House bound at the Aerie

As I mentioned the other day, the weather forecasters had issued a Winter Storm Warning for much of the PA/NY border region. They called for sleet and freezing rain much of the day with things to start just before daybreak. For once they seem to have got it right.

I woke up this morning at 6 AM to the sound of ice pellets hitting the windows and the roof. I like ice pellets (as long as they aren't hailstones larger than peas). They are nothing more than compacted snow and when they fall, they pass right through the tree branches and pine needles. Today they fell for several hours and barely accumulated 1/2 inch on the deck.

But as the day progressed, the temperatures rose to 32 degrees or slightly above which means the rain drops didn't freeze before reaching the ground. No, instead, the rain froze as it reached the tree branches, pine needles, wires and ground. This resulted in a coating of ice on all surfaces. Luckily, the temperatures rose slightly higher and the amount of glaze ice (for so the ice forming on all surfaces is called) never amounted to much.

When we started looking at model log homes (and for property) we drove through the Poconos the morning after an ice storm. Trees were arched over in upside down U shapes. Trees and branches were snapped by the weight of the 1/2 inch of ice. Some limbs extended across one lane of the two-lane west bound I-80. And, as the sky had cleared and the sun shone brightly, everything glittered and glistened. It was an amazing sight. Luckily, the road was well treated and there were few slipper spots. Also fortuitously, I rode behind a couple of tractor trailers that helped to "clear" the road of downed tree limbs. It wasn't a fast ride. But we made it through and enjoyed the "winter wonderland."

Those woods have not recovered from that ice storm to this day. Bent and twisted trees line both sides of the highway. Many tree tops that were snapped off still lie on the forest floor. Every time we travel that stretch of road we are reminded of how fragile the seemingly sturdy trees can be and how beautiful glistening ice on naked tree limbs sparkle.

Well, it's 3 PM and it's still above freezing and raining. With luck, the temperatures will remain on the right side of 32 until the system runs out of water and we won't get any more glazing this evening. But I'm not counting on it. Time to pick up a good book, pour a little Glenlivet over some ice cubes and relax beside the fire.

Oh, the garage called and my truck's ready for pick up. There's always tomorrow.