Flash freeze !

Yesterday we had a good dump of snow, after which the temperature rose and we received a good dump of rain.  Then we had a "flash freeze" and the temperature went from above freezing to 10 C below in short order.  This sort of weather is a bad thing if you need to get out of your driveway or travel anywhere.

This afternoon I put on my sweat jacket, my warm coat, my waterproof over-pants, my lined mitts, ear muffs and neck scarf and then fitted the "cleat grippers" over my boots, and gingerly walked Wendy and Trey up to the corner park.

It was worth the effort.

I took 155 photos.

And whittled them down to ten or so favourites.

There was a crust on the snow and I broke through a couple of times.  As I was walking I noticed that one of my "grippers" was missing.  I retraced my steps, found it, looked down and the OTHER "gripper" was gone !   Every time I'd break through the crust and take a step, one of the damn grippers would remain behind in the hole !

Every time I wanted to take a photo I had to take off my mitten.

Within minutes, the hand that was bare was freezing and screaming to be returned to its mitt.  I'd blow into the mitten to help my poor fingers defrost when I stuffed my hand back in.

Since this only happens once or twice in a Winter, I always marvel at how the ice coating changes my World into a rather magical place.

There is no tree outside my door.

I tell you that there is no tree outside my back door to help you understand my bafflement at seeing one there today.  

There it is.   A tree where none should be.

To the right in this photo is a long set of stairs.  

At the bottom of that set of stairs, is a tree that I planted four years ago.  It's a tall tree, perhaps 15 feet high.  That lovely tree was bent far over, a vivid demonstration of how heavy and destructive freezing rain can be.

I love that lil' tree and it saddens me that the weight of the ice is breaking its branches as the winds bang it against the side of the house.  I tried to bang some of the ice off the branches but that only sped up the damage.  

But "yes" freezing rain does make things look pretty.   

  Rose arbor

Rose bush by the front door

 Lilac bush.

But it's pretty tough for the birds.

And downright lousy for the power companies !