...overwhelms everything. Demands your attention and won't leave you alone. It's an entity that must be dealt with. We think about it, plan for it, have the snow plowed or shovel it ourselves. We must shop for food with the weather in mind; we carry a shovel in the car when we head out; we pack extra boots and heavy jackets, just in case. We keep a pot of water on the stove in case we need to boil it for hot water in the morning. The extension cords stay in place now for quick attachment to the generator. Yes, we've had another storm, and another extended power outage.
The weather. It has whupped our butts this year, and not only ours but our entire county's; the PG&E crews constantly trying to restore power, and the telephone companies keeping connections humming. Tree crews, road crews, and law enforcement are all working non-stop. There's hardly been a day since mid February that we haven't seen some work truck on the side of the road with a cherry-picker bucket high up in the trees or the top of a pole, and some person doing his/her damnedest to solve a problem.
The weather. And there's more on the way. Out of the Gulf of Alaska (thanks, Dave!). One storm ends, another begins, with hardly a breather in between. It's the trees that seem to take the brunt of it. Limbs strewn everywhere, tops blown off like they were nothing but insignificant toothpicks, and whole trees spread across roadways as if they had always planned to fall just this way.
The weather.
So sometimes, we take a break and head out to watch the Wood Ducks in the snowy pond. It almost balances the madness, but not quite.
Ack. So sorry you guys seem to be bearing a brunt of the onset of Slushball Earth. I just read that five feet of snow are predicted for the Sierras tomorrow...
ReplyDeleteHope you stay safe and warm.
My parents emailed from the eastern side to say they are getting weary of the snow. We're a little weary of the rain. But, wow, is your snow pretty!
ReplyDeleteGood grief, isn't it Spring? That is amazing and as much as I love snow, enough is enough.
ReplyDeleteThe weight of the snow really does a number on the trees.
I'd be thinking of moving to a warmer, snow-free climate.
ReplyDeletebrrrrrrr....hope you both perk merrily along until spring wraps you in her warm, colorful days and reminds you that a new beginning has arrived once again! great photos.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you won't have spring in your neck of the woods. It'll be winter one day, then full-blown summer the next!
ReplyDeleteWhat are the arguments against burying electric cables? Initial expense, yes, but done right, they should hold a long, long time and no need to send crews out to restore it every coupla months.
hey, if there were any to stalwarts who could 'take it,' it's you guys.
ReplyDeletewe got hit with tropical storm winds last night, lost of rain, power went out briefly (as we were transferring mom back to bed!) and many things went bump in the night.
Hang in there - stay warm!
PS the word verification was Perma -- as in FROST. :-)
ReplyDeleteThe old plum
ReplyDeletebent by the weight
Of snow blossoms
what a winter! it has to end sometime. glad you bums are prepared!
ReplyDeleteI hope spring lands where you are now that it's officially here.
ReplyDeleteThis next round isn't supposed to be as bad. Or so the weather clowns are saying.
ReplyDeleteHang in there!
Your weather is all too familiar to me, and a good reminder of why I'm perched here about 5 miles north of the mexican border.
ReplyDeleteI probably don't need to say it, but "Hang tough, you're in the homestretch now."
It must end sometime soon! Our snow is gone . . .
ReplyDeleteuntil at least Wednesday.
it has been a punishing winter, both physically and mentally for most people I think. the weather can really wear you down like rain on stones. glad to see the color of the birds below!
ReplyDeleteSorry sweetie! Was wishing for an early spring here in Anchorage. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm TDY in Huntington Beach, and I saw rain like I have never seen rain in SoCal on any other trip out here. And the weatherpeople are predicting more in the middle of the week, so, there you go.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh you have a whole FLOCK of wood ducks at your pond! I knew one pair had made its home there, but... four?? Oh, what a gift, Bums.
ReplyDeleteAnd as for the snow... My home is at about the same elevation as yours, though some distance south-ish. And we've had a ton of snow this season, too. Don't lose hope regarding this rough weather, though. The last two winters have been unusual because they were El Nino and La Nina winters. The weather was unbelievable the last time these linked weather events occurred, too, a little more than a decade ago. When El Nino came last winter, I knew it would be a harder winter than we'd had in the recent past, and I was right. This winter as well, as La Nina also packs a heck of a punch.
So keep heart. Next winter (barring changes due to global warming, of course) should be gentler.
And oh, those ducks. Oh, my. ;)
(written following the snowstorms of March 21-23-ish)