Calm Before the Storm

Our first light temperature was a mere 5.9 F degrees but it warmed to a comfortable 21 under clear still skies. That will change sometime after midnight as another huge storm is barreling our way. There are conflicting forecasts as to how much snow we will get and whether or not there will be ice atop the snow before it all ends sometime on Wednesday. I'm hoping it will remain all snow as that will be much easier to clean up and will mean less chance of losing power.

Something between 6 and 12 inches of snow seems to be the range being reported but the line between 12 and 20--as well as the snow/ice line--is (literally) a stones throw to the north of here at the PA-NY state border.

In anticipation of this storm, Jessica and Jake headed back to New Jersey shortly after our noon meal. They should be getting pretty close to home as I wrote this.

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The winds have been swirling around all afternoon coming first from the north and then north-northeast, north-northwest, west and now the south-southeast. In short there is definitely something afoot. But the winds have seldom gotten above 5 mph if the spinning of the windmills is any indication. In fact, there have been hours at a time when the windmills--or at least the three that are very visible from the deck--have stood perfectly still even while facing in three different directions. It only takes a breeze of 2 mph to get them spinning.

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If the groundhog "sees" his shadow out at Punxsutawney on Wednesday morning you will know that the entire pageant is rigged. Legend has it, if he sees his shadow he'll go back to sleep and we'll have 6 more weeks of winter. If he doesn't see it, spring will come early. Well, this year, he should NOT see the bloody shadow because of the snow that will be falling but you can bloody well believe we will STILL have six more weeks of winter. Gaia like to play hardball.