On ice

February 21, 2011 | Iowa,Weather,Winter

Our lights flickered for several hours yesterday. Then they went out. And stayed out. We pulled out the sofa-sleeper, opened up the recliners and camped out in the living room, where the fireplace is. I read by candlelight for a while, then made sure everyone was tucked in, blew out the candles and found a spot under the covers. I’d say I slept, but that didn’t really happen. I was up again at 2 a.m., when the power came back, turning things off again. This morning, we cleared downed branches. We’d heard the trees cracking under the ice all night.

It’s the season for lutefisk

December 17, 2010 | Holidays,Norway

I just learned that lutefisk is sold at my local grocery store. Lots of Norsky-Americans in these parts.

Blizzard No. 1

December 12, 2010 | Iowa,Weather,Winter

Spent several hours on this. Still not done. We need a bigger tractor.

First blizzard of the season

December 11, 2010 | 2010,Iowa,Weather,Winter

It’s a blizzard, y’all.

Ice storm

November 24, 2010 | Holidays,Iowa,Weather

Brrrrr! This is what an ice storm in Iowa does. Good thing we’re all safe and warm at home and ready for the holiday tomorrow.

Buh-bye

March 18, 2010 | Iowa,Spring,Weather,Winter

You’re what? Snow. Girl. Melted! (a la B-52s)

Yep. Here lies what’s left of Snowgirl. Look closely. That’s her cute little carrot nose and stick arms. That pile of snow in the middle is, I think, what’s left of her pretty hat. So long, Snowgirl.

I’d feel more smug about telling her not to let the door hit her on the way out, but I don’t think she and her pal Old Man Winter are done with us yet. That’s right. Snow in the forecast for tonight and tomorrow. Oh well. At least we had two glorious days with 50 degrees.

Melting

March 6, 2010 | Iowa,Weather,Winter

And … let the spring fever begin!

Footprints

February 27, 2010 | Family,Iowa,Winter

The kids and I saw footprints in the snow one morning before school. We hadn’t seen any animals around, so it was a mystery how they got there. We’ve had various critters around — deer, skunk, raccoon. It would be interesting to figure out what had wandered around our house in the snow.

After school, we went out to track the prints. They stopped with tire tracks. Did Pappa have an animal in his pickup? We didn’t think so. They went a little ways past the garage but not all the way down the driveway. They stopped before the snow in the yard. We saw them along the side of the house, though, to the door into the garage. I remembered feeling horrible for the delivery guy who had to tromp through the snow I hadn’t had time to clear yet. Aha! The delivery guy. He must have had a dog. Mystery solved.

Snow

February 25, 2010 | 2010,Iowa,Weather,Winter

SNOMG2010, part 2

February 9, 2010 | Iowa,Weather,Winter

And the bench? Was tasty.

*BURP*