weathering change

Though I keep hearing that this is still fall, it sure does feel like winter to me.  Today's temperature maxed out at 10 degrees Fahrenheit (windchill takes it down to -11).

With the cold settling in, getting outdoors for longer than five minutes takes some intention.  Last weekend Liz and I ventured down to get a closer look at the ice on the water.

The river/slough is getting slightly more frozen everyday.  There are now big chunks of snow and ice floating on it and the edges are pretty solid.

It was not nearly as chilly last weekend as this weekend.

The road had just had its first dusting of snow.  Evidenced by the tracks, the four-wheelers are still in action.

Liz was loving this pup that was feeling playful.  My roomie is so cute.

Our morning commute has certainly taken a turn for the darker.  Even with the time change, things are pretty much night when we head to school just before 8am.

 

Over the course of the week, the snow has gotten a bit thicker and a bit crunchier.  The thing to watch out for is ice. We have removable cleats to help combat the slippery walk.

Tuesday was a sunny evening.  After school teachers generally go check the post office for mail and packages, then stop at the store to see if anything fresh arrived.  With the busy-ness of the last week's parent/teacher conferences, I hadn't really been getting out as much.  When we had just walked home from the p.o., I convinced Liz we should take a walk up the road, we hadn't gone that way in a really long time.

 

About three steps off our stoop I bit it about shin-deep into a snow-covered mud hole and had to go home and clean up.

I was glad I did, because the evening was beautiful.  This is the view across the road, straight out our back door.

Up the road.  Miss that little black silhouette in the distance.

Snow-capped Mount Piltcher.

The town and then slough as it heads back to the river.

 Just think, we were berry picking out there only a few weeks ago.

Airport road headed down with more hills in the distance.

The sun was sinking fast, as it does these days, and it was quite chilly as we headed home into the wind.  I've had many warnings about the wind.  It will get pretty intense in the months to come.  

I am hoping for more snow and looking forward to the river freezing so that I can go ice-fishing.  Everyone is pretty excited about the eels.  Apparently, Lamprey Eels are making their way up river in the next few weeks and they are fun/delicious to catch.