Monday Morning...

 Somehow, Black Friday sales have crept into Canada. Thing is, they aren't really sales, I've found. I'm in the market for a new camera. The cameras on sale are too high end for me! The one I have my eye on isn't on sale. Goggle Ads have been helpful in pointing this out for me. 😏

I am content with my camera. It's just wearing out. Aren't we all?! 😳 I shall keep looking.

We went through town to the dentist. I wanted to look at the memorial dedicated to the young man who was murdered in town. They have charged a 16-year-old girl with First Degree murder. She was charged with 2nd degree, but that was changed. 

• Manslaughter: murder without intent
• 2nd degree: deliberate murder without planning
• 1st degree: homicide with planning and intent

Despite Muskoka's Lake Effect Snow, we had precious little on the weekend. Bracebridge had 125 cm, Gravenhurst had 140 cm. The town just shut down. It took them all weekend to clear the cars and tow them to a parking lot, which I suppose they had to clear first! The main highway, #11, was just plain closed. 

This is Gravenhurst!

We had barely a skiff of snow. 

Power is still out for upwards of 20,000 homes according to Ontario Hydro. The section in the middle is covered by Elexicon Hydro, they have 2600 homes without power.  It's going to take another day or two. 

I just have to celebrate Christmas work parties! JL and Caitlin went to his office party. Caitlin's dress was $20 thrifted! Isn't that a wonderful deal? They are great thrifters. 

Have a great week, those not digging out! 

Heckuva storm!

Sunday, Jan. 14th

Just when you think winter will never come...  😏 The Lake Effect Snow on Sunday was amazing. You can see it clearly on the map, as the winds whip across the Great Lakes. We had a dusting of snow Sunday. Not nearly so much fun as Saturday! 😼

⛄ Saturday, Jan. 13 

We had 25 cm around the house on Saturday, but on the driveway: 33 cm. While I did the driveway, it kept flipping back from rain to snow, and back again. We had 2 mm rain on top of the snow. 

If I were motivated, I'd get some sweet photos. I had work to do, though.

Out the kitchen window the trees were droopy, and deer and the turkey were back. Also, there was rain freezing on the window. I knew I'd best get out and shovel tout-de-suite. 

I stopped here, running out of energy. Plus, it began to rain. I figured I'd best work on the driveway. By the time I returned to it, we'd had more snow!

Prince Edward County lost power. We were fine, though.

Kingston had thundershowers, Jan. 13, 2:00 pm! Someone commented online, checking the radar, sure enough! 

Balmy Victoria, B.C., had some cold temperatures. This is unusual. 

I was wiped right out! And drenched in sweat. A long shower did the trick. I put up my feet, too. 

Yes, more snow. However, indoors it is bright and cheery. Except, the Amaryllis fell over. I leaned it over the rabbit pot, with the paperwhites, having swept up the dirt that fell out. I ended up using some long matchsticks to prop it up. That worked. 

Lake Effect Snow

 Yes, it is the season for it. The Great Lakes are quite warm, as water has temperature inertia. The winds blow across the lakes and pick up the moisture. I learned a new term Monday. The 'fetch' is the width of the lakes, where the wind fetches up water to dump on people as it moves across the land. 

Since the winds blow right across Lake Huron and Georgian Bay, the fetch area is much wider. This is why Muskoka and Central Ontario gets such snowfall.

 

All we had was graupel and dark skies.

Indoors, we've been having fun puttout out lights. Cinnamon is amused. We started small. Joseph Brian got us a little fake fire background! I brought the Charlie Brown Christmas tree up from the basement.

An accidentally artsy photo!

Somebody has been working on his train set. New batteries all around for the houses. 

This was his process. I watched carefully. It began a week ago. It required all sorts of tweaks.

Christmas Train from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

By the way, Isabelle and Papa are continuing on their archery classes at the RA. She is pretty good! Three shots quite close together. What a kid!

Lake Effect snow and chores

Yes, it was a bit chilly Saturday.

Sunday, we were warned about ice rain, but that won't happen.

It's an interesting phenomenon, Lake Effect snow. You can see where the radar is predicting rain over the Great Lakes.

There is very little ice cover, right now. That's why the storms pick up so much moisture. The water has temperature inertia, and is only beginning to form ice in a few areas.

Then, there is the Great Lakes currents map. 

Back in Muskoka, this is what it looks like on the lake on a snowy day, January, 2010.

 In Muskoka, the lakes are so deep, with boulders strewn. Lots of granite and pink pretty rocks.

Out and about

The goldfish pond is as frozen as... _________. Well, you can fill in the blank.

What's strange is the area around the rock at the end. The ice is about 10 cm thick, otherwise.

I love the bright green moss. Don't look at the coyote poop on the tree trunk!

I noticed this little hole. I like the frost around the edges. A tree once stood here, now long gone.

 With the leaves all down, I can see across the wetland. I've learned to love it. Things are pretty shallow here. Otty Lake, nearby, has a maximum depth of 60'. It's quite a different ecosystem.

My new banner is a bit frosty.

I love this cedar stump shape.

Outdoor and Indoor Chores

Outdoors, I cleaned the bird bath. Lots of ice crystals, and bird poopies. I came in the basement door, and forgot to bring the equipment in. Today it is snowing.

Happily, it was a bit warmer Saturday. I managed to set the VIDEO mode for my new trailcam. (I re-re-read the itty bitty manual!) 

I brought the battery in from the lawn tractor. I hope it's not too late for it. I totally forgot. It wasn't on the list! [Fall chores]

Trying to saw up the broken branch in the back with the skilsaw, the battery died after three cuts. Back to square one. 

 

Indoors, I did laundry, two loads of sheets. I remade our bed, and I shall look forward to getting in and snuggling in clean sheets. Small pleasures!

Grampa managed to put the decals on his school bus. Also, he made them masks, after Josephine noticed the figures didn't have them. They are socially distanced in their seats, as well. YAY! Winter break for two weeks!

Isn't it adorable!

The kids have their abominable snowman up! 

And Caitlin's Christmas presents have been sent home. I bought them at the craft show last week!