Monday, March 21, 2011

Deep snow in Minne-snow-ta

We have a small backyard, intruded upon by a garage and a big driveway.

During a winter of enormous snowfalls, as we've had this year, clearing the driveway means creating a huge mound of snow and ice on one side of the yard. The peak was about seven feet; it tapered down to about four feet near the house.

Last week, Augie and Vi enjoyed climbing atop the "snow mountain." He loved being so close to the crotch of the tree, which is usually far out of reach. He kept looking for a way to climb up, but the icy surface didn't allow it.

The photo at the right was taken in June 2009. The angle is all wrong for comparison, but last week he was standing at least a foot-and-a-half above the bench - and that was a low spot on the "mountain." Rain and warmish temps have melted much of the snow in the past few days, but that bench is still firmly buried.

The melt is slowed by the fact that everything refreezes at night (one reason much of the pile is ice rather than snow) and the sun hasn't been out yesterday or today. But that's a good thing, since a slow melt means less chance of flooding.

In any case, I'm so ready for spring!

11 comments:

DJan said...

We all are so ready for spring! It's late coming here this year, but I see the rhododendrons are almost ready to flower! Can't wait either!

laurie said...

hey, we can see the top of our birdbath now! snow coming on wednesday, though.

Teresa Evangeline said...

You and me both, and a ton of other folks, I'm sure. I wish for the sun. I need it! Gray skies dampen my spirit and it gets tiring struggling to stay above the gray. But, I shall sally forth, try to have sunny thoughts which often does make a difference. Have a good week, Nancy.

Grandmother Mary said...

This brought me back to reality! This morning I was complaining that it's only 50 degrees here when it was so much warmer last year. I'll stop complaining.

Red Shoes said...

...then you don't want me to tell you it's like 80F here today... no?

:oD

~shoes~

#1Nana said...

...okay, you win. I'll stop complaining about our rain. At least I can see our yard and the tulips and daffodils are about six inches high.

Sally Wessely said...

I loved the picture. It is so cute, but I am sure you must be really tired of all that snow. I can't relate at all. If it snows here, it is almost always gone in a day or two. I don't know if I could handle those piles of snow.

Lisa @ Grandma's Briefs said...

Our snow is gone, for the most part (except in the high country) but the darn WIND is driving me and every other human absolutely nuts. My only hope is that it's blowing true spring our way.

grammy said...

I just caught up...
I could not take that much snow still around...even if it has melted some since that picture. I know we will probably have another snow here... but they melt away pretty fast here in Colorado. Right now it is the dry crazy wind that is dangerous and causing fires in the high country.
I hate problems with the computer... I always have something...like right now my iphoto won't load pictures on my blog. Crazy.
Happy BD .... a little late. Mine was March 12th...58 (o:

Far Side of Fifty said...

Great snow shot of Augie on the mountain! Hopefully spring will come one day soon:)

Anonymous said...

What cute shots! Believe me - I can easily imagine just how high that pile of snow and ice is... We have a similar one in our garden!

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