You don't have to be crazy to live in Minnesota, but it sure helps!
December 20, 2008: ROCHESTER, MN -- The Minnesota Department of Transportation in Owatonna and Rochester advises no travel in the 11 counties of District 6, which include: Olmsted, Freeborn, Mower, Fillmore, Houston, Winona, Dodge, Steele, Rice, Goodhue, and Wabasha. This is until further notice, due to extremely poor driving conditions caused by heavy snowfall and reduced visibility.
Today dawned clear and cold, so I waited until the sun came up and then spent 10 minutes putting on all my layers to go out and fill all the birdfeeders. In case you're wondering, that's a smile on my face -- not a grimace (as it looks!)
This is turning out to be a winter like we used to have--before global warming.
This morning the weather service said we have 18" of snow on the ground. As you can see, the backyard dog is up to its tummy in snow and the pheasant (the dog was pointing at) is now completely buried in snow. (For new visitors to my blog, the dog is a metal sculpture and there's also a metal pheasant sculpture right in front of the dog--here's a link to an earlier picture of it. Rest assured, I would never leave a real dog like this in the backyard in any kind of weather!)
Happy Winter everyone! I hope you're staying warm and safe!
Ruthie
ReplyDeleteWe have a 3 - 4 ft drift in from of the garage which grows as it heads for the bird feeders. It will take a few hours to get rid of that after the wind dies down. Thankfully I had filled the feeders on Friday.
DAD
That's lots of clothes girl, did Mr. J help you out there to where you are standing? The drifts around here are amazing. I will have to clean off the little deck to feed my outside kitties.
ReplyDeleteMOM
Hi Dad,
ReplyDeleteWe had a 2-foot drift all along the front of our house, but Mr. Johnson fired up the snowblower and got rid of that. All the paths I snowblowed in the backyard on Thursday are filled in now though. I'm going to wait till later and see if the wind dies down before I clean them out again. Be careful when you're out there!
Hi Mom,
That snow was a lot deeper than I thought as I ran out to that tree (up to my knees!) It's by the driveway where we used to put the snowfence, but now the evergreens are big enough to be a natural snowfence. I was lucky, the wind blew my deck clean. Sophie keeps wanting to go out, but after about 3 minutes, she's walking on 3 legs--it's way too cold for a short-haired dog!
No need to remind you to dress warm...lol. You kinda look like a little kid getting ready to play in the first snow of the year.
ReplyDeleteI need to get out shortly for the birds and to clean off the yard for the little dog that is built close to the ground for better traction.
What a fun picture! You look happy, you silly lady! All your birds probably do their happy dance when they see you appear.
ReplyDeleteOur snow stopped sometime during the night but now we have a moaning wind that is moving snow around. Should be an interesting day.
Nice outfit...Have you ever watched A Christmas Story? Well you look like the little boy all bundled up...
ReplyDeletewho couldnt get up after falling....
I'd know that smile under 100 layers!
ReplyDeleteIt was -12 when I drove Molly in to work this morning. BRRRRrrrr.
Sadly, here in central PA we are still having a global warming winter.
ReplyDeleteSnow was predicted for today--so what we got was 1/4 inch (that's all) and now it is sunny and 40 degrees F. I WANT WINTER.
Send some here, please.
Ruthie, sure looks cold, but isn't there something so wonderful about that gorgeous blue that comes out after snow and when the temp is really low.
ReplyDeleteWe are getting a 2nd storm this weekend. We got 12" on Friday and another 6-12 predicted for today. I am glad we made it home from church okay and have no were else to go today.
Well, I feel like a goon! I thought that dog in the backyard was real! LOL!
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a kid , I remember all the warnings were that we were headed for the next ice age. Funny how that sticks in my mind. Now it;s Global Warming, I wonder if it will someday be a thing that people say, remember when we all thought....
I hope if you fall over someone will be there to pick you up!
ReplyDelete(Tee-Hee)
Stay warm...
At least you look warm in all those layers and yes, I could see a smile :-)
ReplyDeleteLots of wind here too but not as much snow.
I LOVE Minnesota! At least it's not as cold as it was in the week before Christmas in 1983! Now that was COLD!! We can all be thankful that we have warm homes to live in and plenty of comfort foods to eat. It will definitely be a white Christmas....YES! :)
ReplyDeleteHappy Winter to you too, Ruthie! We don't have any snow here in SE Ohio, but the cold temps are blowing in. Forecast Fox is telling me it's going to get down to -1 tonight, and I'm not sure if that's with the windchill or not. I'll definitely be adding on the layers when I head out for work tomorrow. Stay warm, and Happy Holidays!
ReplyDeleteYup we are CRAZY. No doubt about it.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you & yours.
troutbirder
We did a CBC today in the coldest weather conditions I remember ever participating in. Not as cold as where you are but -11 wind chill is nothing to sneeze at. Or maybe it is. tee hee.... Stay home where you will be safe and sound.
ReplyDeleteNegative temps are something we just don't experience down here in the South...brrrrrrr!!! Stay warm Ruthie!
ReplyDeleteI was watching the news last night and they talked about your weather. I'm whining because it's 4 degrees here in SW Ohio. Our pipes were frozen this morning, the fire went out and it was 54 degrees in the house! Bah...winter.
ReplyDeleteOh yeah--love the hat!
ReplyDeleteYour sissy
Love those pants Ruthie!! Stay warm - you sure do treat your birdies right!
ReplyDeleteMerry Chrismas as well!
I went out today and came back in after 15 minutes and added an entire second layer of clothes, and a hat, scarf and double mittens. I was none too warm. I love your hat!
ReplyDeleteHappy Holidays, Ruthie! I hope you are staying warm.
ReplyDeleteRuthie, Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteHello Ruthie! One of my newest friends in the blogosphere. May your home be warmed by the never failing fire of Christ's love this Christmas.
ReplyDeleteLove, and happy knitting.
Dana
Hey Everyone,
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by with comments. I'm frantically knitting my last Christmas presents this afternoon, but had to take a break and post my Christmas greeting to you all. After more snow flurries this morning, it's now sunny and a balmy 9 degrees (above zero!)
I hope you're all staying warm and ready for celebrating Christmas with family and friends.
You must be some tough gals out that way to deal with weather like that! I ges we don't have much to complain about weather-wise in Connecticut in comparison to you.
ReplyDeleteTough? Ya sure, you betcha Larry!
ReplyDelete