A Cliche, But No Less True

2 December 2012
10:07 AM

Sunrise at	10:24 AM	in direction	149°	South-southeast
Sunset at	2:57 PM	in direction	211°	South-southwest

Duration of day: 4 hours, 33 minutes (5 minutes, 1 second shorter than yesterday)

I watch the ravens fly.  

Only they seem indifferent to the cold. 

Taken at 1:18 PM facing due South

So, the cold "snap" has decided to stay, like an unwanted house guest.  The reading at the airport is -33F.  Our porch thermometer has consistently hovered at -20F despite lowering temperatures in the river valleys - until now.  At -28F the dobermans are booted up to go outside.  They become extremely efficient at relieving themselves in these temperatures, no horsing around at all.

Cold temperatures discourage any unnecessary travel, but are a veritable Winter Wonderland to the human eye.  The hoarfrost is not as thick as it will become at times during the winter, but glints beautifully in the sunlight nonetheless.  Rosy, violet, blue and white hues soften the landscape.  As I've said, there are benefits in living through the Interior Winter.

Tonight clouds and flurries are predicted and along with it a slight raising of the temperature, 5-10 degrees Fahrenheit.  Woohoo!  But, I am happy about flurries being predicted for a few days next week.  We have had no snow accumulation since early November.  Frost lies thick upon the deck, but no snow.




ASIDE:  Why don't they provide accent marks for words commonly used, but obviously borrowed from another language - especially French and Spanish, eh?