For each of the past two mornings we have found new snowfall covering the ground when we finally crawled out of bed. The first picture was actually taken yesterday as was the new header photo. Bright sunlight quickly melted all of the snow that it could reach. Snow in the shadows slowly gave way to residual warmth in the ground. We plan on being able to work in the gardens until the end of November. Perhaps we are finished now.
Stone walls and fresh snowfall always make great photo subjects. Time is limited to see this image as the stones quickly grab and hold the heat from sunlight. The snow covering this wall will be the first to melt.
A wire cage prevents the deer that are seeking refuge from the hunters by moving near our house from eating our kale. Early hard frost burned some of the leaves but the lower ones are still great to eat. A village friend went to her garden to cut and freeze her parsley but found that the animals had already eaten it to the ground.
The walk to the mailbox was quiet and filled with beauty. This snowfall was small enough to clear itself from the lane with no action required of me. The real advantage to that is not placing my plow in contact with the still soft driveway surface. It is better to leave the gravel where it is and hope that the road will freeze solid before the first plow.
A drive to Utica was made with no snow incidents seen. Early snow catches some unaware but all were safe here today. A particular hazard exists where the road is in the shadow of pine trees. Denied the warmth from sunlight, ice sometimes is encountered there while the rest of the road is clear. Skin ice was seen on a pond today but the roads were apparently clear.
Today was the first day of gun season for hunting deer. With fresh tracking snow I expected the deck to be stacked heavily in favor of the hunters. Not a single deer carcass strapped to a fender or tossed in the back of a pickup truck was seen during my three hours on the road today. ATV tracks crisscrossed my fields but none included blood stains. The deer are numerous here but the goldenrod grew so high this year that they can move about without being easily seen. I do not hunt but do see the need to reduce the numbers of wild animals. One man has permission to hunt on our land and his history here is good. We will join the deer that seek protection near our home and stay close by ourselves.
3 comments:
I always enjoy your lovely snow photos. It snowed overnight here in Southern Wisconsin--our first "significant" snowfall. It does freshen up the landscape, though, doesn't it? And it's fun when it seems to magically transform the scene with the first morning light. But, as you say, it's way too early. Now, it would be nice if the winter would end early at the other end of the season. Not likely, but it would be nice. Your photos are lovely, though.
Here we had 8 inches of snow from Friday through Saturday and so cold in the 20s it is not melting yet. Your garden is always beautiful in snow. No hunting here as it is protected, but lots of deer running around. They must know they are protected here.
Your header photo is beautiful. It has snowed a couple times here, but not enough to stick throughout the day. It does seem too early, doesn't it?
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