The snowfall continues.
I woke up
around 4:30 AM this morning, thinking the rainfall last night would melt the
snow into a disappearing frozen icy mass.
Instead,
several more inches of snow had accumulated through the night – heavy with
moisture, and crusted with an icy sheen.
It didn’t look
so pretty to me anymore: it appeared intimidating.
I don’t plan
on going anywhere until it melts away (I have enough provisions tucked away);
but I am concerned about the carports in the Park … and the skylights above my
head.
The snow is heavy.
And the flakes are pretty good sized.
I am a snowbaby: I hail from snow country.
WA’s lowland
environment IS NOT snow country. The structures in the lowlands – regardless
of Mobile Home Parks or stick-n-mortar structures are not built for heavy
snowfall.
Accumulated frozen snow on my neighbors' rooftops, appear to be at least 6-inches. 4:59 AM
Frosted Bird House-Feeder. heavy with icy snow accumulation. 5:01 AM
Snow depth 5.3-4 inches by carport; crusty icy topcoat. 5:04 AM
It’s a rare occurrence;
this is a rainforest environment … heavy snow is for the mountainous regions; heavy
rainfall is for the lowlands.
And though I
really do like snow, I don’t like it here; where there is really no
expectation or preparations for it.
It’s a rare occurrence.
It is heavy.
And a real potential hazard in more ways than
one.
We had 18
inches of snow on Sparks Drive, in 2014. The Spring of 2014, Bob had built me four
4’x6’ garden boxes & two 2’x6’ garden boxes/ALL of them 18” tall, at my
request. The snowfall that winter, buried the boxes 18” deep, with the same
amount topping them like frozen whipped cream topping.
And it buried
my KIA’s wheels to the bumpers, topping it also like the garden boxes in the back
yard.
2014 – Garden boxes on Sparks Drive. 18 inches snowfall in 2 days’ time.
My KIA on Sparks Drive. 18 inches snowfall.
This
snowstorm is nowhere near that one, but it is more treacherous: circumstances
and situations have changed in 7 years’ time.
I broke my FB
hiatus to check on my granddaughter’s snow report; and to check local updates.
There was no news on my granddaughter’s Page – but there were local updates:
18
wheeler tipped over across I-5, from Kelso Weight Station; SUV slid off
Ostrander backroad (Friday): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_H-ja5o_ro
Lake
Sacajawea Snow Day (Friday): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLto3s6geQQ
After I
logged off, dawn’s light chased some of the early morning gray away, I didn’t like
the way the ‘Welcome’ shepherd’s hook was leaning under the weight of the
frosted bird feeder/house; I bundled up to go outside and slice the icy snow
off both with a butter knife. I also noticed that the hungry birds had cleaned
the feeder out … so I refilled it. The poor things need the feed to ward off
the unexpected killing chill.
Bird tracks on the carport stair treads. 10:28 AM
6 1/2 inches by carport. 10:29 AM
Frozen snow is heavy weight. 10:33 AM
Bird tracks by car ... seeking shelter. 10:36 AM
Refilling the bird feeder since yesterday afternoon. 10.40 AM
I also knocked the snow off the roofs of the feeder and house.
Before going
back inside, I also checked on my miniature rose bushes that had begun to put
out new leaves before the weather went off the rails. They are holding up okay
because they are kinda overwintering sheltered in the carport breezeway.
While out
there, I thought I’d check the depth of the snow out back because it hasn’t been
tampered with, like the snowdrift out front has; there is no activity in back
of the house at the moment.
6 inches back yard. 10:43 AM
7 1/2 inches atop outdoor chest. Back of shed. 10:44 AM
Inside, I sipped
some hot ginger-tea, and noticed the front porch had also seen some overnight
snow activity – it had been bare, all of yesterday, despite the falling snow
all day long yesterday. But, apparently through the night, the wind had shifted
and sent snow swirling in that direction, too.
And somehow,
somewhere, during my morning activities; I broke a fingernail without realizing
it until it scratched me with its uneven end.
I filed it
even while my feathered friends serenaded me …
Front porch seeing snow activity now. Side room window. 10:55 AM
I broke a fingernail.
It didn't take long for the chickadees to return ... 11:11 AM
Chickadee.
Varied Thrush. 11:32 AM
Red-winged Blackbird. 11:44 AM
I do like snow.
But I do not like this snow.
It is too heavy; this region is not snow country.
I really hope
Sunday brings a let up, snow melt, and we are snow-free by the end of next
week.
