It's Going, Going, Gone!

This is the last bit of our 6 foot snowbank that finally melted today. Most of the snow is gone, just the bits left in ditches and places the sun doesn't shine too brightly. It was even warm enough the last 2 days to be outside without a coat on! How incredibly lovely!!

There it is!!

The first robin of Spring! Thankfully the snow last night just stayed flakes and it looks like someone took a powdered sugar duster to the ground outside. A few hours south of here they got several inches, so I am very happy with a dusting. Welcome, Robin!

When Parking Lots Shrink

Yes, they do shrink in the late winter with all the snow piled into the corners. The roads and parking lots seem just huge when the snow melts and we get to use their whole area again.

Snow

How many pictures can you take of snow and still have them be interesting? I really have no wish to find out!! I have heard that snow when it seems like Spring is coming is like a slap in the face when you expected a kiss... very appropriate, I think.

Gorgeous Sunsets

We've had some incredible evenings lately. This sunset was just gorgeous. The sun was a huge golden ball and the reflection on the ice was just beautiful. It almost looks like a summer sunset (except for the snow!)

Waterfront Snow

Just another view of all that snow at the Waterfront. Hopefully it should be warming up in about 2 or 3 weeks and the snow should start melting. I hope. The spring in Petoskey should be cold though as the bay will be frozen for quite a while while the land warms up. And since the wind comes off the lake most of the time, it will be a cool spring around here.

It Snowed. Again.

Last night about 6 pm, it started to snow. It started out slow, just tiny flakes. But as the evening went on, the snow got heavier and the wind picked up considerably. By the time I got home last night at 8:30, visibility was about 200 feet and was I glad to be home for the night!! The snow stopped around 1 or 2 am and this morning when we got up, we had over 10 inches in our driveway! Schools are closed and people have been asked to stay in until more plowing can be done, probably a few hours or so. Hopefully, this is winter's last hurrah and Spring can come soon. As for me, I'm staying home today!!

Lace

It snowed again this weekend, but only about 4 more inches thankfully. 90 minutes south of Petoskey, they received about a foot! Instead of blankets of snow, we just got lace.

Dressed for the Occasion

Even trees can get in on the dressing up this season! When it snows, I like to see the trees with puffs of snow decorating them.

Look Quick, Before it is Gone!

This is what the ground in Petoskey looks like today, but in the next 72 hours, it is supposed to change dramatically and we are forecasted to get 8 - 10 inches in that time period. I have loved seeing the ground, even if it's frozen, for just a little while. But our blanket of white is to return. (mean old Phil, couldn't he have not seen his shadow, just this once???!!)

It's Melting, Melting....

It has been unseasonably warm the last few days and because of this, the snow has melted considerably. Instead of over a foot covering the ground, that is mostly all gone and all that is left is the piles of snow. And it is warm! (Well, warm for us in February. It got up to 40 today!) But it will not stay. It is supposed to snow again in a few days, so I'm enjoying the balmy weather!

Lots of Snow!

Some of the houses in Bay Harbor are really fun. They are brightly colored and in the summer, there is a beautiful bay to look at out the windows. I especially love how all the colors are the same hue, so nothing is jarring to look at. The houses are expensive, and most of them are only summer or vacation homes. When the lots between the bay and their lake/marina were being sold, they were priced at $1 million each. That was just for the lot. Yep, a little out of my price range. But a very nice place to go and visit.

200 and the Coldest Day of the Year

Today is supposed to be the coldest day of the year with the temperature reaching 6F and the wind chill of -30F. This is a picture of Walloon Lake (about 3 miles outside Petoskey) with the snow blowing and the sun trying desperately to break through the clouds. A great day to stay home and stay inside--so that is what I'm doing. Today is also an anniversary of sorts, my 200th post. Thanks to all who visit my blog and for the comments left. I love seeing what others think of the pictures I choose. I hope you all have a warm and happy day!

A Time for Every Season

And this season just happens to be winter. Yes, the clock is correct, it is 2:45 in the afternoon. It just doesn't get the bright here unless the sun is shining! Many days here in the winter are gray and cold, but the knowledge that spring and green things are coming in a few months makes even this cold gray day bearable.

Inspiration

I love Petrea's (Of Pasadena Daily Photo)idea of getting your ideas of what a picture means to you. In fact, I'm going to borrow the idea here and ask you what this picture says to you! Leave a comment and tell me what you think!

Outdoor Fun

One of our favorite outdoor activities in the early winter is sledding with the four-wheeler. You can't have too much snow for this or the four-wheeler will get stuck, so there is usually a small window of time before the snow gets deep. But it is fun, and there is usually a lot of "Woohoo"s to be heard!

Mid-Afternoon Sun

This may look like a sunset, but it is really about 3 in the afternoon. It is so rare that we see the sun in winter, so this is a special occasion. Winters are long, but there are times that the snow is beautiful. Hope you all have a day with a little beauty in it!

Ever Wonder What it is Like?

To drive down a street in the snow? Now you can see for yourself! This the main street in downtown Petoskey, Mitchell Street. We lost quite a bit of snow on Sunday when the temperature was almost 40 degrees, but we are supposed to get it all back this weekend! Four inches today and still coming down. But I have to admit it makes things look pretty...

King of the Hill

Did you ever play that game as a kid? If you lived around snowbanks, you probably have. You find the biggest snowbank, climb to the top, and proceed to push everyone else off so you can be the "king" or, in my case, "queen", of the hill. Since you were bundled with snowpants, boots, hats, gloves, coat, and scarf, it never hurt to fall down and roll down the hill. Fun times. (By the way, those are 20+ foot light poles right above the snowbank! These are huge!)

Snow, Snow, Snow

Today we actually had some sun. I saw it! But we also had some snow. We have almost 2 feet in some places, which is a lot for December. But we don't have to dream about a White Christmas, we can live it!