354/365 Here we go again

354/365 Here we go again
Originally uploaded by tallasiandude.

Third snowfall, but first serious storm this winter -- probably about 16" and about 2 hours of shoveling.

342/365 The Last of the Geraniums

342/365 The Last of the Geraniums
Originally uploaded by tallasiandude.

still going, but we had to dump it before the pot froze and cracked. Kind of sad, really.

And, just for the record, I was having a heck of a time trying to decided on which picture to use for the day, because I thought this one captured part of the whole post-snowfall garden cleanup in the cold, but how can you resist ... KITTEH!

What a difference a day makes

61/365 Cold framed

61/365 Cold framed
Originally uploaded by tallasiandude.

60/365 A Clear Path

60/365 A Clear Path
Originally uploaded by tallasiandude.

Just a light dusting this morning. The SOOTTAD swept a path clear on her way to get coffee for herself and a friend who was visiting this weekend.

The snow apparently continued through most of the day, but we thankfully ended up with maybe an inch of accumulation which was easily cleared. Unfortunately, forecasts are less than optimistic for the next day or two. (It'd be a good option to work from home, but I think I need to be in the office tomorrow.)

38/365 Brick, Ice, Salt & Sand

38/365 Brick, Ice, Salt & Sand
Originally uploaded by tallasiandude.

36/365 Ice Roll

36/365 Ice Roll
Originally uploaded by tallasiandude.

The shot didn't come out this morning -- not enough contrast, didn't like the framing. And it was too cold to want to keep trying to get a better shot.

So I took some more shots after dinner. When it was dark. And colder. (8°F instead of the balmy 14°F this morning.)

*sigh*

35/365 Snow/Tire

35/365 Snow/Tire
Originally uploaded by tallasiandude.

...as opposed to "snow tires." (these are "all-season" tires.)

First day this week driving up to the office. A bit slushy in the parking lot but overall the roads weren't too bad today after yesterday's light, but unrelenting, snowfall. (Woo! Only 15 minutes of shoveling this morning!)

28/365 snow cones

28/365 snow cones
Originally uploaded by tallasiandude.

27/365 Persisting Ice

27/365 Persistent Ice
Originally uploaded by tallasiandude.

Yep, more pictures of icicles and sheets of ice.

I originally took the picture because I love the texture and shapes of the icicles as the water sublimates in the cold dry air.

I ended up liking the end result more because of the way it refracts the light of the blue sky while also reflecting it onto the brown tarp.

26/365 Back on line

26/365 Back on line
Originally uploaded by tallasiandude.

The Boiler had shut off because the water level had gotten too low.

Unfortunately, we seem to have a leak in one of the radiators, so the boiler loses water over time. When the water level gets too low, a failsafe shuts the boiler off -- which is good, or it'd probably burn the house down.

Of course, if you're not paying attention and don't check up on things on a regular basis (which happens a lot in our house), it gets REALLY COLD before you notice things are amiss and then takes a while for things to warm back up again.

On the other hand, at least it gave me something interesting to use as a photo subject for an otherwise uninspiring day.

24/365 thin ice

24/365 thin ice
Originally uploaded by tallasiandude.

20/365 Warm enough

20/365 Warm enough
Originally uploaded by tallasiandude.

Actually, it was still pretty cold today, but it warmed up enough mid-day for the icicles that had formed on one of the office mill buildings to crumble.

I wasn't really happy with today's photos in general; this was the best of the bunch that wasn't overly redundant (already had some pictures of the Pho restaurant that I frequent. The ones in the office just didn't come out the way I wanted them to.)

With work as it is, this project is going to get tricky. Not sure how I'm going to find things that are interesting. As far as CED goes, I might take a sketch break after I eat, but most of tonight needs to be devoted to work. Which kinda sucks, especially given the big deal that went on today.

18/365 Snowflake at rest

18/365 Snowflake at rest
Originally uploaded by tallasiandude.

16/365 Icy Blue Sky

16/365 Icy Blue Sky
Originally uploaded by tallasiandude.

5°F when I left the house this morning; hit a balmy 16° by late afternoon. Oy.

13/365 Encased

13/365 Encased
Originally uploaded by tallasiandude.

Was hoping to play with the loupe today or at least get a picture of the icicles outside the office, but I caught a glimpse of the shrub underneath our broken downspout, covered with snow and a thick coating of ice, so there you go.

Good thing, too, since the icicles I wanted to capture had fallen under their own weight last night and I didn't physically leave the building (not even for lunch) until well after dark. Oh well. I'm a little worried that these ice and snow pictures are going to get old real soon, but they'll do for now.

8/365 Icy Step

8/365 Icy Step
Originally uploaded by tallasiandude.

Still got another dusting of snow/freezing rain last night, coating the steps (and walk and car) with another layer of ice.

When life gives you lemons...

Ice sculpture
Originally uploaded by tallasiandude.

...make lemonade.

'Course, seeing as lemons aren't really in season 'round these here parts, it's more like:

when life gives you three hours' worth of shoveling of hard packed snow and layers of ice... make art.

In other news, my lower back is now wicked sore, and I can barely hold a pen in my hand to write from all the shoveling. Oh, and we met some more of the new neighbors helping them get their car unstuck from the snow(ice)bank at the front of their driveway. (Which, incidentally, probably would have been unnecessary if the son had accepted my offer to help dig out the driveway. But, whatever.)