and more prepared for the next phase of life than we ever have been. This period has changed us and I like the changes. No other time of life has taught me more to not despise the storms of life. The hardships were a catalyst for internal change, bringing greater character, wisdom, love, and grace into our lives and more intentional habits that are producing fruit. Those are all things I need more of and I've come to treasure life's storms, knowing that life afterwards is all the sweeter and richer. 3 in 1 In the span of one month, we lost my sweet mother-in-law, went … [Read more...] about The Roller Coaster of Life
How do you photograph “Artic Cold?”
Looks can be deceiving! The view through the camera has remained the same for several weeks now, but something quite drastic changed in the last 24 hours. A polar vortex arrived. A polar vortex is an area of low pressure and cold air in the stratosphere that swirls like a wheel around each of Earth's two polar regions. Sometimes the polar vortex wobbles and a lobe surges south through Canada and into parts of North America with bitter temperatures. Add 25 mph winds to the colder-than-normal temperatures, and you have a nice recipe for Artic Cold! Frostbite happens in 5 minutes to exposed skin in these conditions. Here was my midday (warmest part of the day) weather on Wednesday Jan. 30th: Dangerously cold Practically everything closed ~ schools, government offices, the university and local … [Read more...] about How do you photograph “Artic Cold?”
It’s Snow Wonder!
Storm #2 In seven days we've had 2 snowstorms. The first brought us 8 inches and the second brought 4 more inches. In between we had a little melting and settling, so the total right now is about 7 - 8 inches. It's been a rather fun and exciting time! We have to watch the barn gutters in heavy snowfalls like this. The snow tends to slide down the metal roof and gets hung up on the gutters before falling off in large chunks. Several years ago, the gutters on the back of the barn came completely off due to the heavy snow. Then The Wind Blew . . . You can see some drifting starting in this area. At the end of the second storm, we had 30- 40mph winds. Our hilltop didn't suffer the worst because of the trees breaking the wind but in the wide, open farmland nearby, the drifting was bad. Many … [Read more...] about It’s Snow Wonder!
1300 miles of snow!
OK, I confess. Our storm wasn't as good as this, but . . . I'd give it an 8/10. It was the perfect time, the perfect amount! In the wee hours of Friday night while we slept, light snow began to fall. It quickly picked up intensity and snowflake size as Saturday rolled in. Throughout the day we had that picturesque scene from every Hallmark Christmas movie. Big white flakes falling thickly outside while we gathered by the windows inside. There were no worries; we were safe at home, warm and together. We could enjoy it without the stress of driving in it or getting to work or school on time. It hit at the perfect time. This particular snowstorm system was one of the largest I could remember in a long time. It stretched 1300 miles west to east, snowing from Colorado to Pennsylvania, all at the same time. … [Read more...] about 1300 miles of snow!