Moose on the Loose

I was about 10' from a moose today!

Took Lefty for a walk and just after starting out I look over to the side and next to a speed limit sign is A MOOSE! Just looking at us. Perhaps 10' away. Pitter-Patter goes my heart.

I change directions and head back home and tell Bill, who looks out the front window and says 'there's the moose'. So, I got a couple of seconds of her crossing the street. You can see the speed limit sign at the end of the clip, as she returns back to that side of the street. That's where we were walking, on that side of the road, and she was standing by the sign.

Took video from our front windows.

You don't have to go to Alaska to be up close and personal with a moose.

Spikes on Spokes

As much as I love the winter, there are the dark days. I am not talking about the high gray clouds that block the sun, not the days that give some people up North a syndrome called SAD (Seasonal Aptitude Disorder). I am talking about days, seemingly on end, trapped in a cold cloud. Visability..about 10 feet.

These are the days that the frost takes on it own bloom. You take your pleasure in the magic that happens just a few feet in front of you.

Dead weeds that really never saw a summer glory take on white clusters of spinney blooms.

There are no icicles. There has to be above freezing temperatures for that to occur, but a frosty crocheted lace attaches to the eves of roof.

Any inorganic objects take on a new texture: A woven rope becomes a spiked thorny texture.

A bicycle wheel collects icy thorns.

And trees, the trees as beautiful as they are, flocked in white, begin to strain under the weight of winters “bloom”.

STOP Winter

Kenny, I know the Great Blue Heron didn't help you, but does this?

STOP Winter.

Did I do it for you?

(Truckee, CA - taken on Winter Ave)

No Roof Collapse Here

With the non-stop series of snow storms we had up here, my duties have been spread between road/driveway clearing, updating tax preparation credentials and trying to keep the barn roof clear of snow so in doesn't collapse (and many have in the region). The following two pictures show my efforts trying to drag snow off the roof and mother natures kind help when things started to warm up and (you know 15-20 degrees f) and everything slid off. In the second picture you can see our roof rake and the two ladders I was working on to try to clear the stuff:

Late Start

As we 'threw the driveway' today and then took a winter-walk, we noticed flocks of Canadian Geese flying overhead. Are they getting a late start? Or are they arriving back too early?
Throwing the snow around is indeed a lot of work -- but you have to pause to enjoy beautiful moments like this.
Note: last part with the little sunset is taken through the front window/blinds -- thus the noise and 'wooden' look upper and lower (the blinds). Oh well, it's warmer inside!

Pretty Penny (Grandma) In Snow

And here's the PennyGrandma in snow.

Snow, snow everywhere, huh Kenny?

Moving Snow

Wrigley's have been moving snow around for years and years! Here's the Dollar Grandpa (wearing his Speed Skating Club jacket!)

Fighting the Storm

We're still fighting the storms here. Another 8"+ fell since Saturday.

White Christmas For Sale

We're setting records here in Coeur d'Alene. According to the 5 o'clock news, we just had 39" of snow fall since Wednesday morning. Three winters ago they reported we had about 40" for the entire winter.