Saturday, February 4, 2012

Winter is Back

I have been saying this has been a wacky, weird winter.  It seems like it has been mild in lots of places.  Just when I had decided it would be OK to skip winter all together, here it is!  With all of this snow, we are even on the national news!

When I got up a little before 7:00 a.m. it looked like this:


When I looked out around 8:30, I took some more photos, from the front and back doors.  I did not venture out.




I included this photo because I think it's the only one with the evergreen trees across the street.  They always look so pretty in the snow.  The lump is our grill.
 

I don't show the back yard very often.  The small area behind the picket fence is where I grow the herbs I use for cooking.  I also grow some in pots near the back door.



It is supposed to snow most of the day.  If it snows as much as it already has, we will be getting more than was predicted.

I got some more photos taken around 5:00 p.m.  Our next door neighbor to the north knocked on our back door while we were eating to let us know our car port was starting to come down due to the weight of the snow.  (At the 10:00 news, they said we got 11 inches.)

The piles of snow were deeper this afternoon. I like how the variety of objects in the yard look with snow caps on.




Shortly after I went in, I saw the rabbit (or one of them) that lives here out here on the sidewalk.  It stayed there until I opened the door, and it went in its "door" under the deck, which is to the right of  the herb garden, where it must have a nest. 


Here is our poor tipped carport.  Larry's heated bird bath is in front of the garage.


The photos here are in the order I took them, so here is the vegetable garden.


Heidi and I went to the front to take photos for my header and background.



She did well in the deep snow.  I walked in the tracks in the street.



I feel kind of bad for leaving this bike out for the winter.  I probably should have stored it, but when I got it, I knew it was not in good enough condition to be ridden.  I hope it holds up OK.


I took a number of photos for insurance purposes.  Larry contacted our homeowners' insurance, and they will be sending an appraiser.  I hope we will be able to replace the carport with one that will be sturdier or better designed/built to withstand the snow.  Larry and I tried to get the long snow rake dealy, whatever it is called, down to get some of the snow off of the carport, but it was wedged between where the carport was coming down, and the blue tarp.  I don't remember what is under the tarp, but that is what was keeping it from coming down further. 


I saw a couple guys outside two houses down, and walked over to ask one of them to help us get the rake/shovel out.  It was the neighbors' brother who came over and said we need to prop it with something.  He cut these beams, or whatever they are called, to the correct height.  I gave him a little cash, because it was so nice to have his help.  I felt bad, too, because he had cut his finger earlier in the day, and still went out and shoveled driveways and sidewalks all day.  (That's Larry finishing up.)


Well, I'm glad I got some lettuce, spinach, kale, peas, and radishes planted Thursday.  I had already planted several kinds of lettuce on January 5th, earlier than ever, because the soil was not frozen.   I always like to plant some seeds early.  I've mentioned I call it my "gamble garden".  I am not a gambler in other ways.  Really, this isn't much of one anyway, as my rate of getting a crop has been virtually 100%.  The seeds wait for the soil to be warm enough, and once up, they seem to be able to withstand temps into the 20s, and even snow.  Once in awhile some of the seeds don't come up, but that happens even in April or May.  I was a little worried about the January seeds coming up too early, because of how warm it continued to be.  Now, they have a nice blanket of snow, and when it melts, they will have some nice moisture to help them germinate.  I don't think I've planted peas this early before, though, so I'm not sure how well they will do.  I should mention that the main reason I do this, is that the soil is frequently too wet to plant things once spring gets here.  This way, there are some in, and I can be patient to wait for the soil to be dry enough to plant more.

We are getting closer to spring, and I am looking forward to it.

55 comments:

  1. I absolutely love your beautiful 7am snow scene capture! It is magical! What a lot of snow you've had. Now I understand the origin of the expression "snowed under". I hope your insurers pay out promptly.

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    1. Thanks, Desiree, Larry is working with the insurance adjustor, who is having a contractor come out and see how he can fix it.

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  2. Don and I have been watching your weather closely as we had heard that many Cranes had been staying in the Kearney area this winter because of the mild conditions. I sure hope they are okay. What nutty weather!

    Your garden looks gorgeous even with a layer of snow. Beautiful photos, Sue. Though I'm sure your not enjoying the snow, it is pretty-thanks for sharing!

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    1. Hi Sue, I heard there were some cranes still in Nebraska, but never heard how they were impacted by the snow. Yes, the weather has been nutty. We had been having above normal temps, but now, they are below normal. I just want "normal" temps come spring.

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  3. Oh my goodness, your sure got a load of snow and I'm sorry about your carport roof. Glad you had some help in propping it up.

    That photo taken just before 7 a.m. is so beautiful! It touches me, heart and soul. The pristine snow, the glow of lights, the monochromatic color scheme, except for the flag.

    Have a lovely Sunday ~ FlowerLady

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    1. Thanks for your nice complement on my photo, FlowerLady. The props are keeping the carport roof up so far.

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  4. Sue, I know the heavy snow causes a lot of problems, but it sure does look beautiful!

    I hope the insurance comes through and you can rebuild or reinforce the carport so that it will withstand heavy loads.

    We haven't had a decent snow ...yet.

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    1. Thanks, Glenda, The snow isn't as pretty now, but I'm glad it didn't all melt before the weather turned cold again. The insurance will cover a repair, but not a replacement of the carport. I just hope it was built well enough to begin with to last many more years.

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  5. Hi,

    I think many of us have had a strange winter so far. Here in the UK it's been very mild until most of us were hit with snow yesterday; even then I've been out clearing the road today and it was very warm in the sun! My window thermometer tells me it's almost 15C in the sun, and the snow is slowly melting; however it's going to be a while before our road is cleared as the sun does not hit it this time of year. Two people have managed to get their cars up our hill, so hopefully I won't have too much trouble tomorrow for work!

    Here's hoping your snow soon melts! Spring certainly cannot come soon enough :)

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    1. Gwirrel,
      I'm ready for spring, too, but in the meantime, I'll be glad to have some snow cover now that it's cold. I'm trying to remember what part of the world was in the news this week, because of the cold winter they are having.

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  6. You're buried! Wow. So sorry about the carport but here's to an improved one.
    You got some great photos. I love a wet sticky snow that makes lace of everything. And, it has moisture. I sprinkled some lettuce seed out in the garden this past week with your encouragement to try it early. We got a nice rain and a little snow cover so the seeds should be happy.

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    1. Thanks, Sherlock,
      We will have to repair the carport, but are hopeful the contractor is going to do it well. Thanks for the compliment on my snow photos. Now the some of the snow has melted, it is not as pretty. Still, I am glad it is covering the plants. I'm glad you got some lettuce planted. I hope it does well.

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  7. Hi, love your photos! Here in London we got this winter's first snow last night, and although some of it has melted today it is too cold for all of it to go and we will probably have icy roads for days to come. My garden looked very much like yours this morning! Hope we will have spring soon!

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    1. Hi Helene, I just got back from visiting your blog, because I don't think I've been there before. I like the way you have it set up, so one can see a number of posts, then click on the "see more" to get to the full post. Yes, we have mixed feelings about the snow. I'm glad it's there, but am ready for spring to arrive.

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  8. The snow is beautiful, but am so sorry it's causing havoc with your carport. 11 inches! That's a lot of weight. I love how you gamble with the seeds. Smart!

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    1. Hi HolleyGarden,
      The snow isn't so pretty now, but I'm still glad it's there. It's also a good thing some of it has melted off of the carport. I had to laugh when a teacher at the school I work at asked how soon he could plant lettuce without it being too much of a gamble. I asked if he'd read my blog, but he hadn't, so I told him to. I said I always plant a "gamble" garden, and already had some planted. I suggested that he throw some seeds on top of the snow, and see how they do when the snow melts.

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  9. Sue,

    Been years since we had this kind of snow! The carport, it is a shame but really hardly worth a claim. Looks easy to fix, mostly by securing to the house better. Stay warm and dry.

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    1. Hi Randy, I wonder what spring is going to be like. We are going to hire someone the insurance guy works with to fix it. I wish we were handy like you, so we could do it ourselves. It's the garage it is against, not that it makes any difference. It's probably spring, or "pre-spring" your way. I just made that word up, I think.

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  10. You have some beautiful photos of the snow-covered trees - postcard perfect. For us here in Michigan, we had sunshine and 45 degree weather yesterday and today too. Crazy weather! Good luck with the carport.

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    1. Hi Jill-O,
      Thanks! I hope our springs come soon, and the crazy weather is finished.

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  11. The snow photos are lovely - like a postcard. Sorry to hear about the car port. Stay safe and warm.

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    1. Thanks, Jayne, I bet your spring is well underway. I'm glad you got to experience snow from afar.

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  12. Wow - that is quite the dumping of snow. Beautiful pictures.
    But what I really loved about this post is the information about planting the cold crops so early. Here in Canada I think I would have to wait until mid to late March before the ground is workable enough to plant anything. In a normal winter, that is. This year is unusual as we have had very little snow and it's warm (high of 45F today)
    Enjoy your brief winter wonderland.

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    1. Hi Heather,
      The snow has not all melted yet, now that our temps are now below normal for this time of year. I'm glad I got those seeds in. I hope you are able to get some in soon.

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  13. I was just about to say how absolutely beautiful it all was when I read the part about the insurance adjuster. Hope that all works out for you. I love that kind of thick, puffy snow. Looks like the dog had fun, too!

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    1. Thanks, PlantPostings,
      The snow is not pretty right now, but I'm glad there is still some on the ground. The insurance company sent a check before their contractor gave his estimate, and now, they will have to send another one. We'll have to come up with $500.00 to get it fixed.

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  14. Good lord that's a lot of snow all at once. Sorry to learn your carport wasn't up to snuff and hope the repairs will be more sturdy. We had snow like that all last winter, but nothing this year -- just little bits now and then and quick as a wink it melts. Hope your's melts soon. Still, it sure is beautiful to look at (from inside where it's warm and dry. ;-D)

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    1. Thanks, Kris,
      We're glad the carport hasn't fallen any further. I'm thinking it will need to hold up until March. We have another inch or two predicted for Sunday into Monday.

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  15. Sue, even I admit that your snow is quite pretty! But still, better you than me!

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    1. Thanks, Robin,
      I'm at the point where I'm ready for spring to be here. I so miss my digging in the dirt time!

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  16. Oh, wow, you really do have WINTER!! It is beautiful in pictures, I must admit, but I am glad that we do not have any down this way. We really have had no winter to speak of. I keep thinking the hammer is going to fall one of these days, but I keep looking at the 10-day forecast and there's not a freeze in sight. So we shall see. Thanks for dropping by my blog. I went to Blotanical to see your message. My elbow and forearm and 100% better! Surgery and two cortisone shots, and the grace of God!! So far so good. The first cortisone shot wore off in 4 months, and I am at about 4 1/2 months with the second shot, so hopefully I am fixed for good now. I am still careful not to overdo it, though. I don't want a repeat of last year. Be careful in the snow. I hope you can get for carport fixed with not too much trouble.

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    1. Thanks, Toni,
      If we had the money, and willing family members, Larry and I would move all of us to some place like North Carolina. I think they still have some winter, but not as cold or for as long as we do.

      I'm glad your elbow and arm have healed. I'm ready to use mine in the garden as soon as it warms up enough!

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  17. Dear Sue, No snow here in PA yet. How I wish my garden would get a protective cover of the white stuff. Not to mention how I wish snow would fall and hide the 'ugliness'. Your snow pics are so beautiful! P. x

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    1. Thanks, Pam,
      I'm glad for the moisture and protective cover, too, even though it's not so pretty anymore. I hope you get some before spring gets here.

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  18. Wow, that's a lot of snow. Winter has been so mild here in Virginia that I haven't had time to get stir crazy or anything. I like snow, but I'm really looking forward to spring already now and I'm not sure how I'd feel if we got any. Still, your pictures are great and make me think it might be fun after all (except the property damage!) Interesting that you sow your lettuces, etc., extra early. I'm finding more and more things that do well sown in late fall or early winter here to get going in the brief warm spells, but I guess that's a little different than how it words for you in Nebraska.

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    1. Hi Sharon,
      I'm looking forward to spring, too. Yes the snow was pretty, but, now, I'm feeling finished with it. I just want it to be spring.

      I am watching coverage of the death of Whitney Houston. Forty-eight is too young! How tragic to have all of that talent, but have whatever demons she had.

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  19. Oh my goodness you got some snow! a ton of it. It has been such a mild winter. We will be getting some freezing temps coming over the next few days. Ya'll stay warm.

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    1. Hi Becca,
      This has truly been a wacky winter. I hope your plants are doing OK with the freezing temps. Our temps are now colder than normal, but after a week or so, could be back to normal or a little above.

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  20. I think its a global phenomenon.
    Its the second week of Feb and its so cold here, they say its the coldest in the last 18 years.

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    1. Yes, Haddock, it sounds like winter has not been normal in many places at all. Where do you live? I can't remember now where in the world they were saying on the news that it has been colder than normal. Spring, get here soon!

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  21. Wow, Sue, no snow and then this! I hope you have good luck with the insurance company. We finally got some fresh replacement snow last night, but not like you did! Love all the pictures, so pretty.

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    1. Hi Karen,
      Yes, it seemed almost surreal to get all that snow after the winter had been so mild. You are the one who usually has a cover of snow most of the winter.

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  22. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed reading your blog posts. What do you think, if I would republished some of these articles in our news sections or on the site? It’s mainly a site for organic seeds and Garden seeds, but I think a lot of them simply love every part of the world and would enjoy reading your blog. Let me know.
    Thanks!

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  23. Wow! Sue, the first photo could be used on a Christmas card....so, so pretty. I always luv seeing pictures of Heidi. She's quite a characater playing in the snow.

    Sorry about the carport. It's always something, right?

    Happy Valentine's Day to you.

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    1. Thanks, Donna, I kind of liked that first one, too. Heidi is a character whatever she is doing. She and I sometimes get along well, but other times have some conflicts.

      Things haven't been too bad, except we have been putting quite a bit of money into Larry's 1994 Ford Ranger, but not as much as we would have to spend if he got another vehicle. We've been able to pay cash, though. I messed up this month, thinking we were going to get a tax refund, and used most of our savings to pay down our home equity loan. For some reason, I was wrong, and we will be owing about $1,000 for both federal and state together. It's a good thing he figured that out now, so we can save for it. We'll have to pay $500 to fix the carport, as that is our deductible.

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  24. Wow! Sue, the first photo could be used on a Christmas card....so, so pretty. I always luv seeing pictures of Heidi. She's quite a characater playing in the snow.

    Sorry about the carport. It's always something, right?

    Happy Valentine's Day to you.

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  25. Wow! Sue, the first photo could be used on a Christmas card....so, so pretty. I always luv seeing pictures of Heidi. She's quite a characater playing in the snow.

    Sorry about the carport. It's always something, right?

    Happy Valentine's Day to you.

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  26. Wow! Sue, the first photo could be used on a Christmas card....so, so pretty. I always luv seeing pictures of Heidi. She's quite a characater playing in the snow.

    Sorry about the carport. It's always something, right?

    Happy Valentine's Day to you.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Wow! Sue, the first photo could be used on a Christmas card....so, so pretty. I always luv seeing pictures of Heidi. She's quite a characater playing in the snow.

    Sorry about the carport. It's always something, right?

    Happy Valentine's Day to you.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Wow! Sue, the first photo could be used on a Christmas card....so, so pretty. I always luv seeing pictures of Heidi. She's quite a characater playing in the snow.

    Sorry about the carport. It's always something, right?

    Happy Valentine's Day to you.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Wow! Sue, the first photo could be used on a Christmas card....so, so pretty. I always luv seeing pictures of Heidi. She's quite a characater playing in the snow.

    Sorry about the carport. It's always something, right?

    Happy Valentine's Day to you.

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    1. LOL, Donna! Your comment was posted 7 times! Did you have trouble getting it to post? Happy Valentine's Day to you, too!

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  30. wow - you got covered!!! Its's so incredibly beautiful.

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