April 17th The Aftermath

Yes, we received some weather. It rained, and then the rain froze, and it froze while it was coming down in the form of nasty little ice pellets, and then it snowed and snowed and snowed. On Monday, buses were cancelled to schools. Universities closed. Businesses closed. Much of the world stopped either during the weekend, or after. We did not lose power, but lots of places did.

Here is what my world looks like. I took pictures on my drive home from work.

For those of you who live in more southern / mild climates, this is something I will be happy to not have to keep in my vehicle!!!

I am referring to my trusty long handled ice scraper / snow brush, not my lunch bag. It is hard for me to imagine there are people who possibly don't even own one of these. We have several.

Anywhere there is a little bit of open water, whether it be a river, stream, or some seasonal flooding in a field, the Canada geese have congregated. I took a picture with my phone which didn't really capture it. There were other spots with far more geese. I'm sure there is a scientific adaptation why their little goose feet don't freeze in the water.

It is the robins that I have been feeling sorry for. They have been scittering across frozen solid surfaces, barely able to keep upright in this weekend's wind. They are worm eaters and they can't find any open thawed soil. We have a compost pile in the yard and a bunch of wrinkly grapes were thrown out recently. I looked out the kitchen window to see a robin picking away at them. I'm quite certain grapes are not their first choice of food. I actually filled up the bird feeder with the last of the seed when I got home from work today.

Here's some more evidence of bird activity. I found this in snow on the front porch. Try to image how this image was created.

I think it looks very phoenix -ish.  Here are some other prints very close by. I don't think they all happened simultaneously.

Husband told me that the weather forecast says it will be up to 14 degrees Celsius by Monday which is in six days. It made me laugh and think of the great Rick Mercer bit about seven day forecasts (see above) For anyone in winter climates similar to ours, you will enjoy and be able to relate.