Today, we reached a HIGH of 32 Fahrenheit!  From my internet calculations, that makes it about ZERO, your temps!  

In January, when we're faced with -20 Fahrenheit (without the wind chill -- with the wind chill will be about -50) this is going to seem like a heat wave!!!!!  

But for now, darn, it's cccccold outside!     Although we've had flurries lately, soon we'll be looking at this:

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j26/gjmiklas/Mik%20Family%20Pics/Barn-Snow11-10-06.jpg

Yes, that's on our property, and is our old barn (over 100 years old!)!   The red building in front of the barn is our chicken coop -- we have about 28 chickens -- just as pets, though, we don't eat them.  After all, you can't eat something you've named!   ;D   We DO take advantage of the eggs, though!   :D

Julie

Wow, it's been around 36 degrees Celsius here the last few days.  Thats about 96 Fahrenheit.

It's like  :-[ hot.


Derek

It's like great :) :) :)
Fish'n & drink'n weather.
wev'e been up to 38'C (100F) here

Mick.

Hey Julie,
I don't know how you live in a climate as harsh as that, your heating bills must be enormous. Your chickens must be like the ones we get at the supermarket-- Frozen
I just checked out side 26.2c 61.5 humidity with a overnight low 16.3 c absolutely beautiful, shorts tea shirt and Bourke boots nearly all year round here.

Muzz

Thanks for converting those to Fahrenheit for me!  :)

I absolutely love living in an area with four seasons and LOVE the change of seasons.  

Spring is a beautiful time of rebirth -- for animals and the plants.  It's wonderful to see the trees budding and life beginning anew.  

Summer is awesome, but when we hit 95 degrees with 80% humidity, it gets to be a bit much.  You walk outside and immediately start dripping sweat . . .

Fall is gorgeous with the trees changing colors and the air cool and crisp.  Just a few months after we moved "up north" we had the opportunity to see the Northern Lights from our very own backyard!  That was something I've always wanted to see.  To be able to stand in our own backyard and watch the lights dance across the sky was a dream come true for me!   Greg and I and the kids stood outside in the 30 degree temps watching them dance right over our house!   It was just awesome!  Fall is the best time for us to have the chance to see them from here, so I make sure to keep an eye out for them at this time of year.  

Winter, yes, it's quite cold, and I may complain a bit about it, but it sure is pretty!   There's nothing like a fresh snowfall to make everything clean and white.   I can't imagine celebrating Christmas someplace where it's not cold and snowy.  Although, we don't always have a white Christmas!   It still wouldn't seem right if it were warm in December!  

I've lived here in Wisconsin all my life, so this is just normal for me.  As I said, I may complain a bit, but when the wind chills (feels like temperature) are 50 to 60 below zero, I think I have the right to whine even if I know it's going to happen every year!   ;D

The chickens actually do just fine in the cold.  We have two heat lamps in their coop, and when it's below zero, we don't let them out.   We have their waterer on a heater to make sure it doesn't freeze, and they seem to do just fine.  They don't like coming outside after it snows because they don't have any "insulation" so to speak, on their feet.  They don't like the cold of the snow, so even when we open the door, they tend to stay inside.  

Our heating bills aren't too bad.   At this house, we have propane (or LP) for heat, and this year, it's about $1.69 a gallon.  The cooperative we belong to (and that owns our tank) comes and fills it up on their schedule, based on the previous year's usage.  It generally runs us about $150 per month from September to April, which is not too bad.  

Our house is VERY well insulated, so even though it's quite large (about 3,200 square feet), not including the basement), our bills are about the same as our last house that was one-half this size.

When it comes to winter up here, we do have to take some precautions.  If the overnight temp is going to be below 20 degrees (F), then I plug my truck in.  I don't worry about it not starting from the cold (it's a diesel), but it takes a bit longer to get heat in a diesel and I HATE having cold toes by the time I get to the store!  LOL   ;D

We have lots of winter jackets, scarves, hats, gloves, mittens, etc.  I keep extra clothes and blankets in my truck in the winter so that if something does happen when I'm on the road, I have enough stuff to keep me warm.  When the weather gets down to 50-70 below with the wind chill, school is usually canceled because they can't take a chance with 50-60 kids on a school bus and having it break down.    

When we have blizzards, we just hunker down and wait it out.  We're so used to that kind of weather and have the equipment available to remove it that it's not a big deal.  Within 12 hours of the snow stopping, the roads are clear and it's not a problem driving!  

WOW, I just read what I wrote . . . if you've read this far, WOW!   Sorry it's so long!

Julie

The kids LOVE playing in the snow!  

Here's some pics:

This is Abby and Erica playing with our dog, Maddie and our neighbor's Shepherd, Max (Maddie's boyfriend)
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j26/gjmiklas/Mik%20Family%20Pics/kids-dogs.jpg

Abby's the one in the pink snowmobile suit.  Erica's in the blue and somewhat hidden by Abby.

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j26/gjmiklas/Mik%20Family%20Pics/Kids-Maddie.jpg

Our goofy Shepherd absolutely LOVES the snow as seen in this picture!

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j26/gjmiklas/Mik%20Family%20Pics/Maddie-C.jpg

And here she's catching a hunk of snow . . . can you say brain freeze!  LOL

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j26/gjmiklas/Mik%20Family%20Pics/Maddie-B.jpg

Julie

Hey Julie,
don't be sorry for the long speal, It's good to hear how the other half of the world lives!

Must say though, I'm with Murray, I still don't know how/why people would choose to live in such a cold environment. 20F(-28C). thats about thirty odd degrees C colder than I can stand, we some times get down to -2 or -3C (26F) & up to 43C (110F)in Summer...love it!!
I'm all for living in a pair of nylon footy shorts & thongs (sorry..flip flops)......oh & the Akubra (hat) of course, fish'n rod in one hand & a cold beer in the other!!!!.
You'll find most of us here are "outdoors kind of people", especially on this type of site ( I guess youve already worked that out) so any thing below 20C (68F) is miserable for me!! ;D ;D ;D
You mentioned Summer @ 95F & 80% (35C) thats a good fish'n day. ;) ;)

in Mid Winter on a cold year I only need to go about 100 or so Klm's to get to snow, on Barrington tops. some times!
.
The Northern lights....... we have the same thing here AURORA AUSTRALIS Though I live to far Nth to see them I think, but the more southern areas of OZ do. mind you they're too cold for me as well, I have a brother in Darwin (Aus) & have never been there due to offspring in this area (Mid NSW) but would love to go more tropical if I could, (no chance! the wife does'nt want to go any where there are Crocs!!)

any way that's my speal now!
cheers, Mick.

Hang in there Billy if you stick around long enough it will be as tropical as Darwin the way the highbrows are talking love it here around Brisbane 50 min from the coast and an hour from the bush and the weather is magic had 2 cold days this year got to 1 degree
When it rains the waters that nice you just go outside with a cake of soap private area of course (well Billy you know how it is those women are only human so need to protect them from themselves by keeping out of sight when not attired in a modest fashion) ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D     :o :o :o :o :o :o   THAT ORTA GENERATE COMMENT

Furphy

Julie,

An absolutely beaut thread!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  :)   :)   :)   :)   :)   :)   :)   :)   :)   :)   :)   :)  


What you all seem to miss is:  insulation and clothes.


From all I gather you just miss it.  If you had more insulation, you wouldn't have all that heat in your house all the time in the hot spells either.  If you had insulation, it would cost next to nothing to heat your houses in your cold times*

I've seen some of you call 17' cold.  Well, it was 17' where I am today.  & I really didn't like having to wear a jacket outside 'in case it rained'.    & it rained a lot of the day (all the times I was outside, natch).  

By Nov., where I am, it's far enough into fall for 17' C to be a heat wave.    

It's going down to 1' tonight.  Tomorrow will be sunny and maybe 4.  A really nice fall day.  I'll wear the same jacket I did today and maybe the same weight jersey (knit top)  and I will be comfy taking my two dogs for a 'run'.  

See, proper insulation, proper clothes = fun.  

Different seasons make the world come alive.   I just love them.

Too much heat takes the life right out of me, esp. anything over 26'  Can't sleep in temps over 21'

:)








**** It is NOT WINTER unless you have frost almost every night!!!  IMO

Hey LK how can you feel the cooling sea breeze blowing gently across your bare skin WHEN YOU ARE WEARING INSULATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1  ya may as well walk around wearing a packet of PINK BATTS

bloody insulation my house is insulated with top of the range batts but once I go outside its take ya shirt off time and stuff the Akubara on the noggin and head for the shed

God did not design us as clothes hangers he made us so we could live in semi tropical areas if he meant us to live in the snow he would have put fur on us  Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!! come to think of it I have seen one ore two humans both male and female hairy enough to survive in any weather

---

Furphyslinger wrote on Nov 17^th, 2007 at 3:12pm:

Hey LK how can you feel the cooling sea breeze blowing gently across your bare skin WHEN YOU ARE WEARING INSULATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1  ya may as well walk around wearing a packet of PINK BATTS bloody insulation my house is insulated with top of the range batts but once I go outside its take ya shirt off time and stuff the Akubara on the noggin and head for the shed God did not design us as clothes hangers he made us so we could live in semi tropical areas if he meant us to live in the snow he would have put fur on us  Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!! come to think of it I have seen one ore two humans both male and female hairy enough to survive in any weather

The closest thing we have to a "sea breeze" is the cold winds blowing from Lake Superior!   Trust me when I say you don't want to feel THAT on your bare skin in January!     ;D   ;D   ;D

Furph me son, iffen ye wants some sea breezes, just you fly over to visit me tomorrow.  Monday isn't too busy for me.


Here's Sunday's see breezes:

Quote:

Cloudy with sunny periods. 30 percent chance of flurries in the afternoon. Wind west 30 km/h becoming north 30 in the afternoon. High plus 2.

At those temps they should be giving us wind chill figures.  You'll need some insulation for sure!!!

:P

!!!!!!!Struth!!!!!!!!  you pair I is staying right here where its warm

you eskimos can have your snowy weather in reality I can see snow in winter about 18 hours drive from here and thats close enough for me

---

Quote from self
"I'm all for living in a pair of nylon footy shorts & thongs (sorry..flip flops)......oh & the Akubra (hat) of course, fish'n rod in one hand & a cold beer in the other!!!!."

here's a shot of me in a thong








http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee104/billybushcook/Bar17-11-07007.jpg
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

I would post one of me without a thong but that might be too much!!!!!!!

Yep. I'm with you Furph, the less clothing the better! especially on the opposite gender ;D ;D ;D

I find though even when rugged up in mid winter I'm still cold especially face & hands...its miserable!
Much rather be sitting under the umbrella in the pool with a beer!!

Mick.

Mick
Six toes or is that Cessnock.
Muzz

OK, so I had to go back and look at the pic and actually COUNT the toes!  Would I be overstepping my bounds if I said what my 13 year old daughter told me upon viewing the pic?    


Quote:

Those are some freaky toes!

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Hope I'm not overstepping the boundaries!    ;D ;D ;D

Oh, and just for fun . . . here's what's happening outside right now!  

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j26/gjmiklas/Mik%20Family%20Pics/Winter%202007-08/Snow11-18-07.jpg

GREAT BIG FAT FLAKES!    The best kind for pretty pictures!  

Good thing I got the cap put on my truck last night!  I really HATE shoveling snow out of the bed of my truck!      :)

I went to the post office before. Was 41 degrees outside.  Thats nearly 106 for you Julie.


Derek

Julie
The snow may be a bit of a novelty to me but I am sure I could not hack it for long.
A photo just 2mins walk from my place, today 28.2c light northeaster just right.

Muzz

---

Well, gee, Derek, that's only a 74degree difference in temps between us today!   We're at about 32 (which I think is zero for you), so this snow may stick around until morning.   It's already done snowing, but it was enough to cover the deck and grass . . . . which means that WAY more is not too far off!  

In fact, this Thursday is our Thanksgiving holiday, when many, many folks will be traveling great distances.  Before we moved up here, we drove up (200 miles) to visit with my parents for the holiday.  Now, we only have 40 miles to drive, and the weather forecast is NOT looking good.  So far they're calling for cold temps, snow and sleet.  

That's going to make for some tricky driving, to be sure.  Guess I should add getting about 10  50lb bags of sand to keep in the back of my truck to my shopping list!  

Julie

PS, in case you're wondering, which I'm betting you are . . . with a big truck like mine, having a big empty bed in the winter does nothing to give me traction in the snow.   Adding a couple hundred pounds of sand bags to the bed will help to give me the traction I need, and also help me from being blown all over the place when driving on the open highways.    I have 4WD, but if I don't have the weight in the back, it's not going to get me out of a snowbank, or out of the driveway when we get 10-12 inches or more at a time.   Oh, a bonus:  If I get stuck on ice, I can always pop open a bag of sand and throw it under the tires to give me the added traction I need to get unstuck!    ;D

Cactus wrote on Nov 19^th, 2007 at 2:16pm:

Julie The snow may be a bit of a novelty to me but I am sure I could not hack it for long. A photo just 2mins walk from my place, today 28.2c light northeaster just right. Muzz

Muzz . . . that's just NOT NICE!   :o   ;D  

Dang!  It's gorgeous and I'd sure love to be there!      I just don't know that I could handle such warmth in November and December when it's supposed to be cold and snowy!   :D

Julie

I spent six months working in Kosovo in Europe a few years back and it was right through the winter.  Believe it or not that's where I saw my first snow.

I smashed a 4WD on the ice through not knowing that much about driving on "black" ice.  Should have had chains on.

At one stage it was minus 15 degrees for two weeks solid.  Oh yes and that was the temp without the wind chill factor.  ;D

I remember we used to put cans of coke out on the window sill for about 5 minutes and when you pulled them back in there were ice crystals in them.

I love the warmth of Australia.  This is a pic I took on a trip a few months back to the Victorian Alps so it's not always hot.  :P


Derek

http://www.aussiecampovenforum.com/Photo/Bitsnpieces/DSC02542%20(Small).JPG

Jules,
Quote:-Dang!  It's gorgeous and I'd sure love to be there!      I just don't know that I could handle such warmth in November and December when it's supposed to be cold and snowy!    
trust me, you'll get over it!!! 8-) 8-)
besides Jan, is the hottest month.

Thats what Beaches, rivers & lakes are for,

Mick.

Oh & thanks for the toe complex ::) ::) ::) ::) ;D ;D ;D

It dawned on me a few years ago when the Kosivo refugee's where in a camp here near Singleton, that there arn't too many Aussies who can't swim & our culture is pretty much based around the out doors, sun & water(or lack of in the out back).

I was at the local pool where I do laps to keep fit (still doing about 9Km's per week) & on one side of the pool were 30-40 kids under the age of 10 or 12, all doing laps.....lots of laps.
In the side nearest to me were 1/2 doz, Kosovovians ;D about 30yr olds who had obviously never been in deep water before, they were panicking when getting over waist deep & although they had an Aussie minder trying to teach them, they were freaking out.

I guess the whole point of this post is realising just how different lifestyles are in other places.

Gotta say it though, love being an Aussie!!! 8-) 8-) 8-) ;) ;) ;)

Mick.    

Hi Muzz,

Is that Blacksmiths Beach, never been there but figure it may be.

I'm just over the hill from you at Gwandalan.

Cheers




Cactus wrote on Nov 19^th, 2007 at 2:16pm:

Julie The snow may be a bit of a novelty to me but I am sure I could not hack it for long. A photo just 2mins walk from my place, today 28.2c light northeaster just right. Muzz

Thenewme
Good to here from you. That's Caves Beach /  Blacksmiths is just as good. Gwandalan on the lake a top spot.  I saw in a post that your off on  holidays, have a safe one.
Muzz

Look when I visit Oz, I do not want those hideous temps over 30'C.  Hideous I said, and hideous I mean.    I want to come when you call it cool, like 15' - 22'C please - you know light sweater to tee-shirt weather.

Later, either Julie or I will send you pics that will make you ask what that white sand is on the sides of the roads.

I think Julie is having more snow than I am right now.  Driving is still something I can pretty well expect to be non-winter and no great worry.  Winter takes longer to reach areas closer to the water.

Yeah, it's going down to 0'C more or less each night, but what the heck, this week it's dry.  Sure there is some wind, but hey, I'm not sleeping out in sleeping bag.  Could any of you do that?  Have any of you winter camped?

How many of you have walked on snow?  Ridden on a snowmobile, used skis or a snowboard?

Lord, ye don't know what yer missin'

The good times are just around the corner.  It is such fun anticipating the season to come!!!

:P

p.s.  I put 4 75lb bags of sand in the back of my truck for the winter.  It's a 2000 Toyota Tundra, 2x.  

LK
I have spent a good deal of time driving in snow,(nowhere near the extremes you people have to put up with) was never keen on it, having spent 4 years driving a country school run in the south of the state, mostly on unsealed narrow roads, About 220 miles round trip. timber trucks and impatient people, was glad to move to a better climate when I retired. Yes we also weight our utes( pick ups) for better traction, with a big 30gal esk full of beer. People drink bundy rum( sugar cane juice) here to keep warm 1 bottle equals 4 blankets or throw on another dog.
Have fun LK
Muzz

LK

I would say that there are as many of us who have skied walked on snow etc as there are of you lot who have surfed - dived into a cool wave etc and yes we are pleased we dont know what we are missing
bloody 22 degrees !!!!!huh!!! ya bloody whimp try some real weather instead of living in that ice box and skiting about it get ya self a tan and show a bit of skin huh bloody walking on snow what the big deal about that try downing a largie of fourex and trying to keep from burping in public after you get it down, now thats a sign of being tough
Bloody waking on snow mummble mummble mutter mutter sheeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!

501 posts Furph!
looks like that load of grumble just sent you platnum!
Mick.

BillyBushCook wrote on Nov 20^th, 2007 at 2:54pm:

501 posts Furph! looks like that load of grumble just sent you platnum! Mick.

Well done Furph

Looking foward to the next 500

Muzz

Lk @ Julie
Just heard on the News the western N.S.W town of Ivanhoe had a top temperature of 45c snow is not expected.

Muzz

Little_Kopit wrote on Nov 20^th, 2007 at 7:25am:

I want to come when you call it cool, like 15' - 22'C please - you know light sweater to tee-shirt weather.

Yeh ....T shirt weather is nice, but "noshirt" weather is the go!! ;D ;D ;D
besides t shirt weather starts at 25c ;D ;D ;D ;D

I have camped in the snow, in Barrington Tops & it was worth doing.....for the experience. the one thing I did notice though, is that the population of wild pigs were dead easy to track!! ::) ::) ::) (being a bowhunter)


Mick.

Well fellas I see that you are right bloody hell and it had to be when I was giving a bit back to that LK well will really have to turn this good aussie weather on for old LK when tthe visit finally happens

Gotta chuckle guys.  & I got news fer ya, tho I think the Furph, the PD and the DB knew it.  Fer better 'n two weeks I was living out o' my truck camper.  Yep, been on a trip, sleeping in nice cool temps fer a variety of reasons.  Nada problemo.

Granted it wasn't strictly a holiday, and it wasn't for my employer.  But because I wanted to spread out and I found the TC not quite spacious for my expanse of paper, I compromised.  I ate in restaurants.  

I had it all planned.  I was going to take the cast iron, the Camp Oven Mate, etc. and I was hoping to quit 'work' each day at least an hour before dark.

Worse, even I WallyDocked - urban overnight parked at Walmart - more than I boondocked in the back o beyond.   Me brain just had too much on the go to hang out in the outdoors the way I'd pictured doing this trip.  I'm gonna have to be retired before I do that.

So, I was sort of half practicing what I preach.  Yep, the dish lickers thoroughly enjoyed  a run or two in the snow too and the snow stuck to the TC windows a time or two and I started to regret no bringing snow boots, but then the temps went up to 13'C and put paid to that stuff.

'Course, I got off the ferry from Nova Scotia this morning http://www.lynnestcalbums.phanfare.com/show/external/175834/225047/16479003/file.jpg  and had to face interesting winds:  http://www.islandnet.com/~see/weather/almanac/arc2005/alm05dec.htm .  Wreckhouse delivering it's challenge it was.  Not bad mind you for those who know, but enough to produce and alert or two, after I was through, of course.    & up towards home, I could see where there had been more of the white stuff that I had missed.


& I will concede that I have what I call adrenalin drives each year, because I drive home in interesting snow conditions a few times a year.  Those I shan't mind leaving behind.  

But 25' for tee shirt weather, HUH!!!!  Nah, that's air conditioning weather.  :P


8-)

SOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

---

translation please, Furph!!!


:-/

translation Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!!!!!!!!!  aussie for "crybaby"

bloody too hot you bloody eskimos cant handle a little warmth huh thought you were tougher than that

Furph, I haven't put myself into a place where I had to endure, sweat through even 36'C since 1988.  No need of that, not voluntarily, not at all.

That's  :'( for me.  Or :-[  Or  :-?  & definitely :o  &  ::)  & >:(

especially

[smiley=smiley6.gif]


Why in the world put yourself through a toughing up course for heat?  Can yer answer me that?

:-/

LK
just for you I will have the aircon cranked up so it will feel like home and will arrange for a bed in a mates coolroom for you so you dont get homesick

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Have you got a root cellar, boy?  18"/0.5 m thick of pure rock & or soil (clay)?  That would be nice.  Maybe one of Mike's mines.


8-)

"Struth"   whats a root cellar?????????????/

Furphyslinger wrote on Nov 25^th, 2007 at 5:10pm:

"Struth"   whats a root cellar?????????????/

Eh Furph ifin you n me are havin  the same drovin trip thoughts.
Put me down for 2, if you can find the supplier, in case one breaks down
Just imagine havin one of them, wonder if there would be room for a bit of Odl Tawney
The Soot    ::)

Root cellars are created for storing vegetables below the frost line.  It has very thick walls of earth and such.  There are root cellars in Newfoundland which are tourist attractions.  Sheesh, I'd think y'all must have had root cellars to protect food from the heat.

Now, the question was:  'how warm is it?'

Well, just now in Happy Valley - Goose Bay, Labrador it's -15'C.  & they really have snow.  Of course, that's inland Labrador, many k's west and north of me.    Here it's -3'C with wee bit o' white sand around.

:P

---

I was reading the other day that anyone who lives in a place colder than the inside of their refrigerator needs to move.  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

wrote on Nov 29^th, 2007 at 8:03pm:

I was reading the other day that anyone who lives in a place colder than the inside of their refrigerator needs to move.  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

They who frequent your ski hills would disagree.  They like 4 real seasons :P



-6 where I am this a.m.  -20 in  Labrador City, which is a couple of hours further inland than the pic I posted above.  



:-?

Oh, I life 4 real seasons too, LK . . . I can just do without the WHITE one lasting so long!  LOL  

The other day, it was about 10 degrees (F), and, because it was windy out, the wind chill (feels like temperature) was -7 (F)!!!!  

It's normally at least 30 (F) around here this time of year, so we're having a cold snap a tad early!  

Oh, and we are in a "Winter Storm Watch" right now for Friday night/Saturday.  (It's still Thursday night here now).  We're looking at anywhere from 2 inches to 8 inches or more -- of the fluffy white stuff -- otherwise known as SNOW!  It will all depend on how this storm tracks . . .  I could go for 8 inches of snow . . . at least it will warm up!  Right now, it's too cold to snow!   ;D

Julie

Man i would have to get up an hr earlier to put all that insulation on.
Same for me shorts, bare feet, thongs when i go out.
I like looking at snow (on the telly) 20-30C (70-85F aprox) is my favorite.
Sittin outside at night with a few mates & a beer 8-)
Even in the middle of winter here it might be zero in the morning, but still gets up to 20C in the day (if the suns out)
Trev
Aus

In the sixties I worked for several years in the Great Victoria Desert in Central Oz, in the summer months the temp wouldn't drop below 100deg f day or night for weeks on end. We took salt tablets and drank gallons of fluid during the day to avoid dehydration. Boots, shorts and a wide brim hat were all we wore.
During the winter months the nights were so cold you couldn't get warm.
pd

Well, lucky US!  That winter storm WATCH has now turned into a winter storm WARNING!     Me and my big mouth!    ;D   We're now looking at 6-10 inches and some ICE inbetween!  YIKES!    It wouldn't be so bad if we didn't have to go anywhere, but the Abbotsford Christmas Parade is tomorrow night!    I'd say we won't go because of the weather, but Erica (our middle child) is IN the parade, so we HAVE to be there!  

If there's ice at the time we have to be on the road, I don't care how big a fit she throws, we're not going!  There's NOTHING that you can do to drive safely on ice.  Snow I can handle without a problem.  Just throw the truck in 4WD and GO!  Slow, of course, but I can still go and not worry about it.    No way to do that when it's an ice storm!  

I'm charging my camera now so I can take pics for ya'all tomorrow!  

Julie

PS, when I came home from the store today the temp was a balmy 10F!      Anyone know where I can get some nice woolen mittens????  

Nice thin, fit in any pocket lined leather gloves Julie.  Not wool. Wool gets wet.  Gets yer pockets wet.  Leather scrapes the snow off the window for a quick open the truck and get going!  Leather.

8-)

Lahdedahdedah ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
28 degrees warm cel weather air con drifting cool air through the house balmy weather when at the beach golden sand and cool water

yep LK I can see me giving this up to live in that snow yep I sure can see me doing that

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D :o :o :o

You can always come visit us during your cooler time of the year Furph.  You'll welcome the air conditioner, then you will.  But if come to my house in just a car, sans rv, and want to be cool, I'll have to find a cot to set up in the basement for you.

Now, after next May, there will be lots of room for an rv, and you will have your own choice of air conditioning or natural breezes.

:-[    :-?   :o    ;)    :-/  





[smiley=28.gif]

you had better stock up on blankets LK,
"cool" is anything under 25C (77F)
"bloody cold" is anything under 15C (59F)

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D 8-) 8-)

Mick.

Too hot to sleep is anything 21' or warmer!!!!

Comfy with comforter is 15'C or less.  Actually, I kind of like 17' for sleeping, but I know how to manage with even -5'C.

"Ma in her kerchief and I in my cap".

;)

OK folks!  Here's some pics of today's storm!   Yes, it's a STORM, and a BIG ONE!   We'll probably have a foot of snow by the time it's done tomorrow.   At least we're not getting the ice that the folks just 50 miles south of us are going to get!  

This first one is of my truck in its parking spot in the back of our store:

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j26/gjmiklas/Winter%202007-08/12-1-07Storm.jpg

Here is the parking lot in front of our store:

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j26/gjmiklas/Winter%202007-08/12-1-07Storm-1.jpg

Oh, and here's a VIDEO for ya'all!  

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j26/gjmiklas/Winter%202007-08/th_12-1-07StormMovie.jpg

[media=200,200]http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j26/gjmiklas/Winter%202007-08/th_12-1-07StormMovie.jpg[/media]
Keep Warm!  

Julie

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.  That brings back memories.


Derek

Not bad Julie, not bad at all.

From what I hear you've got inland temperatures.

For what it's worth, the inland gets winter earlier and loses it lots earlier than coastal places.  

Winnepeg, Mantoba, north of Julie will be down at -16'C later.  

This afternoon I thought it was quite pleasant at about -2'C with flurries.

:P

best part of living in queensland is you dont have to see snow unless you want to see it

not so easy for you lot over there you get it regardless

there is something wrong with someone who thinks minus 2 f is pleasant there has to be

its like living in your freezer and not getting out  (its got to be cabin fever)

---

There's something wrong with someone who's happy with a boring  one season!!!!


The change of seasons is so exiciting.


:P

Our seasons are still easily picked LK,

Spring- where I am is warmth, a build up of humidity & after noon thunder storms (lightning running horizontaly across the sky) & bugs, fish & flora all going flat out to do thier thing before the dry heat sets in.

Summer- (we've just started) brings a mix of long hot dry weeks with a few storms & some over cast weather. (although you wouldn't pick it, it's still humidity & thunderstorms so far, looks like a wet summer as Derek mentioned elsewhere)

Autumn - Warm days (20C+) & cool to cold nights (10C or 15C)  

Winter - Not go'n there - below 10C is misserable,
(although being a mad keen dirt Bike/trail rider it's not wasted!!!)

Mick.

Spring, the birches look read before the leaf buds begin.  Tree leaves begin to open   March 21 to June 21. equinox.  

The growth spurt is a sign of a genuine season.  Lots of summer days in Newfoundland are in the low 30s, but I prefer the ones in the 20s  June 21 to Sept 21

The turn of leaves to beautiful colours with some frost and temps from 2 to mid 20s during the day is fall.  Late fall has snow and quite a few temps below freezing.  More of that inland than on the coasts.  Sept 21 to Dec 21

Winter, well we're not there yet, Dec. 21 to March 21.  Snow doesn't really get serious until Christmas here.  Skiing season at our ski hills takes off between Xmas and New Years.  But some times here the snow doesn't stay until mid January.  

The storm that comes after March 17 and before March 31 is usually a doozie and is called  variously:  Paddy's Brush, Sheila's Broom or......  
Melt has begun in late March.

For Julie, snow will often be gone before March.  

You need to learn to play in the snow.

:)

How's it going in your neck of the woods Julie.  Just read this on the news.


Derek


Quote:

US winter storms leave four dead Article from: Reuters From correspondents in Chicago December 03, 2007 10:44am THE first big winter storm of the northern season made its way toward the northeastern United States and Canada after lashing the Midwest, leaving at least four dead in car accidents and disrupting air travel. Heavy snow and freezing rain forced the cancellation of numerous flights in Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois and some campaign events in Iowa, where presidential candidates will face their first test in a month for the 2008 White House race. At Des Moines airport in Iowa, a United Airlines regional jet bound for Chicago slid off an icy taxiway on Saturday morning, closing the airport for more than six hours, airport and airline officials said. No one was seriously injured. In Wisconsin a 37-year-old man died when a jeep hit a truck near DeForest as other cars ahead were slowing down for another truck that had tipped over on a highway, the Wisconsin State Journal reported overnight. Two people died in separate crashes in the same Juneau County area on Interstate 90-94, the paper said. In Indiana, a member of the Purdue University ice hockey club team was killed and seven teammates were injured when their van crashed on Saturday in freezing rain, the Indianapolis Star reported. The crash occurred 27km south of West Lafayette, home to the university, when one of the team's vans swerved out of control on a two-lane highway and rolled over. Purdue said 20 hockey players, two coaches and a manager were headed to Danville, Illinois for a late-afternoon game. In Madison, Wisconsin, city officials declared a snow emergency until Monday morning. Snow flurries on Saturday were followed by freezing rain later in the day in Midwestern states and the National Weather Service said cold air moving into the region could produce sleet and more freezing rain. As the storm moved toward the northeast, the National Weather Service predicted heavy snow would hit the state of New York and across New England. The Federal Aviation Authority reported yesterday that delays averaging one hour to more than two hours at major east coast airports from Philadelphia to New York. New York City deployed all of its salt trucks to try and keep roads from getting slick as the first snowfall of the season was expected to turn icy and possibly treacherous, the department of sanitation said according to NY1 television. The Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec were also experiencing heavy snowfall that caused major delays and cancellations at Toronto airport, Canada's largest. Several dozen flights were cancelled yesterday morning from Toronto, where snow overnight transformed into freezing rain by sunrise. A number of flights coming from Detroit, Chicago and New York were also cancelled.

Refer Dereks last post,

Yep gotta love them seasons LK!!!!!! ;D ;D ;D

Mick.

Yeah, well, that's the US.

But you'd think from the Canadian weather forecasts, that I'm where it's pretty thick. BC. Alberta, Sakatchewan & Manitoba, another storm for Ontario and Quebec.  Yet another one for Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland.  Not everyone says 'eastern Newfoundland.  See, and there are pockets that are comparatively dry.  I'm in one of them.

Since August we've usually been rather wet.  Nice to be a bit dry.

It's really sort of what's called Zero minus or 0 -.

;)

Derek, yes, the storm was pretty bad.  We live 8 miles from our store, and it took me 1/2 an hour to drive home!  Normally, it's ten minutes, at most!   The roads were AWFUL!  I was in 4WD the whole time and never even got above 40 mph.    The road I take is a 4-lane State Highway, so you would think that the road would be maintained properly!  

Once the snow stopped, we had quite a bit of sleet, so everything was VERY slippery today.  The plows were out, as well as the salters, to the highway was fine this morning.  Can't say as much for my driveway, though!  We have a LARGE driveway, and our wonderful farmer neighbors plow us out whenever we have big snows, but we had to leave before they had a chance to plow.   Unfortunately, with all the wind, we ended up with 2-3 foot drifts in our driveway!   Now mind you, I'm always talking about my BIG truck and 4WD and don't usually worry about getting stuck, but sure enough, at the end of the driveway this morning, I got STUCK!   :o   Not to worry, though!  Within five minutes, I was out.  This Wisconsinite knows how to get out of snow!  Rock it back and forth and eventually you'll get out if you don't floor it and cause ice to form under the tires!   I found out later that Greg got stuck, too!   Good thing our neighbors plowed us out while we were gone to work!   :)

In case anyone's wondering where exactly we are, we're in the Middle of Nowhere!   LOL  Here's a picture of where in Wisconsin we are.  Hope this works!    OK, it's not a pic, but a link . . . should still work!  

http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?searchtype=address&country=US&addtohistory=&searchtab=home&formtype=address&popflag=0&latitude=&longitude=&name=&phone=&level=&cat=&address=&city=Abbotsford&state=WI&zipcode=54405


Here's a pic of our property, so you can see the kind of driveway we have . . . Oh, the secondary driveway is the driveway to the RIGHT.  Our farmer neighbors use that driveway to get to their fields behind our house.   As you can see, there's a LOT of driveway!

http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL437/665499/4326994/64123872.jpg

Driving to and from the store today was not a problem (well, except for that little incident getting out of the driveway!  ;D  ).   We're so used to this weather that even a couple of FEET of snow will only slow us down for one day.   When it gets as bad as yesterday, the plows and salt trucks don't even bother going out while it's still snowing.  They can't keep up with snow of an inch an hour.   It's best to just wait it out and once the snow is done (for the most part), then the plows and salters can come out and get the job done.

Julie

PS, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas here!   :)









 

Here's some pics of our neighbors plowing us out last year:

http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL437/665499/4326994/122175330.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j26/gjmiklas/Snow%20%202-23-07/MikePlowing-1.jpg

Gee's Julie those plough's & salters must work fast, I can't see any snow in that arial photo. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Mick.

Good to hear all is well over there Julie.


Derek

BillyBushCook wrote on Dec 3^rd, 2007 at 2:19pm:

Gee's Julie those plough's & salters must work fast, I can't see any snow in that arial photo. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D Mick.

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!    

wrote on Dec 3^rd, 2007 at 2:23pm:

Good to hear all is well over there Julie. Derek

Thanks, Derek!    

Mrs._Mik wrote on Dec 3^rd, 2007 at 2:16pm:

Here's some pics of our neighbors plowing us out last year: http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL437/665499/4326994/122175330.jpg http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j26/gjmiklas/Snow%20%202-23-07/MikePlowing-1.jpg

Stuff that :o but it does look like a nice place to live.
I dont think my classic cars would like the salted roads to much :-[
Trev
Aus

If you live in the land of salt, you can expect your wheels to be considered old a lot faster.  Buggies from Alberta, where they use less salt, are among them.

I have a 2000 Toyota Tundra.   Many here consider it old.  My last Toyota (a compact) lasted over 11 years.  I'm hanging in there.  

We're getting our turn with the weather today  http://www.roads.gov.nl.ca/cameras/ is a site which updates every couple of minutes at local views.  I'm nearest Pynn's Brook.  I can't put up a pic from where I am now, unless it's already online.  

200 km south of me on the southwest tip of the island there are wind warnings for Wreckhouse:  http://www.heritage.nf.ca/environment/wreckhouse.html.  This is just north of the Port aux Basques site on the NL webcams.

;)

A mate of mine that lived here in western sydney met a girl on the net, he went over to visit her, & ended up marrying her & not comin back, he sends me photo's of moose in his front yard (alaska) i dont know how he went from this climate to that but he loves it.
He once told me he didn't chock the wheels of his f100, & found it in the middle of the road next morning, bloody ice.
He has since moved down a bit further not sure where, but still plenty of snow.
Trev
Aus

Julie.
36C (97F) in the shade & 92% humidity yesterday.

Tropical......... 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-)

Mick.

Mick, I'll but in here.  It was -20 with the windchill factor here today.  Real temperature is -10'C/14'F right now.  This is unusually cold for this time in December.

It's very common to have a snow storm on the 2nd Monday of December, even if it melts the next day.  I have a luncheon tomorrow, which has been on the 2nd Monday of Dec. for some years.


8-)

LK
an "indoor luncheon" I take it??

I'll be think'n of ya while I'm sitting in the pool with a cold beer or two ;D ;D ;D ;D

MIck.

LK -- you're a touch colder than we are . . . but not by much!    Our temps have been lower than normal lately, and I can't remember plugging my truck in this early since we moved up here.  Certainly we've never had this much snow staying around at this time in recent years.

Julie

PS, course, we're lucky.  All the ice storms are about 250 miles south of us!  I'll take snow over ice any day!  

Julie, block heaters are not needed here.

About 23 or 22 years ago (I"ve been here 24) with another truck, it was -27 real temp and I remember crowding into another pick up (a Toyota) to ride to work 6 of us in a cab.  That's the only time I remember it being too cold to get going here.  I've dealt with the need to plug into a block heater.    When I was in Sudbury, that was normal.

Hmm, Mick, do you know what a block heater is?  Oh yes, indoor lunceon, of course.  Xmas get together, of  course.

:-/

LK, I don't use the block heater to enable the truck to start, I use it so I have HEAT on the way to the store.  It's only 8 miles, so in this cold, if I don't plug it in, it's barely warm by the time I get here and my toes are frozen!       http://bestsmileys.com/cold/8.gif

Julie

My heater's better than your heater, Julie.  Nah, nah,..... nah, nah!!!  :)  :)  :)  

My heater is showing signs of warmth if I just turn on the engine and drive off.  Clear off the dusting of snow with the wipers and the wind.


No, really, Julie, it was an abosolutely gorgeous luncheon looking down over the hills and the burgh with the sun splittin' the rocks/snow drifts.  Just an Xmas purfect picture.  -6'C preserving the landscape.

Would that weekends gave me such beautiful weather.

;)

LK
sounds like an engine block heater to me, don't think.....no definately.... will ever need one.
I use internal combustion to heat my engines ;D ;D ;D

cooling is more of a problem!!!!!
but thats what beer was invented for.....hey! .. oh & glycol based coolants for the car.

Mick.

Little_Kopit wrote on Dec 11^th, 2007 at 10:01am:

My heater's better than your heater, Julie.  Nah, nah,..... nah, nah!!!  :)  :)  :)   My heater is showing signs of warmth if I just turn on the engine and drive off.  Clear off the dusting of snow with the wipers and the wind. No, really, Julie, it was an abosolutely gorgeous luncheon looking down over the hills and the burgh with the sun splittin' the rocks/snow drifts.  Just an Xmas purfect picture.  -6'C preserving the landscape. Would that weekends gave me such beautiful weather. ;)

Yea, yea, well I guess a person has to give up SOMETHING to have all that awesome DIESEL  POWER!     ;D  ;D ;D

Mick, yes, it is a heater for an engine block.  But our engines need to be cooled too, even in winter.  But you need antifreeze in the coolant.

Julie, to be fair, you have an extended cab and can carry 5 people.  I have a regular cab and can only carry 3 people.  Less cab to heat.   :-[

:-?

Hey Mick, Furph, Muzz, Soot, Pd & all, can you guess what 'snud' is?  

Yes, it has to do with winter.

Julie, don't give it away.






Please

:P

LK
Does it stand for snowed under
Muzz




Little_Kopit wrote on Dec 14^th, 2007 at 4:25am:

Hey Mick, Furph, Muzz, Soot, Pd & all, can you guess what 'snud' is?   Yes, it has to do with winter. Julie, don't give it away. Please :P

First word is correct.

:P

Something you leave in your hankerchief????....no??? ;D ;D ;D

Would you have snow & 'ud' in your handkerchief?

:-/

Ok, Snud = snow & mud/crud.

When you drive on highways which have been sanded and salted as well as plowed you get snud.

http://www.lynnestcalbums.phanfare.com/show/external/300729/404950/33619796/file.jpg


& the same in parking lots.  It didn't snow today, so this is really quite tame no matter how dark a day it was.  About -10 when I took these pics.

http://www.lynnestcalbums.phanfare.com/show/external/300729/404950/33619804/file.jpg

& what happens to your wheels:

http://www.lynnestcalbums.phanfare.com/show/external/300729/404950/33619817/file.jpg

Well, our buggies don't last as long as yours.

:-/

I still have no idea why people would wish/choose to live in such a cold, wet, misserable climate??? :o :o :o :o

sorry got my grumpy pants on again this morning. ::) ::) ::)
Mick.

BBC
Did you mean lumpy or grumpy ;D ;D
Muzz

Mick,  Why live where there are 4 seasons:

From Google images:

http://www.waymarkholidays.com/images/360-ski-65.jpg

Par roadrunner/CJV dans le Quebec

http://www.lynnestcalbums.phanfare.com/show/external/273458/366816/16420416/file.jpg


From Google images:

http://blog.visitrenotahoe.com/archives/Snowmobiling2.jpg

Marble Mountain, Newfoundland

http://www.newfoundlandmotel.com/page_328.jpg


From Beartown Chesapeakes:

http://www.beartownchesapeakes.com/images/icefishing.jpg


A few reasons.

:-/

Thats just one LK,
all I see is snow & cold weather
what happened to your "seasons"

Where is the swimming pool, warm sun shine & endless partying,
cooking out doors on the barby almost every night.
the warm balmy nights on the river bank with a cold beer & a fishing rod,
where do I ride my dirt bikes in all that snow?,
water skiing & camping by the waters edge???
Chasing Rabbits as a kid "ALL YEAR ROUND"?
head out to your favourite fishing hole with no ambition to go home, just sleep under the stars without a tent or such,
getting up in the morning & not having to pile clothes on, just a pair of shorts & nothing else...we were not born with clothes & are not designed to live in a cold place!!
Camping...yes camping!!!! in snow???, Ive done it once & that was enough, it was cold, wet & misserable!!

I could keep going !!!...but I won't

Mick.

Well, you all don't seem to appreciate snow, so.........  But you're only talking about summer.  Neither of us has done spring and fall.  Granted there are some places where you have fall.............................  

:P

Yeh we have fall usually when we drink too much ;D ;D ;D

I did describe our four seasons in a previous post I think LK.

Mick.

Yeah, well, t'aint my idea of fall.

Fall, starts with spotty frost at night and less daylight which makes the leave change to foliage.  This one was taken in Mont Tremblant Park by PackerBacker:

http://www.lynnestcalbums.phanfare.com/show/external/273458/366816/16420365/file.jpg

In late fall one may have steady frost with varying degrees of snow fall.

Winter starts December 21.

We in Newfoundland are in the middle of the storm that has been creating havoc over the continent this past week.  Winds forecast to 100 km this morning.  Winter storm warning in effect.


Quote:

Today    Snow at times heavy changing through ice pellets and freezing rain to rain early this afternoon. Snow and ice pellet amount 10 cm. Rainfall amount 5 mm. Blowing snow this morning. Wind southeast 20 km/h gusting to 40 becoming east 60 gusting to 100 this morning then southwest 40 gusting to 60 early this afternoon. High plus 3.

& this is officially fall!!!  But it is unusual in fall.  This is more like January or February and rare at that.

I do not think gusts to 100 sounds like going to work.  You see, every so often you get a storm day.

:-?

Now LK
thats pretty
but you can have your cold

cheers Furphy

Even the cold is pretty!   If we're going to live in an area that gets cold the least Mother Nature can do is give us snow to play in!  I know it's difficult for all you folks to understand, but snow is a LOT of fun, and brings a LOT of tourism (read:  $$$) to these areas.    Not only that, but the snow is beautiful.   The blanket of white on everything is just so pristine and beautiful right after a big snowfall.  

As LK has said, the other seasons are gorgeous, too. Although our winters can be harsh (we're under a winter storm WARNING tonight - with 6-10 inches forecast), I don't think I could live in an area that didn't have four distinct seasons.  

I LOVE spring with the budding of the trees and everything turning green.  

Summers can be HOT and very HUMID, with tornadoes and other violent summer storms.  We have our share of those (do ya'all get tornadoes?) and they're certainly not fun!  

Fall colors are just beautiful.  Walking outside on a crisp fall day, when the temps are around 40 F, just puts a spring in your step.  You can smell winter coming, but its a beautiful, sunny day outside and just a light jacket is needed.    That's a wonderful time to go camping and sit around a campfire with your friends and a cocktail.  

Winter, well, that's discussed above.  I know you folks don't really understand, and that's totally understandable!  This kind of weather is certainly different than what you're used to, and our bitter cold temps in the winter are nothing to sneeze at, that's for sure!    And I'm sure you'll hear me complaining in another month or so about temps that are -10 or -15 F  (without the wind chill), and of course, I expect ya'all to just commiserate with me!  

In the meantime, hope everyone has a FABULOUS Christmas!  

Julie

Julie, one concept I just can't seem to get across these Aussies is that insulation pays.  They don't think they need it.

8-)

Well, we had a LOVELY winter storm, just in time for Christmas!  Lucky us!   By the time the storm was all done, we received about 18 inches of snow!   That would have been just FINE, if I hadn't been stuck DRIVING in it!  We had to drive down to Milwaukee (about 230 miles)  Our normal 3-1/2 to 4 hour drive took us SIX hours!  At times, we had white out conditions.  It was NOT fun, by any stretch of the imagination.  We counted 20 vehicles in total in the ditches.   One was a semi, and four of the other cars were flipped.   People just get stupid in this kind of weather sometimes!  

We're back home today, with much better road conditions!  It was an EASY drive.   When we got home, we discovered that the drift on our back deck is now WAIST deep!    This is the most snow we've gotten at one time since we moved up here.   It's really pretty outside with that beautiful blanket of white!  

Here's a couple of pictures from before we left . . .

Looking out the patio door at our deck, the back of the fifth wheel and our barn.

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j26/gjmiklas/Winter%202007-08/Snow12-23-07-E.jpg

Looking out the front door:

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j26/gjmiklas/Winter%202007-08/Snow12-23-07-D.jpg

Looking out the front door:

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j26/gjmiklas/Winter%202007-08/Snow12-23-07-C.jpg

Our son's car, surrounded by drifts:

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j26/gjmiklas/Winter%202007-08/Snow12-23-07-B.jpg

And the saddest sight of all . . . the grill on the patio . . .

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j26/gjmiklas/Winter%202007-08/Snow12-23-07-A.jpg


Spending time with my family was wonderful and we had a great Christmas.   Hope everyone else did, too!

Julie

We've just come home from the beach, 32 deg celsius. Watched the start of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race earlier, gee it's tough living in a climate like this. Will fire up the BBQ on the patio soon and cook dinner and I won't have to clear the snow off it first !
Just reving you up Julie, your pics are terrific to a bloke who's never seen snow. lol.
BTW I hope you and your family had a brilliant Christmas day.
pd  

How warm is it?  Well, people I shared Christmas with thought it was too warm for the nearby ski hill to make snow last night.  Nope, I said as long as it's below freezing they will be making snow and you can ski tomorrow.

Since they're not from here originally (Russian), they don't know that all the snow that melted in the lowlands won't be all that gone from the ski mountain.

It's only -2  & with next to no wind -2 is quite pleaant.



P.S.  Rolph Harris singing right now on CBC. 6 White Boomers [smiley=0.gif]

:-/

Yesterday, we woke up to what's called "Hoar Frost" when the ice crystallizes on everything -- it's similar to having dew on the ground in spring and summer.  All the branches of trees are covered, etc.  It's always a beautiful site!  Once it warms up a bit, it tends to fall off or melt, but this time, it lasted all day!   Here's some pics:

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j26/gjmiklas/Winter%202007-08/Hoar-Frost-B-12-31-07.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j26/gjmiklas/Winter%202007-08/Hoar-Frost-A-12-31-07.jpg

Maddie LOVES the snow!

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j26/gjmiklas/Winter%202007-08/Hoar-Frost-C-12-31-07.jpg

Julie

PS, hope ya'all don't mind all my winter pics!  

Just thought I'd let all those who are sweating it out in Oz tknow hat we had a difference in temp of over EIGHTY degrees in the last two days!   Monday, it was 43 degrees (F) and by Tuesday evening it was 45 BELOW ZERO (F) with the wind chill ("feels like" temperature)!    Woke up this morning to -17 (withOUT the wind chill!).  

Winds were sustained 25-35 mph, with gusts up to 45 mph, which is why the "wind chill" temps were so low.  We also had about 4 inches of snow, which normally would not be a problem . . . but with those kinds of winds, it was almost blizzard conditions!   Tonight it's only supposed to be about 25 below zero with the wind chill . . .

It's almost impossible to dress warm enough when temps are that low!   I love living here and can't imagine living anywhere else, but I must say, this winter has been rougher than we've had in a LONG time, and cabin fever is starting to take hold.    

Should be warming up into the 20's by Friday and Saturday . . . a veritable heatwave after what we've just had!  

The animals (chickens, geese & goats) are NOT happy!!!!!    

Enjoy your warmth, and PLEASE send some of that up here!!!!!    

Julie

I like this site for conversions:  http://www.worldwidemetric.com/metcal.htm

It's been weird here too. Currently 6'C/42'F, but going to -13'C/8'F tonight with winds to 60 km/37mph.  

Fortunately, one of the nights of this 3 days of melt temperatures went below freezing.  Otherwise there would have been flooding.  Snow plows work to make extra drainage in snow banks when this sort of thing happens.  The nearby ski hill is quite happy with most of the snow that we've had, but melts cause other problems.

Not too far from me Prince Edward Island has had a power outage caused by an ice storm last weekend  http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/photoViewer.cfm?id=17414  This morning's news is that the Canadian Army has gone in to help with that one.  On the western side of that island some have been without power for 4 days.

8-)

Great pics Julie :o
I'm a bit like a few of these other fella's - not real sweet on the cold >:( - but the pictures are great & I find your posts really interesting
Hooroo for now [smiley=1.gif]

Just in case ya'll were wondering what it's been like up here in the "Middle of Nowhere", lately here's some recent pics.    We had a bit of a snowstorm land on us on Sunday and continue to Monday.  We ended up with about a foot of snow, which wasn't too bad, spread over two days as it was . . . however, we also had a LOT of wind, which caused a LOT of blowing and drifting.

Here's looking out my kitchen window at the drifts:

http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL437/665499/19077592/304734370.jpg

This is outside, looking at the drifts in the front yard:

http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL437/665499/19077592/304734372.jpg

This is the drift on our deck . . . poor Abby (our 10 year old) would be absolutely buried in it!  It's about 4 feet deep!  

http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL437/665499/19077592/304734369.jpg

And the geese on the front porch -- the only place they could get away from the wind -- because it was surrounded by DRIFTS!    ;D

http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL437/665499/19077592/304734371.jpg

And of course, now comes the cold.  It was -8 (F) (-22 C) this morning when I left.  Right now, it's warmed all the way up to -3 (f) (-19 C) and there's wind chill warnings for tonight.  Going to be something like -25 (F) (-32 C) with the wind chill (feels like) temperature!

Yea, it's cold out there baby!   Sure is pretty, though!  

Julie

Oh My Julie, we haven't been that cold.

Saturday night was down to -17C with - 26 wind chill.  

But for about the last 24 hours we've been above freezing.  It was up to 9'C this morning (10' = 50'F).

Do I need to tell you that many locations have flooding.    Highways people have been doing what they can to make sure snow banks don't stop run off here in Newfoundland.  http://www.roads.gov.nl.ca/cameras/

But this melt is so strong that Nova Scotia looks almost snow free. http://gov.ns.ca/tran/cameras/camera.asp Parts of PEI are almost snow free.  http://www.gov.pe.ca/tpwpei/index.php3?number=1016836

But New Brunswick still looks like winter http://www.gnb.ca/0113/cameras/allcams-e.asp


Another way to look at this melt is less insulation on the roofs for when it does get cold again.  & it will.  In this winter the ups and downs are out beyond the beyond.

:-[

Thats one heck of a lot of snow.

How do you drive in weather like that.


Derek

In some places most vehicles have block heaters to keep them warm enough that the oil, and other 'coolants' and antifreeze are liquid enough to get going.  

& there is snow removal equipment.

http://www.co.otter-tail.mn.us/highway/pics/truckrodeo1.jpg  

It was hard to get one with the two blades, the way all of ours are.


Snow blowers.  These can clear what looks like a tunnel.  Or they blow snow into dump trucks.  Most cities have these.  

http://www.heritage.nf.ca/environment/images/storm95_1_500.jpg


& we still need side walks
http://www.cityofgrandville.com/images/Pictures/Pic-Services-Snowplow.jpg

That's just a few examples.  

:-/

& here's a picture taken by roadrunner @ RVO in Quebec

http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL826/448672/18880972/304978774.jpg


:-/