First Snow, Plus...

Today was first snow. Most everyone got the worst of it yesterday, but it was very patchy as to where it fell. We did have bell choir practice, and amounts at people's houses ranged from 0- 12 inches, all in the same county. We got about 5 inches here overnight. It's almost all gone already.

Just for comparison, remember I said I cleared almost a whole line of autumn olive this year and you can't even tell? This is the same shot from last year's first snow. The work I did was on the bushes (all autumn olive) on the right side of the picture. I ask you... can you even tell I did ANYTHING out there? Botheration.



Anyway, Om and I went out to eat at Applebees since they still serve free meals to veterans.

The other piece of big news-- (not sure if it's good or bad), a friend got me into my old game account that I mentioned yesterday. I was at level 74 when I quit before the big hike, and the "world" is very complex. If I'm going to play again, I'll need to spend time figuring out how to do stuff all over again. Wowzer. It will be fun (good). Maybe I shouldn't spend that much time on it (bad).

Here is one little piece of my game world. Just for your enjoyment. I like this game a lot. It's not too silly, and you make and produce all kinds of things- very interwoven like real life. It's sometimes billed as a farming game, but it's much more than that. It's Klondike, the Lost Expedition if you care. (I see I showed you a picture from this game once before when I was at a much lower level)

I also managed to do a fair amount of work. I spent over an hour on the phone with one client, and edited for another, on top of going out with Om and then bell practice.

See First Snow 2024

First Snow

 We did get that promised first snofall. This is 8 a.m.

Going by 10 a.m.

Still going, 11 a.m.

Gone at 2 p.m.

I did a lot of editing, and Omer and I went to see Bonhoeffer this afternoon. He knows a lot more about this than I do, and he says it's pretty accurate. Lots there to think about. The man has always been "controversial," but he lived in very difficult times. Some questions are unanswerable until you are actually faced with them.

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First Snow and History

Today was the first snow of the year, although it's not amounting to much. Compare my backyard to yesterday! I like the blue dusk, and it looks twice as wintery.

I spent the afternoon in Ludington doing some errands and then research for Vacation from Dead Mule Swamp. This is the Daniel Goodenough house, built in 1888. Goodenough first operated a grocery store, and then became a manufacturer. Here, the house wears a decoration of fluffy flakes. This is part of the East Ludington Avenue Historic District which is stuffed with huge mansions built by the lumber barons.

One of the oldest commercial buildings still standing was built in 1887. This is in "Fourth Ward," the section that was the original center of the city- nearer to the harbor of Pere Marquette Lake. It is currenty a business called Love Wines, a small batch winery that uses mostly local grapes.

Most unusally, I woke up this morning with a blazing headache. I still got my editing done, but it took longer than usual. I felt pretty much all better by about 1:00. Bell choir practice in the late afternoon.

See My Backyard Yesterday

Piping with Monica

  Today's primary focus was to make a start on the trailer cushions. We also managed to do some other things too. No we weren't doing plumbing, or playing the hornpipe, or even a tin whistle. We started by making the piping trim for the cushion edges.

Somehow, I found this hilarious. Monica was pressing open the seams on the tape we'd just made, and as soon as there was a long enough tail to reach the machine, I started sewing the bias tape around the cord at the sewing machine.

End result: 43 yards of piping for the cushions nicely coiled in this basket, ready for use.

We also got 4 of the 8 zippers for the cushions done, added 2 coats of polyurethane to the plywood in the kitchen (just one more to go before bed tonight- I did one this morning as soon as I got up), sorted the backpacking food into tubs by location (One tub that goes in the trailer right away, one that Sue brings in March, and one that will somehow go west with me later- and we also found and had to fix a counting error I had made), transferred a volunteer project to Monica's keeping (so I get to cross off a BIG ITEM), and discussed some other trail logistics. Oh... and made a decision about something in the trailer kitchen. I think we made some great progress! I get to cross off a couple of small items, but I had to add a few more.

Now 24 BIG ITEMS to complete- (38 done). 42 small ones to do (34 done). 16 days to go.

Oh! And this happened- first snow.

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First Snow- Winter 2020- 2021

  And... here it is! It started late afternoon, and probably won't last long. I always think the first snow is so pretty- the way it decorates everything. The grasses aren't broken down yet, and the flakes are soft and puffy.

I love the monochromatic tones of winter sky and snow against the trees.

First snow of any significance was November 6 last year.

In other news: I wrote chapter 9 in Dead Mule Swamp Singer. I walked to town to meet with someone. I walked a total of five miles. Then I came home and have been editing a book for someone else ever since.

See First Snow Winter 2019-2020

First and Second Snow - Winter 2019-2020

 
I have to take a break from the Meijer Garden because we got our first real snow of the winter today. It was gorgeous.



The first actual snow was on November 1. That was just enough to whiten the grass. Still, I always like the first. Last year's first snow was November 9.



The snow today was fluffy and collected on everything. Even autumn olive berries are attractive against pure white.



The cemetery edge does not disappoint.



I'll take you back to the Gardens another day.

In other news: I wrote in the morning and worked on formatting in the afternoon. Very productive.

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First Snow- Winter 2018-2019

 
I do love the first snow of the winter. It seems more decorative than serious. Oddly enough, first snow was on the same date last year.



It hasn't yet managed to beat everything into submission. Even the dying grass is strong enough to resist.



The trees can't decide whether to embrace brown or white.



Autumn is trying hard to hold its own in a few places.



And the sun managed to break out for a few minutes at the end of day.



In other news: I did a little housework and wrote a chapter. I'm really struggling with this book. I'm not sure I can write more than a chapter a day because it is taking a lot of mental energy, but I need to try or it won't be ready for Christmas.

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First Snow Winter 2017-2018

 
It began while I was at work. I got home after dark. Long day... there will be more of them between now and Black Friday because of all the advertising flyers.

Anyway, we aren't supposed to get clobbered like many other areas in the state. Good thing, because I currently have no working snowblower.



Guess I'd better put the wheelbarrow away!

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No Skiing Just Yet

 
First snow. Not enough to hardly notice. Grand Rapids had ice and slippery conditions. We didn't even get to that level of serious.



Well, there you have it. Winter's first effort. I'm thinking it didn't try very hard.

Off to work with me.

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First Snow- Continued

 

I'm really not complaining. We got much less than some places. Still, a foot of snow in mid November is a bit of a shock! The roads were pretty bad. But I made it out and back home safely. We may be done now for a few days

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First Snow Winter 2014-2015

 

OK, we've had a couple of dustings before this, but this is the first snow that stayed. About four inches, much less than predictions. I think just north and east of us got hit harder.

I still like the hush and the soothing effect of the colors toned down by the snow. There are green, brown, white, blue, but somehow the effect is monotone.



Suddenly, the little pine tree that was hardly noticeable out in the field pops out,



while the tree line and horizon are muted



Yellow leaves still hug the path, but the path is now so obvious, until more snows flatten the grass. And wild animals aren't stupid. They will use a pathway that is easily traveled if it's going where they want to get to.



The clouded sky let through just a bit of light, for a wonderful Tyndall effect.

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