Outdoor Activity

We had high hopes of having a great winter with lots of outdoor activities.  We had nearly three feet of snow on the ground early in December, but since then the temperatures have barely made it above zero.  Today’s high was -4 F.  We did have a couple of days at the end of last week that made it to 30 degrees…above zero!  We took the opportunity to play fetch with Daphne, sled in our backyard and clean the snow off our deck.

Sledding The Backyard
Going Over The Jump
Close To The Finish Line
Fresh Powder
Not So Angry Bird
Snow Removal
Rare Outdoor Time For Daphne
Winter Birch

We spent New Year’s Eve at the movies, followed by dinner at Famous Dave’s restaurant – an annual tradition for us.

Happy New Year!
New Braces!

Warm wishes for the days ahead and hopes for some outdoor time skiing and skating. Happy New Year!

Long Cold Winter

It is still not officially winter per the calendar, but since we had the huge snow storm after Thanksgiving, the temperatures have either been below zero or single digits.  We took our holiday card photo on a day with a high temperature of 3, wind chills below zero and snow flurries.  I usually try to get several shots so that I know that we have the perfect photo. Not this time.  Our remote shutter stopped working because the battery was too cold.  I did make the kids stay outside for an extra minute or two after I took the camera off the tripod so that I could make sure to get a good shot of just the two of them.

Days and days of temperatures 25 degrees below average is getting old really fast.  Rumor has it that there will be a day or two of 20 degree temperatures soon.  In the meantime, here are some pictures from the cold “tundra” of northern Minnesota.

Frosted In Snow
Sunrise With Snow
Dawn Of A New Day
Far Off Ship

Here is a preview of our holiday card photos.  Notice the white snow dots on our clothes and faces.

Family Photo
Siblings

It was too cold for Daphne to join us for the family photo so I snapped a picture of her indoors where it was nice and toasty.

Daphne

Out on Lake Superior, the evaporation of lake water created “sea smoke” in the subzero air.

Ship Through The Sea Smoke
Cold Canal
Lakewalk

It certainly makes for a cold work day for the people working on the ships coming into port.

Icing

What I want most for Christmas is to be able to enjoy all of our new snow without the unbearably cold temperatures.  Are you listening Santa?

Snow Daze

The snow began on Monday morning and continues yet tonight (Wednesday).  We have had over two feet of snow.  The yard stick on the deck is measuring nearly 33 inches, but the local weather forecaster said that we have had 28.6 inches.  Either way, it’s a LOT!  The schools are already canceling classes for tomorrow.  This is the third day in a row.  I have been working from home the past two days.  Mike ventured into work yesterday, but opted to take a vacation day today to try to keep up with snowblowing and enjoy a little outdoor fun with the kids. The winds have been blowing the snow and pelting the windows with a slushy mess.  The blizzard-like conditions made picture-taking difficult and had Mike and the kids using their ski goggles while working/playing outdoors.  My camera got wet even huddled next to the shelter of the house.  The photos look a bit blurry from the heavy snow falling along with the water spots on my lens.

24.5
28.5
30.25
32.75
Snow Capped
Through The Front Window
Geared Up For Sledding
Ready, Set, Go
Snowblowing
Shoveling
Down The Hill
No Hands
Napping On The Snow Covered Bench
Fire Wood
Snow Covered Foliage
Snow Covered Pine Branches
Sledding The Backyard Hills

Mike and the kids took a break late in the afternoon and then went back out after dark to sled some more, build a snowman and a snow fort.

Mike, Sophia & Frosty
Snow Fort
Time For Some Roof Raking

We are hoping the plow comes through by morning.  It has only gone by once since the snow began.  That was yesterday morning.  Several neighbors with AWD have gotten stuck on our street and had to dig or snowblow themselves out.  The forecast is for the snow to end by morning and then cold temperatures (-15 degree lows) are coming at the end of the week. It is hard to believe that the calendar says it’s fall.  If this is fall, what is winter going to be like?