Welcome Home

Usually unless I come home in the middle of Summer I am greeted by snow. This time it waited a couple days. We got home on Tuesday and it didn't snow until Thursday night. This is what it looked like on Friday morning.

My Weather Station

This is basically my weather station. The railing in the foreground is my snow guage. In the morning I look to see how much snow has fallen during the night. Farther out is the weather vane which at times tells me which direction the wind is coming from. Under the vane is the cups that spin when it's windy if the whole thing isn't frozen in place. Then I don't know which way the wind is blowing or how strong the wind is blowing. I have a feeling it is frozen in place now as we had some above freezing weather and snow could have melted and then froze holding the cups and vane immobile.

Will This Shit Ever End??????

Some flowers have come up, but the snow has knocked them down. Once the snow melts they should perk up.

 We had bare ground around the parking area until this morning when it got covered with white shit again.

My little trailer that was almost buried in snow until recently. A few days ago I noticed that it had fallen onto its wheels, but there is still too much snow to get it out of there so I can use it. My first project for it will be hauling firewood and I can't do that until all of the ground is bare and dry. The other day The Old Lady bought an apple tree. She plans on planting it close to where this trailer is, about twenty feet from it and there is still over a foot of snow on the ground.

Update: 5/12/'13 The new snow melted during the course of the day and then yesterday evening it started snowing again. This morning there was 2-3 inches of more snow. It's a bitch trying to plant stuff when you have to first scrape the snow out of the way before you can dig a hole in the ground.

Snowblower

I have a washtub over the engine to protect it from snow and rain.

Awhile back I posted a cartoon about using a metal detector to find the snowblower. I didn't need a metal detector to find my snowblower this afternoon, but I might have if I had waited another day before going out to clear the snow.

The snow around the vehicles was deep enough that the snowblower couldn't swallow it all and some would come over the top of the opening for the auger on the snowblower. It was at least kneedeep at the lowest and thighdeep in places where it drifted into the paths I have around the place.

They have blizzard warning up for tonight. It should be done sometime tomorrow, and go back to normal.

Skeeters

The other day it was pushing 40 degrees outside and when I went over to check out how much snow was in the box of my truck, I saw something flying around the box. I happened to have my camera as I was planning to take some pictures of my chainsaw project, so I took some pictures of what was flying around and on the snow. SKEETERS, fuck can't be safe from the little bloodsucking bastards even in the middle of the winter!!

Because we had a few warm days and nights (warm for this time of year, above freezing during the day and night) the skeeters must have woken up from their hibernation and probably were laying eggs in the snow. When the snow melts in the Spring and puddles form the eggs would hatch. That's my theory and I'm sticking to it. They weren't interested in biting me, seemed like they were more interested in the snow.

The Finns have a term for describing skeeters in winter. (I could tell you what the word is, but can't spell it and can't find it either on-line or in the dictionaries we have.) It refers to when you have the top surface of the snow melting and then freezing hard enough to walk on. That usually happens in late winter or early spring.

The Boob Pictures Didn't Work, Let's See If These Will

 I know this looks like a picture from last year, but trust me, this was taken literally minutes ago. This is the first measurable snow we have seen this year. (Saw online where they had a couple inches while we were in Tejas earlier this month.) I think it's part of the tailend (or wraparound) of what's happening on the East Coast. Probably lake effect from the Northeast winds last night.

View looking out the back door. Doesn't that look all Xmas cardy????????

Welcome Home

This was the scene when we got home yesterday afternoon.  Just a few patches of snow mostly where it was piled up from plowing or in shady spots under the spruce trees.

This the scene when I looked out this morning.  A light dusting of snow covering everything except the driveway.  This is a typical homecoming for me.  It usually snows as I come home or right after I get here.  The only way to make sure it doesn't snow on my arrival is to sneak home in the middle of summer, but that is no guarantee as it has snowed every month of the year here and snow on the Fourth of July is not uncommon!!

Inundated With Snow

 This is the top of a 4x4 post we installed to keep the snowplow off the septic tank and drain field.  That means the snowbank is about 6ft high.

Closeup of the post.  There is also a piece of orange flagging tape on it, but not very noticeable now.

The grader has been here and plowed the driveway so I should get out there and play with the snow.  Need to fire up the Jeep and do some plowing and use the snowblower to clear the paths that we use.

In a couple weeks we'll head down to Tejas to visit The Kid for a couple three weeks, but doubt if the snow will be gone by the time we come back.

One year in April the fence posts were looking like this when I left to go out to the Bay Area to help my cousin drive home.  I was gone exactly two weeks and when I got back the beginning of May, the snow was gone and The Old Lady had the cows out in the pasture.

Snow is a Lot Like Sex

They promised us 6 to 8 inches.  What we got was about 3 or 4.

Before and After

 This picture was taken on Nov. 9, 2011 when it started snowing this winter.

This picture was taken yesterday Feb. 27, 2012 and it's still snowing.  There are three steps down from the porch to the ground and now you step up onto the snow when you come off the porch.  I have been told that almost every year all the snow melts and in my memory it has melted every year, so I'm not worried.

Forecast is calling for another 6-8 inches starting tomorrow.

For Those That Like Snow

 There's smoke coming out of the chimney so the place must be warm.  So far this winter we've been nice and warm, usually in the 70s inside occasionally 80 or higher.  The stove is working very well and fairly easy on wood.  So far we've burnt about 3 tier of wood.  This winter will determine how much firewood I'll have to cut for next winter.

Like I said in the previous post, the snowbanks are a lot higher now than in the picture with the Jeep.

This is a large pulley off some belt-driven machinery.  It's a least 3ft in diameter maybe bigger.

Here I am playing in  the snow.  These pictures were taken on the 14th of Jan.  The Old Lady was trying to get a picture of the frost in my beard.

There are many jokes about the seasons UP on the Tundra.  The one I like is this: What do they do UP on the Tundra when it's Summer.  Ans. If it falls on a Saturday, they have a picnic!!

Addendum:  What I call a tier some call a cord, but it is actually a face cord or 1/3 of a cord.  It is a pile 4ft high by 8ft long and 16 inches deep.  Put three of those together and you have a full cord which is 4ftX4ftX8ft.  Unless you are buying a logtruck load of firewood, when they say so much a cord, it is really a face cord or a tier.  So I guess I've burnt a full cord of wood so far.

Maintaining a comfortable temp with a wood-burning stove can be tricky.  Either you freeze or roast unless you can control the burn, usually by regulating the air.  The more air the hotter it burns if you have good dry wood.  Right now it's mid-70s inside and 14 outside, so we are doing OK.

First Real Snow

Today we got our first real snow of the season.  Reminds me of this snow story.  I doubt if what happened to the guy in the story will happen to me.  When it comes to snow, I've had tadpoles before.

Snow on vehicles.

 Just looked out and the snow is almost up to the rocker panels on the car.  We don't have to go anywhere in the next day or so, so no worries.

Apple tree with snow on branches.  

Snow on my four-wheeler.

Tomorrow I'll see how my four-wheeler goes in the snow.  Should have fun playing in the white stuff.  I think I'll unhook the trailer first.

Another apple tree with snow on it.

This apple tree is just outside the back door and the picture also shows that we've gotten about 5 inches going by what's on the pumphouse.

Ole and Lena Jokes

Ole and Lena was at the kitchen table for the usual morning cup of coffee and listening to a weather report coming from the radio. "There will be 3 to 5 inches of snow today and a snow emergency has been declared. All vehicles should be parked on the odd-numbered side of the streets today to facilitate snowplows," the radio voice declared. "Oh, gosh, OK," said Ole, getting up, bundling up and heading outside to dutifully put his car on the odd-numbered side of the street.

Two days later, Ole and Lena were at morning coffee when the radio voice said: "There will be 2 to 4 inches of snow today and a snow emergency has been declared. You must park your vehicles on the even-numbered side of the streets." Ole got up from his coffee as before. He bundled up, shuffled off, and put his car on the even-numbered side of the street.

A few days later, the couple was at the table when the radio voice declared: "There will be 6 to 8 inches of snow today and a snow emergency has been declared. You must park your cars on the ..." Just then, the power went out. "Park it where?" Ole asked in the dark, "What should I do?" "Aw, to heck with them, Ole," Lena said, "Don't worry about it today. Just leave the car in the garage."

Another joke:

Ole and Lena got married. On their honeymoon trip they were nearing Minneapolis when Ole put his hand on Lena's knee. Giggling, Lena Said, "Ole, you can go farther if ya vant to"... so Ole drove to Duluth.

Snow Joke

December 8
6:00 PM. It started to snow. The first snow of the season and the wife and I took our cocktails and sat for hours by the window watching the huge soft flakes drift down from heaven. It looked like a Grandma Moses Print. So romantic we felt like newlyweds again. I love snow!

December 9
We woke to a beautiful blanket of crystal white snow covering every inch of the landscape. What a fantastic sight! Can there be a more lovely place in the Whole World? Moving here was the best idea I've ever had. Shoveled for the first time in years and felt like a boy again. I did both our driveway and the sidewalks. This afternoon the snowplow came along and covered up the sidewalks and closed in the driveway, so I got to shovel again. What a perfect life.

December 12
The sun has melted all our lovely snow. Such a disappointment. My neighbor tells me not to worry, we'll definitely have a white Christmas. No snow on Christmas would be awful! Bob says we'll have so much snow by the end of winter, that I'll never want to see snow again. I don't think that's possible. Bob is such a nice man, I'm glad he's our neighbor.

December 14
Snow lovely snow! 8" last night. The temperature dropped to -20. The cold makes everything sparkle so. The wind took my breath away, but I warmed up by shoveling the driveway and sidewalks. This is the life!

The snowplow came back this afternoon and buried everything again. I didn't realize I would have to do quite this much shoveling, but I'll certainly get back in shape this way.

December 15
20 inches forecast. Sold my van and bought a 4x4 Blazer. Bought snow tires for the wife's car and 2 extra shovels. Stocked the freezer.

The wife wants a wood stove in case the electricity goes out. I think that's silly. We aren't in Alaska, after all.

December 16
Ice storm this morning. Fell on my butt on the ice in the driveway putting down salt. Hurt like heck. The wife laughed for one hour, which I think was very cruel.

December 17
Still way below freezing. Roads are too icy to go anywhere.

Electricity was off for 5 hours. I had to pile the blankets on to stay warm. Nothing to do but stare at the wife and try not to irritate her. Guess I should've bought a wood stove, but won't admit it to her. God I hate it when she's right. I can't believe I'm freezing to death in my own living room.

December 20
Electricity's back on, but had another 14" of the damn stuff last night. More shoveling. Took all day. Darn snowplow came by twice.

Tried to find a neighbor kid to shovel, but they said they're too busy playing hockey. I think they're lying. Called the only hardware store around to see about buying a snow blower and they're out. Might have another shipment in March. I think they're lying. Bob says I have to shovel or the city will have it done and bill me. I think he's lying.

December 22
Bob was right about a white Christmas because 13 more inches of the white crap fell today, and it's so cold it probably won't melt till August. Took me 45 minutes to get all dressed up to go out to shovel and then I had to poop. By the time I got undressed, pooped and dressed again, I was too tired to shovel. Tried to hire Bob who has a plow on his truck for the rest of the winter; but he says he's too busy. I think the jerk is lying.

December 23
Only 2" of snow today. And it warmed up to 0. The wife wanted me to decorate the front of the house this morning. What is she nuts!!! Why didn't she tell me to do that a month ago? She says she did but I think she's lying.

December 24
6". Snow packed so hard by snowplow, I broke the shovel. Thought I was having a heart attack. If I ever catch the man who drives that snowplow I'll drag him through the snow by his nose and beat him to death with my broken shovel. I know he hides around the corner and waits for me to finish shoveling and then he comes down the street at 100 miles an hour and throws snow all over where I've just been!

Tonight the wife wanted me to sing Christmas carols with her and open our presents, but I was too busy watching for the snowplow.

December 25
Merry -bleeping- Christmas! 20 more inches of the slop tonight. Snowed in. The idea of shoveling makes my blood boil. I hate the snow! Then the snowplow driver came by asking for a donation and I hit him over the head with my shovel. The wife says I have a bad attitude. I think she's a fricking idiot. If I have to watch "It's A Wonderful Life" one more time, I'm going to stuff her into the microwave.

December 26
Still snowed in. Why the heck did I ever move here? It was all HER idea. She's really getting on my nerves.

December 27
Temperature dropped to -30 and the pipes froze, plumber came after 14 hours of waiting for him, he only charged me $1400 to replace all my pipes.

December 28
Warmed up to above -20. Still snowed in. THE WITCH is driving me crazy!!!

December 29
10 more inches. Bob says I have to shovel the roof or it could cave in. That's the silliest thing I ever heard. How dumb does he think I am?

December 30
Roof caved in. I beat up the snow plow driver he is now suing me for a million dollars not only the beating I gave him but also for trying to shove the broken snow shovel up where the sun don't shine. The wife went home to her mother. 9" predicted.

December 31
I set fire to what's left of the house. No more shoveling.

January 8
Feel so good. I just love those little white pills they keep giving me. Why am I tied to the bed?

Remembered this from some years back when we actually had to deal with snow.  Found this at basicjokes.com.

Life UP On The Tundra

The beginning of the week they got two feet of snow, by the end of the week temps will be pushing into the sixties possibly seventies depending on which forecast you go by. The following is datelined Apr. 22, 2009 in The Daily Mining Gazette.

BARAGA - The fire danger posted outside the Michigan Department of Natural Resources' Baraga Operations Service Center read very high last week, but thanks to the snow, it now reads low.
"There is no danger now," said Dan Laux, fire supervisor for the Baraga management unit. "Once it dries off and warms up again, we'll probably be back into somewhat of a fire season, but a lot of it will depend on this added moisture. I'm sure it will help things green up quicker when it gets warmer."
Prior to the snowfall that dumped as much as 24 inches in the region, the fire season in the Upper Peninsula was under way, Laux said.

Funny how a couple of feet of snow will lower the fire danger!!

Today 54/ 47°F Partly Cloudy / Wind
Friday 59/ 37°FSct T-Storms
Saturday 37/ 33°FRain / Snow
Sunday 39/ 34°FRain / Snow Showers
Monday 41/ 34°FAM Clouds / PM Sun

A local TV station was predicting temps could be in the 70's Friday and Saturday with lower temps near the lakes.

Snow UP on the Tundra

Last weekend it snowed UP on the tundra and by the time it ended they had a foot of snow. These pictures are from about 30 years ago. Next to the pickup buried in the snowdrift is a '62 Mercury Meteor. The kids were able to walk on the snowdrift up on to the roof of the mobile home.

The dog in the picture is Banjo. She lived outside most of the time. The only time she wanted in

was during thunderstorms. Then she would come in and hide under the kid's bed. One time there was no room under the bed and she went under the couch. I had to lift the couch up so she could get out.

These pictures are typical of what it was like in the middle of Winter back then. This may be what we have to look forward to in the future. The Old Lady says that this is the only place we can afford to retire to. But, hey it's not that bad anymore thanks to global warming!!

The trailer is no longer there, I tore it down a couple of years ago. I may have to build the retirement bunker where it sat.