Wednesday, November 16, 2011

It's baaaaaack!

About six inches of new snow over the last twenty-four hours.

Looking up at falling snow.

Thirteen below this morning.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Sources of Light

If I were a poet, I'd come up with something about wishes and guides, light and heat, and finding a way in the dark.


Wednesday, November 9, 2011

The Moon and Jupiter



This is supposedly the calm a few days before the storm.  Winter is scheduled to begin this weekend, with a winter storm watch in effect Friday night and Saturday for heavy snow in areas above 4,000 feet (my place is a little over 5,000).

(The forecast is for "downtown" Sula.  Temps are usually 8-10 degrees cooler farther up the river.)

I got my snow tires put on today and stocked up on some good winter groceries: among other things bacon, eggs, Bisquick, sausage, a big ol' roast (with carrots, celery and shrooms) and 15 lbs of Yukon Golds. I already had plenty of coffee.  Even if winter is late, there will still be good eatin.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Pileated Woodpecker

I've only seen a few of these over the last two years, and have always been unable to get a picture.  Still no luck getting a good photo, but perhaps a less-than-ideal picture is worth maybe five hundred words.


I remember seeing these in Orange, Texas when I was growing up.  They do have a rather odd distribution:



More info

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

First Snow

First snow of the year, other than a few flurries in October.

This won't last, with warmer temps in the forecast, but the Weather Service is now predicting another La Nina winter a lot like last year.  Time to store away the shorts and put the shovel and tire chains back in the car.  When hunting season ends in about three weeks, it'll be time to get out the skis, snowshoes and crampons.