Sunday; Storm Day 2

Snow began around noon yesterday [Sabbath/Saturday] with temperatures hovering at 16-18 F.

An email popped in notifying me that a small package had been delivered. Rather reluctantly I hauled on layers of outdoor clothes to trudge to the mailbox which stands where the communal lane touches the main road. Jim decided he might as well go along.

It wasn't a pleasant walk! I had layered a hoodie over a silk turtleneck, a flannel shirt and then topped that with a mid-weight winter jacket. Hood string tightened around my face, a scarf, polar fleece gloves, boots. I was still cold. 

The lane runs along the level of the surrounding land before taking a dip past a small pond. Coming back Jim steered us onto the meadow path. The bare hedgerow trees provided a bit of shelter and as we followed the path along the edge of the north ravine the gentle roll of the meadow cut the worst bite of the wind.

Jim topped up the woodbox, trundled in an extra load of wood, leaving the old wheelbarrow parked to the left of the stove.

This delighted Thimble-cat who immediately began clambering among the lengths of 'limb wood' that remained in the barrow.

We took out extra food and blankets for the the three cats who have shelters on the front porch. We ate curried lentil soup and toast, settled in for the blustery evening.

Sometime during the long night the temperature rose to 32F and the snow became a mixture of sleet and freezing rain. 

There are many power outages in the area and we would be surprised if we get through the next several days with the electric, wifi and landline phone still functioning.

I baked two more foil-wrapped russet potatoes that can be sliced and browned in a cast iron skillet on the wood stove if need be.

Wanting to take advantage of the oven I rummaged a few stray apples from the bottom bin of the fridge, sliced them into a 9 inch square pan, added a handful of golden raisins, a generous coating of brown sugar and cinnamon. The 'crisp' topping is flour, rolled oats and shredded coconut blended with softened butter. The house has taken on that nostalgic and homely smell of apples and spice.

I again pulled on layers of winter clothing and boots to slog out with kitchen waste, then crunched along the edge of the garden for a closer look at the big limb that crashed down from a tree bordering the driveway. I saw it go down and supposed if was torn from one of the black walnut trees that lean over the drive as it edges past the south ravine. The branch came instead from a tulip poplar.

I made cautious rounds with my little camera to document day two of the storm. 

The resulting photos are a study in shades of grey.

The fallen limb; note the distinctive tulip-shaped seed  'cups.' 

Small branches and twigs are strewn along the edges of the south ravine; from a distance I can see there is a similar collection outlined on the lower loop of the path.

Along the edge of the south ravine.

A cedar tree behind the north side of the barn, near where kitchen peelings are dumped.

I leave a rag-tag of flower heads in the rough garden strip thinking that winter birds may relish the seeds.

I think these are coneflowers, the seed heads greatly distorted with ice.

Icy branches of the 'Jane' magnolia. 

Wild onion grows everywhere in clumps, winter hardy, pungent in summer whenever lawns or roadway verges are mowed. The green tuffets stand crisp in the frozen slush.

A thorny rose  in the edge of the south-east wall garden, rose hips like black beads, twigs and leaves rigid with ice.

Lastly, a bit skeptical of the sloping path to the edge of the south ravine, I dutifully carried out cat litter.

Underbrush is dense there--burning bush, wild rose brambles, scruffy beech, all clinging to the hillside--a place where only the possums, the raccoons and rabbits dare to travel.

The icy beech leaves provided the only spot of color in the wintery landscape. 

Jim has made himself a plate with a baked potato, warmed up beef strips in gravy, maple glazed carrots.

The good smell of food is too tempting to ignore!

Hand stitching planned for the afternoon and--if the electricity holds--visits to a new you tube channel I've discovered--a gifted woman living in Scotland who lovingly tends a garden, creates quilts and soft furnishings, repurposes old furniture, organizes her pantry, bakes scones. Moments of peaceful sharing--what's not to enjoy!

My late evening reading is a reacquaintance with the Cadfael mysteries. I take them out every second or third winter to enjoy again Ellis Peters' skillful use of words and the subtle irony with which she invests her characters.

However the storm may be impacting you, I wish you warmth, shelter and safety.