FIRST SNOW

 

Last year's blizzard of twenty-seven inches happened on January 27th; this year's first big snow came on the 23rd. "Big" may describe what happened from New York City on south, but we were pretty much missed by the deep stuff. Thank God. We experienced four or five inches in the deep spots and dust elsewhere. The wind is the culprit, of course. After a surprisingly warm, calm morning, the zephyr arrived around nine Saturday with a few flurries, then nothing, I thought we'd dodged it completely, so I went to the grocery store. No one was out; they'd stocked up the days before. But once back in the parking lot, the thing hit with the most horizontal snow I've ever seen, blowing mostly from the east but shifting everwhichway. Normally an east wind brings wet, heavy snow, but the wind soon settled on North, giving us a fluffy, dry blanket.

 

I spent the day moving the kitchen table (my writing desk) and all accompanying effluvia into the bedroom, where I moved the living room as I redid it last year. I expect to start real demo work in the kitchen next week, and will post something on that later. I owe you a small post on the barn before that, though work on the barn may be on hold due to the snow. But the forecast is for forties into the weekend next (YAAAY!!!), so I may score a break and actually get part of my roof on before the next dumping.

 

 The snow at the rear of the truck is less than an inch while that on the windward side measured nearly six. Much easier shoveling this year than last. So far.

 Signs of birds stomping and tromping below the feeders. I filled them as the snow was starting and they're already half empty less than 24 hours later. Hungry little shits, ain't they?

 Wind sculpting and icicles can't hold a candle to last year's, but I'm not complaining. I intended to take a pic of the new cellar bulkhead doors I installed three months ago, but the snow got there first. The lower panels of the huge overhead doors at work had to be replaced last year, and scarfing them up, I turned one into the bulkhead doors and another into my planting table, which can be seen in previous posts. How exciting.

 More sculpting.

 Wind denied a snow coat to the yews' upper branches. The gale still didn't knock the dead hemlock from the their tender embrace.

 "You call this SNOW???!" Marley is not impressed.

Speckle watches for passers-by on which to lavish huge barks. None came, taking the morning to stay by the fire, sip an extra cuppa, or prepare for the big footble gayums.

Cheerio, on whose belly fur the snow clings like duct tape to duct tape, stays inside by the heater.

Smart pup.