It is still winter with sub zero mornings and not much
better during the daytime. The only time it warms up is when it snows, but this
coming week is supposed to be nicer with temperatures in the low 20s (-6C)
during the day. Yippee! If you wonder why I seem obsessed with the weather it
is because I have to keep the house and farm functioning and cold weather
creates some interesting challenges. Especially with water going in and out as
well as keeping access to the road and other buildings, feeding and watering
horses, keeping machinery functioning, etc. Once those are taken care of there
is a bleak beauty about it all and I would like to share some of that. Here is the driveway heading to the barn.
I had to go to work for a half a day yesterday which was a
total bust as there was virtually no business to be had, but I will still take
my pay as I had to get there and back. Here is the view on the way into work.
As you can see Lake Superior is frozen within at least a few miles of the shore. Without flying over it or getting a satellite picture it is hard to say and
that is only by my area.
There is a little steam where rivers run into the lake.
This is what it looks like this morning from my deck. There
is a dark patch that was open and is now frozen, but everything is constantly
moving and it changes all the time.
I also took a few shots around the harbor in Grand Marais
before heading home yesterday. You can see part of the halo that was around the
sun. What is a halo you might ask? According to NOAA it is defined as, “A halo
is a ring or light that forms around the sun or moon as the sun or moon light refracts
off ice crystals present in a thin veil of cirrus clouds. The halo is usually
seen as a bright, white ring although sometimes it can have color.” Now you
know.
And now for the grand finale, something I don't believe I have ever posted before. An actual selfie (narcissistie) of me on the ski trail last Sunday. I had the forest to myself and the solitude was wonderful! I did a pretty good job of disguise so you may not recognize me on the streets!
hello handsome! it looks so cold where you live. but underneath all that ice, something is moving...
ReplyDeleteThere is always life below the surface, be it ice or snow. Life is tenacious even in these conditions.
DeleteThe snow is beautiful really, even though it's so darn inconvenient! You have a fantastic view over Lake Superior. I understand about the difficulties that winter brings when you have livestock, we used to have a small hobby farm many years ago and had to keep the water running for two horses and a couple of cows and some chickens.
ReplyDeleteIt is challenging even in modern times. I can't imagine what it was like even a hundred years ago.
DeleteHey, nice selfie! We call the coloured halo "sun dogs." They usually mean it's going to get colder.
ReplyDeleteThanks! It is one of my very few selfies as I don't have a really good handle on phone technology.
DeleteI assume any of these signs indicate a change of some sort. Cold or snow is a pretty good bet this time of year.😁
Well howdy. It’s good to see your face sort of. The stunning beauty of the landscape is not lost on me but is chills me to the bones just looking at it. I often wonder how people lived through these kind of winters 100 years ago. Personally I wouldn’t have made it.
ReplyDeleteI think I was trying to smile, but my face was cold and I was breathing hard. My grandfather was born in a sod house in Iceland back about 1896 and our indigenous neighbors survived it for many centuries. Humans can be pretty tough when they have to be.
DeleteThat last photo is a beaut. It could grace notecards.
ReplyDeleteOh, I guess I should be more specific and say, "the last photo in the group of landscapes." The VERY last photo... well, that one might NOT be suitable for stationary... ;)
The very last one would be good as a model for a Halloween costume. Call it 'geezer bigfoot'.
DeleteNice selfie! The woods behind you look so serene. The blue sky in pics 2&3 is lovely.
ReplyDeleteOnce in a while the gray turns to blue. I remember when I was young that I sometimes saw hair do that same color change.
DeleteAn excellent selfie. I am so glad you got your snow play.
ReplyDeleteAnd loved the photos. They epitomise chilly beauty.
Stay warm, stay safe.
I send you wishes to stay cool in your record setting heat. I have to play in the snow. If I were a bit younger I would be building snow forts.
DeleteHello Mr. Viking !
ReplyDeleteI know it is very cold but oh so beautiful where you live.
We get halos also mostly around the moon. Not sure if they are the same as sun halos
cheers, parsnip
The halo did continue to be around the moon yesterday evening, too! It was having such a good time it didn't want to leave!
DeleteNice photos. They remind me of my days in upstate NY with more than a few sub-zero temperatures. However, as for me, I'm a wimp ... I didn't last that long in the cold climate.
ReplyDeleteThe climate, flora, and some of the fauna are very similar. But I am starting to feel the pain of a long winter. At least the mosquitoes are hardly noticeable this time of year.
Delete“bleak beauty” indeed!
ReplyDeleteKind of like Iceland only with more trees, animals, and people. And no volcanoes, earthquakes, or hot springs.
ReplyDeleteThat halo is amazing! I've never seen one before, even in photos, so thank you for that. There really is an austere beauty to the cold and snow. I see it as a kind of blue cast over everything. Right now it is quite cold here but we have no snow as it melted in the rain we had last week, just before the cold snap started. It's very drab, but looks a lot more like spring than your surroundings, at least until one steps out the door. Excellent selfie - very natural and you look hale and hearty :)
ReplyDeleteLight in the winter can always be interesting. Rain would be a nasty thing if we had it here. It would coat everything in ice for at least another month.
DeleteIt requires hardiness, but I find winter the most beautiful season of the year.
ReplyDeletethe Ol'Buzzard
It is beautiful, especially if you have the option of going out in it or not. It can also be somewhat painful.
DeleteNice to see your smiling face. Love the pics of the sundogs. Stay warm, spring is coming.
ReplyDeleteI was trying to smile, but was out of breath and slightly frozen. Spring is just around the corner of a very long block.
DeleteNice to see your face! (Or part of it, anyway.) The halo was fascinating - I've seen lots of sundogs, but never a halo. And if it makes you feel any better, we've got about 8" of snow now and it's still coming down - we'll probably have over a foot by tomorrow morning. I knew I'd get my comeuppance for all my early-spring gloating sooner or later... ;-)
ReplyDeleteThe nice thing about your snow is that it will probably be gone in a week. The idea of transient snow is an interesting event. Might have to look into that. Try not to gloat. That is the kind of thing that always comes around to bite you in the ass. :)
ReplyDeleteYep. The snow's almost up to my ass now, so it's well within biting distance. ;-)
DeleteHahahaha!
DeleteNice to see you!
ReplyDeleteYour "still winter" title reminded me... When we first moved to South Carolina from Buffalo, a co-worker told me that they have four seasons in South Carolina, too:
1. Almost summer; 2. Summer; 3. Still summer; 4. Christmas.
I told him that Buffalo only had two seasons:
1. Winter; 2. Road construction.