More talk about the weather

I was going to add storm pictures to my previous entry, but decided to just do a new post instead. Being a bit of a weather junkie, I look at three different online weather forecasts to see if they're all in agreement and they usually are not. In fact, I can rely on the extended forecast to change several times. Hubs doesn't get why I'm so 'obsessed' with weather. I simply tell him, "I just like to know." Seems rather silly when I think on it. So I won't... I'll just keep reading about whether the Arctic oscillation is in a negative or positive phase, if El Nino or La Nina come calling and how will those things impact the overall upcoming season. And then there are those solar flares, with 2012 being the peak thus bringing with it the end of the world as some are fretting about (not me). Maybe I have too much time on my hands. 

Here are some images from our last 'storm' which wasn't really a storm at all. It was more like a snow event. Lots of softly falling snowflakes, so pretty, so much of it (gasp), all fluffy and powdery. But then, around midnight, the winds came. It really changed things as you can see. Our cars (not the van) were pretty much bare of snow in the morning. Hubs is out there with the snowblower; a full time job for him, it seems.

We're in for another storm tonight. One forecast says 8-15 cm of snow, another says 20-30 cm. I'm going with the 8-15 cm amounts. Supposedly, there are two more storms to follow over the next week. I have also viewed the long range forecast into mid-February and temps are showing up to 5ºC with sunshine. I somehow doubt that will happen but they've been spot on with every storm.

Feb. 02/11 before the winds

Feb. 03/11 Digging out

Feb.03/11 How deep can it go?

Feb.03/11 Catch my drift?

Talk about the weather...

What can one do when one experiences snow storm after snowstorm in the country? Well, talk about it, of course. And post pictures and express feelings of fed-up of puttin' up with so much stormy weather. I guess another whopper is on it's way. The Ground Hog Day storm, they're calling it. I can't wait! :-(

First, I want to tell about my poor unfortunate Hubs! (it was due to bad weather, after all) He had an wee mishap with the snowblower about two weeks ago. It wasn't due to carelessness, really. The snow was the wet, heavy kind and the auger kept clogging. A belt connecting to another moving part (not visible) had slipped off so those two parts didn't engage and stop that other part from turning. Something like that. He did wait after shutting off the machine for the auger to stop moving so it wasn't like he was being hasty. The belt must have slipped off between clearings.

So, he reached in to clear the snow and it grabbed his hand. He thought he safely pulled back in time then realized it did some serious damage to his fingers. Off to emergency on a storm day! Fortunately, the storm wasn't so bad in the northern direction we were traveling. It was more like there was no storm once we hit the freeway. It's weird like that here. 

His right forefinger was crushed but a clean break at the tip and four stitches along the first joint. He's been in such pain but still manages to get out and clear the driveway after each storm. I can't manage our snowblower. It's really heavy and he just won't allow it. I confess, I love to shovel snow but he says one gimp in the family is enough and worries I'll hurt my back or something. Maybe he thinks I'm too old and frail for shoveling snow? Nah! That ain't it. 

I decided to log all of the storms of this particular winter. I'll come back and add the upcoming storm(s) pictures because when someone says... "Oh, it wasn't that bad!", which I doubt anyone will, but if they do, I'll send them a link to this blog entry. So without further adieu, here are pics with dates from each storm... during or the day after. I know I've already posted some of these pictures but.... so it goes. I may have missed one storm.

The Jan. 28th storm was the worst one. We couldn't get out of the house, save for trudging through deep drifts and there were three steps off the porch. Poor Blind Guy when it was pee time, he just didn't know what was happening. Going through the garage was not an option. The drifts were taller than me! As well, all our south and west facing windows were completely covered with snow. I shudder to think that this coming Ground Hog Day storm is supposed to be worse. 

December 21, 2010

December 27, 2010

January 3, 2011

January 13, 2011

January 21, 2011

January 28, 2011

Sometimes I don't like snow.....

Can you see  our civic sign down at the end of our driveway and to the right? The storm that wasn't supposed to reach us on January 12th was bearing down as nightfall approached. Hubs had gone out to clear the driveway in an effort to stay ahead of what the county's snow plough pushes across the driveway's entrance. There was maybe a foot and a half of snow to clear at about 10 pm that evening. The snow ploughs were to call it a night until 5 am or whatever early hour before the morning's work commute. It was anybody's guess as to what we would wake up to after the ploughs had their way with our driveway.

The side of the house reminds me of that nasty 70's popcorn ceiling. You know, that stuff they sprayed on the ceilings that's a nightmare to remove? The only time I ever took a liking to it was when I was living in an apt. where they added glitter. I was 18 years old. I thought that anything that sparkled was pretty. 

OK, I wasn't overly excited to get out and take photos of all the snow dumped at the end of the driveway upon waking in the aftermath of the storm. I couldn't tell you how much snow actually fell, but I can tell you that much of what was in the farmland northeast of us made it's way through our property and across our driveway. The civic sign is buried now. I was tempted to take a shot of hubs out with the snow plough but declined. I'll just tell you that it was mid-thigh to hip deep. We've learned it's always best to blow the snow to the west (to the right as you're seeing the photo).

The neighbours across the street might see a couple of feet. The plough goes by on their side and a bit of clumpy snow gets left behind. No big deal for them. I do take some comfort in the fact that our neighbours to the west of us get some of what we get. We do like to share the motherload, after all.

Nor Easters and a New Year

I'm tired. I feel deflated. Alone (but I know, by faith, that I'm not alone). I battle things that I have no control over... things that involve other people. People that I love. Control... big word. I control how I choose to react to things. I control what time I should go to bed. I control those kinds of things regarding me. But I don't control how others behave, how they perceive me, my life or my choices in life. They see through their own way of seeing things. I cannot make them understand that which even I cannot understand regarding my day to day life. 


But one thing is for sure. I have made it clear where I stand. Whether other loved ones understand that or not is neither here nor there. My 'stand' is not easy, not even understood by me at times but I have declared it to be so... I am loyal to that which I am committed to.


To those loved ones who cannot accept or understand my loyalties, I bid you adieu. It's futile for me to even try to get them to understand. I have tried and either I have failed in my deliveries or they have failed in their ability to really 'hear' or accept what I'm so desperate to have them understand. At the end of this, I just want them to accept what I tell them.. not to have everything understood. That's just not possible.


My heart is saddened by this loss.


New Year's resolutions are so over-rated. Much like Christmas. For me, the best Christmas I could ever have would be to give someone without hope a taste of what the reason for the season really means.


I recall one Christmas many years ago when my brother spent a Christmas with me and my Mom and mentioned this man he met that was staying in some kind of boarding house, lonely and in the company of some young rowdy men. He had called him and the poor soul was just spending the day in bed... best option regarding his situation. I told my brother to go fetch him to join us for a turkey dinner. My Mom, who had suffered a stroke some years back, had not played her guitar or sang because it just didn't come out on key. Well... that night it was different. Her and our special guest played guitar and sang... it was such a joy to see her sing again (and on key!)... the best Christmas I ever had. Never saw that man again. Maybe he was put in our lives for a specific reason. Maybe vice-versa.

Nor easter

This is the first day of winter in eastern New Brunswick. Normally, it's a winter wonderland by this time but this is not a normal year. I hate nor easters. Big time!

The above video is a couple hours before high tide. The water would cover more of the road and as nightfall approached and right now there are utility vehicles posted at either side of the flooded road. I guess they'll be there for the night with those orange lights flashing, flashing, flashing. At least they'll not be flashing in my bedroom window but I do have blinds.

And this is across the street. You can see where my neighbour put up a 'snow' fence after cleaning up a lot of debris from the last storm. Isn't that kinda like sticking your finger in a leaky dam? Resistance is futile. You can see his shingles flapping away... just hanging in there (last I looked, anyway). We have the same thing happening on the north side of our roof. Changes coming this spring and some much needed exterior work will take place. I'm so done with stressing with each storm. Our poor east wall and attached garage will get a complete revamp. Also time for new windows and siding. It's just become so necessary and we'll have some great and much needed help.


This is not a major river. It's rather shallow and in summer, when the tide is out, we can walk across with the water only being about 4 feet or so deep. Today, it's flexing some muscle. I'd hate to be near the ocean right now. Storm surge, full moon, high tides... yuk. 

The Be Good Tanyas - Scattered Leaves

A Delightful Place to Visit.....

There's a little shop along the New Brunswick coastline just beyond the Bouctouche Dunes that I love to visit. I discovered it shortly after moving here as I was getting to know the area. The shop owners are a delightful and quirky pair (quirky is a good term to me... unique and interesting). He is called the "Woodchuck" and his carvings are of a primitive style... each one telling a story. She is the Woodchip, having her own store filled with wonderful things. I can spend an hour there and I'll be heard frequently saying "Oh! I didn't see that! It's gorgeous." 


He's built an addition to his shop. Rather interesting and full of a different kind of 'collectible'. Her shop is a tiny little building filled with lovely treasures, more appealing to feminine tastes. I'll just let the pictures tell the story.