Perception is reality, they say.
They are right. Dagnabbit.
In December, I was lulled into actually believing we might be in for an easy winter here in Syracuse, N.Y.
That was way back when it was an average of 10, 15, 20 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than our usual blustery cold in the Northeast of the United States, and with so very little snow fallen.
Three weeks ago.
Now I’m looking for new morning ways to capture the white stuff with my iPhone 6 or iPad Air to best present how much fell while my dear wife Karen, Ellie B aka Dogamous Pyle and I were sleeping in our Little Bitty in the Syracuse city neighborhood of Eastwood.
Yesterday before I let our pooch out for her a.m. relief, I went back inside to grab the iPad because I decided the just-past-dawn porch lighting caught the snow that had built up on the top step in an interesting way.
Then before I cleared our cars and the driveway so Karen could take off for her drive downtown to work at SMG, I pulled the iPad out again for a shot of the garbage can and recycling bins I’d set out the night prior for collection.
Yes, the Lake Effect snow has hit us hard the last two days.
The big daily snow chart from the Tuesday morning paper says we’ve now had 30.4 inches of snow in Syracuse. The ’15-’16 red line was hardly above zero at the start of this month.
Our normal winter brings 124.5 inches. So now I feel like we’re really in for some snowy weeks ahead, I write this after I just took the photo above from our living room window.
What type of season have you had so far this January? Would you prefer a few inches of snow a week spread throughout the winter, or all of it to come in a couple of big storms, and why? Which is your favorite photo, and why?
Our first winter snow for the season left three inches last night. We are under a new winter storm watch for the next couple of days. It’s pretty and hasn’t posed too much danger this go round. I won’t miss it when it’s gone though. We need the water, however we can get it. Will be curious to see what our next watch brings us tomorrow.
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I hope you get some, but not too much, Apple Pie. Too much is too dangerous!
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I am remembering from childhood always wanting LOTS I loved it deep, so that we could dig snow caves into the piles left by the snowplows, and so that we could build forts and have snowball fights. And this from the girl who got cold in moments, and had to keep running inside the house for new mittens and socks when her sisters and friends were still playing happily outside! Weird.
Now, I don’t want to see it ANY depth for any days. But I will, Mark. If I can ever get this place finished and sold, a-wintering I will go, oh ho! For that is where my money will buy, I cry….
😥
Oh, give me a home,
Where I live all alone,
With no shared walls,
Or bumps in the night….
With no traffic nearby…
Nor the airplanes up high…
And green trees all around me in sight.
Home, home, once again,
In my own little house, I’ll be free,
With a bunnykins wee,
Running free, just like me…
There’ll be music–I’ll choose it–just me.
But there’s also be some ding-danged snow! And mosqui-toes! I will seriously not enjoy those o-words, Mark. Remind me I do not get to complain, once I’ve made the move. Gol-dangit.
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You will so much better afford a home
In areas where snow and skeeters both roam
So yes, Babe, after you skedaddle
I will remind you not to prattle
About too many inches or itches
No. You’ll be happy, in pinches and stitches.
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Ha ha!
😀
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i always love your snow pics, mark, they really give a feel for what it it like. heard the east is in for a major storm soon – does that include you? i love a couple of big storms a year, and this year, has been quite mild here so far –
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So far, they say the Big One will stay south of Syracuse. Gosh, I hope so, Beth.
May you get at least one for yourself in Ann Arbor before the winter is over, my friend.
I’m glad to share with my photos before that happens. ❤
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Love the photo of the deck before Ellie B. went outside. We had our first dusting of snow two weeks ago. Then the atmosphere became depressed and the rains started again. I would rather have the rain than 124 inches of snow. Be stalwart my friend and good luck with that shovel.
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I got done shoveling this morning for the seventh time in four days, Tracy. A little sore but still rock steady. Thanks for your kind words on that pre-Ellie photo, my friend.
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124 inches a year? I’d need a second home somewhere warm..:)
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My dear wife Karen and I are hoping we will be able to get away a month or so every winter when we retire, George.
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I think good ole Astoria might just get buried this weekend. I hope so. I’m ready with the camera.
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You will get so many great photos with a foot of snow in Astoria, Cate. Wow, my friend. Be safe, please!
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Will do, thanks😊
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Certainly beautiful – when you don’t have to get out in it! Y’all be safe Mark & try & stay warm!!
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Thanks, Sadie. We will effort toward safe as hard as we can, my southern-living friend. 🙂
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Yeah – not trying to rub it in, but the last week we have temps hovering towards 80 a few of those days – most pleasant, but definitely humid. Though I enjoy 4 distinct seasons, I am a southern girl at heart (& the joints prefer it, too!)
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I think our body adapts to where our parents placed us, to a degree, this New York boy says, Sadie. 😉
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It’s been kind of chilly for L.A. this January but we’re headed for a warm up. I know when I was in NY I preferred a bit at a time. That way it would just be pretty and then go away before becoming icy and hazardous or slushy and dirty.
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I hope you get your LA warm up, Marissa. I hope we get a bit of a thaw here as well. But for today, it’s a call for another inch of snow, then on to a cold but clear weekend. Knock on wood on the clear as the storm barrels in on so much of the east coast south of us.
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Good luck!
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love the last photo Mark – looks so peaceful. Sorry though that you and Karen can’t just hibernate at home. So far we have had a few flakes and some frost. I love frost – it was beautiful here today. But as you know I hate snow if I have to drive anywhere.
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You are smart to stay in if you can, Rachel, instead of driving in London snow. The more cars, the more potential problems. Yes, watching from inside, though, it can seem very peaceful, I agree, my great friend.
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Ya’ll sure do get a lot of snow there Mark. It has been a harder winter for us in the southwest. It snowed last night but looks like only 1/4″ – 1/2″ – which isn’t bad, but still have to sweep it off the porches and cars. I am so ready for spring!!
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May spring arrive soon for you down there, PJ. I know we have a while to wait up here. 😦
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Yes, I hope it arrives soon but afraid we still have a few more months of it.
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Well, let’s put it this way. I learned yesterday that yes, even with AWD and ABS, if you drive onto a patch of ice covered by snow, your vehicle will slide. Fortunately, I was only going 10 mph out of a parking lot and was able to correct before hitting the curb or someone else.
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I’m glad you were being cautious, CM. Yes, the roads were horrible during this stormy stretch, and slow was the best pace here as well. Oh, stinking winter.
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It finally feels like winter here, and I’m no longer creeped-out by the warm weather, so I try not to complain. Even if that wind bit my cold wet finger this morning when I cleaned off Bonnie Blue.
More snow comin this way off and on for a week. Usually our street is a skating rink all winter, so it’s still odd. Nice, but odd.
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Don’t skid on the skating rink with Bonnie Blue, Joey. I find my Cruze to be only so-so on icy roads. 😦 I go slow.
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So far, so good. I don’t need to rush around on snow and ice, and I sure wish other people didn’t, either!
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I white-knuckle it when people speed by me in the passing lane in bad conditions, Joey, fearing that spin right into me.
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Me too!
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Syracuse was a highlighted “snowiest cities in America” this morning on GMA. I thought about you guys – hope you are staying warm!
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We are warm, Kimi. I am never reluctant to crank the thermostat to 72 when needed! Now I am worrying about you and David as the weekend storm may hit Atlanta. Be careful down there if you get it, my friend.
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We are having a “no-snow-mageddon.” The city is closed down, it’s raining, it may drop below 30. Until around 9 a.m. tomorrow. 🙂
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I hope you don’t get that sheet of ice, Kimi. That’s really bad. 😮
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We are being forecast for a foot of snow this weekend. Rumor is we may leave work early Friday and not come back until Tuesday.
I am going to say bring it on, as long as the following weekend I can actually get my move completed
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I hope you get a long weekend, and then clear sailing for your move, J. 🙂
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Well, dagnabit! That’s a lot of snow. I’m still waiting for mine to come…It’s freezing frost monkeys over here, but no snow in sight!
To answer your question, i’d prefer the snow to come all at once… get it over and done with. It’s fun for all of one day
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Enjoy your one day when it comes, Amanda. Until then, dance with the frost monkeys, my friend. 😉
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I’m dancing with them right now! Good little dancers they are! 🐒🐒🐒
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Into each life some snow must fall.
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And into my life a lot of snow, Scott. 😮
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Our first snow is coming this weekend…and it looks like a major storm. ☺ I really haven’t missed it.
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This weekend’s blast looks line a humdinger, Van. Stock up on the staples, my friend. 😮
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I just found out…you were completely dropped from my Follow list…bummer. How does that happen, anyway? I just “re-followed” ☺
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That’s so weird, Van. WP has ghosts I sometimes think. Thanks for the refollow, my friend.
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Earlier in the week they predicted over a foot of snow for our Zone on the weather map. Now it’s been downgraded because even with all those meteorological instruments the weatherman can be wrong, because you can’t REALLY predict it all.
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Oh, you can predict until your face turns blue, Lorraine. Predicting correctly, that’s a different matter. Nature does what she wants.
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Winter Woes, be safe and stay warm. Oh the thought of shoveling that would make my backside ache! Gatorette. PS Heard a nasty storm predicated? From Washington DC through New England?
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Our weather people aren’t ready to sign on for that weekend doom and gloom, Gatorette. But yes, it’s coming in a wide swath to hit many up this way. 😦
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Gee-shovel, some melts then more…
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We had our first taste of snow on Sunday. It was pretty and only covered the lawns and cars. We’re expecting a big snowstorm this weekend, but it’s difficult to know now how much–we might have ice and snow here in the Philadelphia area. Yuck!
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I wish the beauty but hope you are spared the discomfort of dangerous travel, Merril. 🙂
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Thanks, Mark. We’ll be staying in if we get much snow or ice! 🙂
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