...: Marsh Chatter
Winter 2014 - Snowy Year
The Winter of 2013/2014 has been one of those 'old fashioned' snowy years. We have had snow on the ground since it first started snowing in late November/early December... no melts so far. Much different than last 10 or so years.
Pretty constant 12 to 18 inches on the ground - with drifts to 3 feet in places... and plowed snow drifts by road high enough to cover a portion of our split rail fence (e.g. about 4 ft high).
Other than the constant single digit and negative digits (yes negative double-digit temps... not just wind-chill), it has been a "fun winter". Snow makes everything look pretty... until it gets warm enough to melt... then we get dirty slushy snow by the roads and then it's not so pretty.
Of course none of us are going to like our heating bills - but like the A/C bills during high 90's & triple digit temps in the summer... we just deal with it.
Remembrances of this Winter
Looking down on buried chairs
This picture was taken on February 1st before another storm settled in. There's an additional 6 or so inches added now.
Looking out over yard - Feb 1st, before another storm
Such a nice view. So quiet.
How deep is it? Shoulder Deep according to Ziva. Higher than my boots!
To get some pictures - Ziva and I headed out and busted a trail. She would get impatient with me taking pictures and either nosed into me or went around hopping/crashing her own trail. So fun! Ziva was born in late October and we brought her home to snow in December... she started out in snow - so she loves to bulldoze through it.
Solitary tomato cage ("lonely soldier")
I found early on in my tomato garden that these cages were essentially worthless. So they became protectors of new trees when they are first planted until they get about 2 ft high. So under that snow is a youngster waiting to see light of the day again... But I found the single cage out there to be "strangely artistic".
Pool is Closed - Reason? Freezin!!
This bird bath goes unused in the winter. It is more "art" than anything else.
Ziva and Snow - Can't separate them!
As noted above, Ziva just loves diving into the snow - like the picture of the Fox diving after a hidden rodent. Frisbee or snowballs - just keep her going like the "bunny"...
"Harry Lauder" in Memory Garden
We've always liked the way the Harry Lauder bush grows - and it always makes for interesting pictures.
St. Jude standing watch in Memory Garden
Art! Look at the way the snow settled up the north side. Reminds me of how the Sphinx peaks above the sand in Egypt.
Dwarf Cherry - Budded up and ready for Spring
Most folks are gearing up for Spring... it is only a few weeks away. But the way the winter is going... I'm sure the snow is only going to get piled higher.