Wednesday, January 22, 2014

How's the Weather eh?

Canadians are often accused of talking incessantly about the weather.  But when it changes so often and so drastically how can we not?

In early December we had storm after storm which left us several feet deep in that white stuff they call snow.


It was a winter wonderland out there.  Very pretty and very cold.  Snow isn't all fun.  My arms ached from the constant shoveling.

There's a path down there...
 I dug a trench from the house to the compost pile so we could continue to dump compost and ashes from the woodstove.  Then I dug a path to the woodpile.  and cleared the porch and walk.  


Over and over and over again.

We worried about how much more snow would come.  The snowbanks were so high it was becoming increasingly  hard to find places to pile the snow. The ice was an inch thick on the roof.  The house was making odd banging sounds that we were told was a result of shifting in the severe cold.  The woodpile was diminishing at an alarming rate.

Then a sigh of relief.

Almost all the snow melted in my path to the compost
The temperature increased from -20 celcius to +10.  It rained.  The January thaw made the grass visible again.  The snowbanks started to disappear.  It felt like spring.

But it wasn't.

We had a blizzard today.  There's supposed to be 30cm of snow by the time it's all said and done.


I spent the day cutting up pumpkins from last fall's harvest.  Cleaning the seed and cooking the flesh for freezing.  Contemplating my seed orders for spring.


The weatherman mentioned another 'system' headed this way for Saturday.  Then again on Monday.  Maybe instead of seeds I should contemplate a trip South?

30 comments:

HELENE said...

Ooooh, I feel for you, although we have had pretty much the same thing over here the last 6 weeks, one storm after the other and then when it finally calmed down it just continued with a relentless stream of low pressure and precipitation coming in from the Atlantic. The only difference is that we have had only rain and no snow, and no frost yet. But the amount of rain has been depressing – and many hundred families have had their houses flooded.

I hope we all get better weather soon, and I wished we didn’t have so many extremes these days, what happened to just old fashioned ‘normal’ weather?
Take care, Helene.

Hoehoegrow said...

What a rough old winter you are having. Hard to imagine the spring in the face of all that snow. We are having a very mild winter here in the uk ... so far ! hardly need gloves ! I think we have got someone else's winter !

Lisa at Greenbow said...

I won't complain to you about our weather but let us just say it is comparable. We just don't have all your snow. Makes me wonder what these temps will do to the plants in the garden. I have a couple of plants that I was trying to stretch the zone. They might be toast.

Laurrie said...

If you contemplate a trip south you will have to go very, very far... it's just as bad all over this winter! I love your snow photos, especially the one with the house in the distance framed by the trees. Lovely, even if it is a misery.

Karin / Southern Meadows said...

It does look beautiful! I must say I had my fill of snow over our visit to Michigan. Now returning home it is just plain cold...our temperatures are so far south of normal! I am looking forward to Spring. You are welcome to make a trip to Georgia anytime!...we think it is cold but compared to -20C it might feel balmy :)

Aagaard Farms said...

We haven't had an outrageous amount of snow here in Manitoba, but I bet when this season is over it will be one for the record books because of the cold! We got very cold early in December, they kind of -30C with a windchill of -40 C that usually only comes for a week or two in February! Think seeds, think seeds.....

Optimistic Existentialist said...

Wow the weather there is even more unpredictable that our weather here. I will gladly take some of your snow though :) :)

Jane said...

What a winter! What ever happened to global warming??? I have a funny feeling that school will be cancelled tomorrow due to extreme cold. There is a wind chill warning in effect because the wind is supposed to be fierce tomorrow. The house isn't warming up like it usually does today - I may have to turn the furnace up another notch tonight. Brrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!

Rose said...

Your photos are beautiful, Marguerite, but I agree all that snow quickly loses its appeal when you have to shovel it over and over again. We haven't had as much snow as you, but it's been the coldest winter in decades, according to the weather people. If you're looking for warmth, you're going to have to head way South--maybe the Caribbean!

Janet/Plantaliscious said...

South sounds like a good plan! All that white stuff is beautiful, but dealing with it must be exhausting.

Jean Campbell said...

So picturesque. The winds that bring you snow just bring us cold.

Someone already mentioned how far South you will have to go to escape the cold. Here near the Florida line we are having days with wind chill barely above freezing. We have no snow, so I guess it would be comparatively pleasant. The forecast is for warming, possible rain and then more cold here, too.

The Witch said...

I think the trip South has my vote!!
So tired of the weather flip flopping back and forth.
One day we our shoveling off our roofs because of heavy snow and possible collapse The next day we are worried about floods from the heavy rain fall and remanding snow.
Glad those seed catalogs have arrived.
Nice to see you are using up the pumpkins and seeds.

Cat said...

You poor thing! You could contemplate the trip south but we had snow here last night! Of course, nothing like yours but the city came to a grinding halt. It is supposed to be nice and warm tomorrow though. Come for a visit anytime :)

Melanie J Watts said...

Annual, paid winter holidays down south should be part of being Canadian, like health care :) :)

Marguerite said...

I think it's the extremes that are getting to everyone Helene. I never know how to dress these days, if I need a sweater and a parka or a light spring jacket.

Marguerite said...

I don't mind some snow and cold, but I would prefer if it stayed consistent for a while. I had visions of spring for a second and then they were gone.

Marguerite said...

oh Lisa, the constant changes are terrible for plants! The ground heaves up and many have their roots exposed killing them. Such a disappointment come spring. Hopefully your extremes haven't been quite as bad.

Marguerite said...

I've always wanted to see Belize... do you think that's far enough? ;-)

Marguerite said...

I'm sure Georgia's weather would be preferable to ours any time of year!

Marguerite said...

Norah, that's been a concern here too. We usually get a stretch of cold in Jan/Feb. It was too early this year and left me wondering if more cold temps are still to come. Although I can't complain too much - I've seen the weather forecasts in Manitoba. You had it SERIOUSLY cold!

Marguerite said...

I'll send some to you expresspost :)

Marguerite said...

I feel like I keep saying that these days - are you sure the heat is on?!?!!? why is it so cold!

Marguerite said...

The only good side I can see to this is that my arms will be totally toned to take on digging up the garden come spring :)

Marguerite said...

If it snows and stays put that's one thing, it's the constant wind and storms that make it so tiring. I dug out the path once again today, wonder how many more times I'll do that before the season is through...

Marguerite said...

I'm amazed how cold it is so far south. I guess I have daydreams of Georgia being beautiful year round. Maybe visiting some time would cure me of that delusion?

Marguerite said...

I agree, it's the flip flopping that's so tiring. Keep wondering what's next? Just made curried pumpkin soup this afternoon, so yummy. the seeds however are for planting

Marguerite said...

That's one thing I can say for PEI. The road crews know how to deal with snow here. The morning after the blizzard the roads were clear and it was all back to normal.

Marguerite said...

Fantastic idea!

Casa Mariposa said...

It's been unusually cold and snowy here, too. School was actually cancelled because it was too cold for the kids to wait for the bus. Our road crews are fairly worthless and often don't salt or sand the roads proactively so we end up with lots of ice. But a trip to the tropics would be wonderful right now! :o)

CanadianGardenJoy said...

OMG Marguerite girl you must have muscles like Popeye ? haha
We have been under squall warnings since Friday .. not a lot of snow but blowing snow that makes driving dangerous. Thankfully we don't have to be on the road though. You do have some gorgeous winter wonderland pictures you can look back on in the heat of the summer ?LOL .. I appreciate the snow for covering the garden plants but that is about it! haha
Hang in there girl !
Joy