The snow

 Yes, it's cold and slippery. A driver has to be careful not to slide into a ditch. 

But the winter has been almost snow-free - and very dreary. The dark ground sucks up the light like a sponge. 

The snow reflects the light and brightens up the whole world. More light makes me a happy lady. 

I can't wait for longer days and a little warmer weather.

Thanks for visiting with me.

Kathi

Counting the Rains

It was a foggy August last year. I thought we would have plenty of snow by now. Instead, it has rained and rained and rained. I think, if I'm going to arrive at the same number of fogs, I will have to count all forms of precipitation rather than only snows. It would actually be nice to have some snow to reflect the light. It's been pretty dreary between the clouds and the bare land.

On the other hand, since it's been so warm, the trees are starting to bud out and Les is getting spring allergy symptoms.

While we are warm here, only 50 miles north of us and above are being buried under FEET of snow. Not only that, but people are freezing to death in Istanbul and Europe. As I understand it, the Gulf Stream that circulates warmer waters up to western Europe is disappearing, so the weather there is cooling off. drastically.

I'm wondering if this is because the nations have gathered against Israel and are trying to divide the land. Europe has welcomed in the people who would rejoice if Israel were no longer a nation at all. This goes back to God's blessing on Abraham "I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you."

I filter my world view through a Biblical lens. It's amazing how well current events match up with what the Bible says would happen in the end times.

Thanks for visiting with me.

Kathi

Exasperating snow

Yesterday, it snowed. Then the sun came out.

Next I went out to clear the sidewalk and clean off my car. Sun shone the whole time.

I turned around to take the shovel back to its place and it started snowing again.  Not a few flakes or a small afterthought. This was a cloudburst of snow that undid all I had done.

And tomorrow is supposed to be 49 degrees.

Now I know why the local people wait for nature to melt everything off. It's just a bunch of extra work around here when it won't last more than a day or two.

Thanks for visiting with me.

Kathi

Too Much Winter

Winters in southern Indiana are usually moderate. Two years ago, we had thirteen snows. As recall, the schools didn't have a whole week of school for two months. Here, a couple of inches of snow will cancel school.

This year, it's been both snowy and very cold. The polar vortex managed to creep all the way down here. We lost a pipe and had to turn off the water for two days. I discovered that I am able to wash my hair with about a quart of water when necessary. Hopefully, I won't have to do that too often.

One of our Illinois friends slipped on the ice during the deep cold, hit his head, and was dead by the end of the day. It makes me angry that the ice only lasts a few days, but dead is forever.

Last Thursday, most of the snow was gone. I put on my comfy walking shoes (for which read "no tread") and set out for a walk with the dogs. The operative word in that last sentence is "almost". I skidded in a patch of slushy snow and was on the ground before I could think twice. I should have landed on my behind, but I twisted and ended up with my right hand bent under me. It was only sprained, but not having the full use of one's right hand is annoying to be kind about it. Les had to help me with my socks for a couple of days. I couldn't crochet at all for over a week and typing was slow using only my left hand. It was boring not being able to fill my time in my usual ways.

Anyway, I'm nearly back to full use of my right hand. It aches a little when I overuse it or poke at it. It's nice to be back.

This winter can be over anytime soon. I borrow a picture that has been going around on facebook:

Thanks for visiting with me,

Kathi

Snow in Southern Indiana

On Thursday last week, it was 60 degrees. On Friday, we had 7 inches of snow. In southern Indiana usually the snow melts before another snow falls. Not this time! Last night we got another two inches.

I'm going to have to find the bird feeding tube. The poor things can't find the seed on the tree stump any more.

And I thought I was in the land of easy winters. Shows you what I know...

Thanks for visiting with me,

Kathi Linz

P.S. Here's the weather lore for predicting snowfall borrowed from http://www.naturealmanac.com/archive/predicting_winter/predicting_winter.html

Snow

There are three infallible methods of predicting snowfall for the coming year so take your pick:

1) Count the number of foggy mornings in August. This number will be the same as the number of snowfalls for the following winter, or if you're not a morning person... (Most of the days in August had fog this year. So somewhere around 25-30 snows.)

2) Count the number of days from the first snowfall until Christmas. This number will also give the correct number of snowfalls to expect, or... (Our first snow fell on November 12th. 43 snows?)

3) Count the number of days from the first snowfall of the season to the preceding New Moon. This, too, will tell you what the coming winter will bring. (First snow on November 12th. New moon on November 3rd. 9 snowfalls?)

A fact well-known to our ancestors but hardly ever taught today is that when snow lies in drifts in the shade and refuses to melt, these drifts become "snow breeders" which attract more snow. Also, if the sun shines while snow is falling, expect more snow very soon. If your dog howls at the moon it signifies an early snow. And remember, a white Christmas means a green Easter (and vice versa). This is an excellent way to gauge the length of winter since it gives you an idea of what to expect several months in advance.

I know the weather lore and keep track of the fogs in August, but this year I can't come up with a good guess. The lore doesn't match itself - which it usually does. So here goes nothing...

Thanks for visiting with me,

Kathi Linz

P.S. It's mid-April and I noted all the snows on the calendar. Our snows started on November 12 - which is pretty early for southern Indiana - and continued into March. It isn't out of the realm of possibility that we could get another snow, but the odds are bad. So the total for this year, everything from a trace to several inches, was 26 snowfalls. That best matches the fogs in August prediction.

Last Snow of the Season?

After 70 degrees and tornadoes on Friday, this morning we had snow.  About one inch fell.  That either is the most we've had this season or ties the most.  It's almost been the year without a winter.  Here are some pictures from this morning - and the time is just after 10 a.m.

First thing this morning - just after 6 a.m.

Crocuses in the snow

Going...

Going...

Well, you get the idea.

Thanks for visiting with me.

Kathi

Under the Weather

I saw the news reports from New Hampshire this morning talking about the primary results.  The reporter was in Manchester in the middle of JANUARY, and there was no snow on the ground.  Perhaps we in southern Indiana will have more snow than New Hampshire as of tomorrow evening.

Is this where I say, "THAT'S RIDICULOUS!!!"?

In a couple of days, this will be how it will be:

Abby will sniff the area where Buddy rolled in the snow.

And Buddy will be off exploring smells in the snow

The biggest difference will be that there will be more snow than this by Friday afternoon.

As a side note, I am also under the weather.  I faithfully got my flu shot this year, and had flu symptoms for ten days and am on my second round of the cold that's going around.  I'm more than done with  the germs this year.  I would love it if the weather would freeze solid and stay that way for a couple of months.  Maybe some of this would die off if the weather didn't bounce around all the time.

Thanks for visiting with me.

Kathi

Fog

This morning, it's either foggy or very, VERY humid.  In my opinion, it's both. 

There's a bit of weather lore that I have to remind myself of before August 1st.  I need to count the fogs in August.  That will tell me how many snows there will be this winter.  Last year, we had a very foggy August with 13 fogs.  Not all of them were clamp-down, can't-see-anything fogs.  Most of them were just really thick air. 

Once we got into November, I started counting the snowfalls - anything measurable.  It started snowing around Thanksgiving and pretty much didn't stop until the end of March.  There were 13 measurable snows.  The last couple weren't much, but they were enough to count.

After Christmas, the school kids didn't attend a complete week of school until well into February.  Boy, did they have snow days to make up!

So now I've reminded myself before the month of August begins.  I'll mark my calendar all month so I have an accurate count.

Anyone want to try it out for themselves?  Will it work where you live?

Thanks for visiting with me.

Kathi