Looking west at Broken Top and The Three Sisters in the Oregon Cascades Feb. 2016


“Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.” -
John Ruskin


Monday, December 9, 2013

Brrrrr...

The arctic blast that hit the US this past weekend did not skip us here.  It snowed all day Friday and on into the night.  It was a very dry and powdery snow due to the extreme cold.  Our nighttime temperatures dropped to somewhere around -25 over the weekend.  Sure do hope that the snow insulated plants enough so they will survive.  Our zone is not supposed to get quite this cold and we have planted our landscape according to our planting zone...


 
The snow buried the pond.  It had already frozen over at Thanksgiving.
 
 
 
 
The day after Thanksgiving Tramp 1 used the chainsaw to cut a hole in the ice which was about three inches thick.  Then he put the pond heater in and it helps keep at least a small part of the pond free from ice so the fish can get air.
 
 
 
The heater has kept the water running even with the sub zero temperatures.
 
 

An Oregon Junco enjoying a snack outside my kitchen window.  Leaving the dead plants in pots until spring gives the birds a chance to forage when the snow is deep.
 
 
 
 
Action at the bird feeder is slow until the day warms up a bit.
 
 

 

5 comments:

D said...

It's pretty but sure is damaging. Our temperature Sunday morning was the 2nd coldest in recording history, so we are all surprised. As you indicate, we'll have to wait to see what damage lies beneath the snow. Thanks for stopping by.

ain't for city gals said...

Brrr is right! It is cold in Az too but now I feel better after looking at your pics!

Julie said...

oh goodness! until i went to iowa a few weeks ago and saw snow, these types of stories all seem so foreign to me! its very real to you and i hope you enjoy it! i remember the exhileration i felt in that freezing cold air!
stay warm!
hugs to you guys!
Julie

Powell River Books said...

You are such good pond parents. Bet seeing the chainsaw from underwater was a bit harrowing, but the result was worth it. - Margy

Chris said...

We lucked out and just got a lot of rain and cold. When I saw that chainsaw picture, I thought he was going ice fishing for a second. Our pond is actually a dammed creek so it is rare that it freezes over here.