Troutbirder II

Troutbirder II
Click on Mark Twain to jump to Troutbirders book review blog

Saturday, March 8, 2014

Now is the winter of our discontent .

This not by Steinbeck and certainly not Shakespeare as in Richard III.  Troutbirder and legions of others perhaps  were just out of practice. Dealing with a "real Minnesota winter" that is. It had been quite a while.  Troutbirder had been  heard to say things like "why I remember the winter of 73 when it didn't get above zero for over a month and I had to get a front end loader to clear our driveway." his year. This year the discontent has been palpable.  Downright ugly, I'd say .  We've gotten so wimpy in our aged years we even did what we said we'd never do. Fled for a month to the balmy climes of Florida.  It's been much too cold for  hiking so I'd  warm up the Silverado and we'd go for rides.  Take a look.....
Heading out of town....
The High School were I taught senior social studies and world history...
Out in the country now. The State and County highways have been cleared after the latest "Polar Vortex" but their still working on the township roads....
Some stretches of road the wind blew clear, others the drifts were so high plows couldn't push the snow back, so big snow blowers had to be used to do the job.  This left a canyon like effect that  you drove through...
Landmarks help to remind us of our locations as for example Old Glory flying above a rural cemetery.
The scattered farmhouses lay peaceful in the aftermath. Most have generators in case the power goes out. For us, it was 12 hours of candles and kerosene lanterns.  But we  reminded ourselves we're hardy Minnesotans. Be prepared! Tough it out! And life goes on......
 

23 comments:

  1. Love the photo of the house on the hill.
    Winter has been tough in NEw England this year too.
    Good for you though ~ getting away to the sun for a month ! Hey , never say never. lol

    ReplyDelete
  2. Nashville's winter was terrible. It was 70 one day and 0 the next. Our shrubs were flash frozen! No snow though- Love your photos.

    ReplyDelete
  3. just too much snow! yup, that is one to remember.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love that house on the hill. Life does go on indeed!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Indiana's had its worst winter in decades, if not in history; but you've got us beat in the snow department. We had a major melt today. We can actually see patches of bare ground now. Hang in there. It can't be long until spring.

    ReplyDelete
  6. So glad I'm in 'chilly for here' Texas. I hope all that snow melts before I return to Tamarac in May...

    ReplyDelete
  7. I think even the die hard winter likers have begun to complain about this winter.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Wow, walls of white everywhere!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Holy cow! My joints are aching just looking at these photos, I can't imagine actually being in that kind of weather. I do like the photo of the house in snow... for framing though, not for having to live in.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wow, those pictures really tell the story! I'm feeling sorry for my Minnesota friends. And here in Utah, we had a lot of cold in December, a dry January, and then in February and March have had warmer temps with lots of rain in the valley and snow in the mountains where we need it most. A rare year for us, too. And I appreciate it all the more after seeing your pics. I hope you soon get a thaw!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Morning, snow just like here, love that farmhouse......Backtracked on your posts, Lily is so beautiful, bless you for taking her in. Sad about her owner, Blessings Francine.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Looks very familiar, TB. I see rather the same thing out my window.

    ReplyDelete
  13. My daughter feels the same about this winter in WI. She works downtown in Milwaukee and says the buildings make even more frigid wind tunnels. She worries about the wildlife, especially the ducks who should be fattening up for the migration.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Good to see all your piles of snow, I think you have more than us! Congratulations! Yes it has been a tough winter and I am ready for it to be over. We are supposed to have 40 degrees today..we will see:)

    ReplyDelete
  15. it has melted a lot here, glad to see that old man winter leave

    ReplyDelete
  16. Wow, after seeing those pictures, I am sure we have had it pretty darn good here in Arkansas and I will quit whining. We had a balmy winter compared to you.
    Like you, I had a taste of Florida and that does make one less tolerant.

    ReplyDelete
  17. This winter is the wurst I can recall!

    Can't think of ONE good thing to say about it, so I won't even try.

    Jo, Stella and Zkhat

    ReplyDelete
  18. This winter is the wurst I can recall!

    Can't think of ONE good thing to say about it, so I won't even try.

    Jo, Stella and Zkhat

    ReplyDelete
  19. Loved the snowy scenes but (sorry) rather you than me. Guess I'm getting too old for bad weather... grins. We have been spared snow this year, just one day, one flurry, and for that I am truly grateful. Mind you, with our climate anything can happen.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I feel so bad for Minnesota this winter. My step daughter and her two kids who live in Chaska are so weary and sick of winter that she says she is ready to move to New Mexico (which would delight her father and I immensely). Anyone else in the snow belt want to come south and retire cheaply in our scenic state with 4 seasons (including Winter Lite), we welcome you. Gee, I even retired here from San Diego. Inexpensive cost-of-living and we're a non-Arizona, non-Texas kind of state (which means our culture and people are tolerant, welcoming and diverse). Gas is about $3.20 a gallon right now and homes average $275,000 in price. I live at 7000 feet in the mountains just 30 minutes from Albuquerque and the temperature here this morning is 30 degrees, sunny and clear, with a high of 59 degrees.

    ReplyDelete
  21. As I gaze at your photos two words jump into my head -- arctic tundra. you two must be hardy souls living in such cold and snowy conditions.-- barbara

    ReplyDelete
  22. I am jealous of anyone who flew south this winter!

    ReplyDelete
  23. I hear you! 6-10 inches expected in coastal Maine.

    ReplyDelete