Making Ice

As I mentioned in a previous post, this time last year the ice was in and here to stay.  The season has been so mild that we are still pretty far away from "ice in".  The lake is cold, though, and ready.  All it takes is a few hours of below zero temperatures for the ice to start forming.  Below is a picture of a calmer area near the shore where you can see thin patches of ice forming on top of the water.  This thin ice moves with the water, wind and currents and if the lake gets too rough, it will dissipate once again.  

Smaller ponds and marshes were frozen this morning.  The photo below is of the marsh below Swords.  Winter is trying to take hold, and may this weekend with snow and colder temperatures in the forecast.  Come Monday, it will all go away again, there are more mild, rainy days on the way.

Not By Much

Everyone is talking about how late of a Spring we are having.  To be honest, it  FEELS different, but when I look back through the weather book I see it isn't much different.

 

April 23 and 24 of 2012 saw snow, as did April 20 - 25 of 2013.  Granted, 2012 was a weird year, and we already had trilliums blooming by now, but snow this late in the season is not uncommon.

 

The ice on the lake is still holding strong, but I imagine it will start to break up soon  It just started turning black today, but is open in the smaller bays.  Last year the ice was out April 25.

 

We are all looking forward to warmer days ahead.

 

 

 

 

Ice In

Yesterday morning we woke to a thin skim of ice covering the lake.  Throughout the day, it shifted and melted, and all but a crust remained around our shore by day's end.

 

This morning, we woke to a similar scene, except today's ice didn't melt.  I imagine this ice is here to stay.  The start of this winter's ice.

 

It's truly amazing to watch as a constantly moving thing - like a lake's surface, become still.  I know that ice really isn't perfectly still - it shifts and cracks and booms, but it's continual motion is gone, quieted by the coming winter.

 

Our ice is in.

 

Missing

I am missing writing and I am missing sharing pictures with you.  Yesterday morning the world was crusted with frost crystals and it was breath-takingly beautiful.

 

I had many errands to run, however, and the camera never made it out.  On one of my trips out of the house, the frost crytsals were raining down from the trees as the sun's heat loosened them from the branches and needles.  I'd never experienced anything like that before.  It was magical.  Upon my arrival home from that particular errand, the frost on the grass had melted, but the in the shadows, the ice remained.  Again, something I hadn't seen before.

 

I hope to be back soon.

And the Sun Returns

After a week of rain and ice (yes, ice) the sun has returned this morning. 

The blackflies are still nagging us with their presence and temperatures have been less than favourable for getting rid of them.

I really don't mind the rain - and we needed some, and the cooler temperatures don't bother me, but I am pleased to see the sun this morning.

From the Weather Book

April 24
- snow all day
- part of the dock got away - Rick rescued it in a canoe and snow
- tree out floating back and forth on the lake on an ice floe

April 25
- woke up to snow 
- sunny in the morning and rain in the afternoon
- ICE OUT

May 1
- warm and sunny
- daffodils blooming
- 21 C

May 2
- warm and sunny
- 22 C

Not Complaining.

While the temperatures we have been experiencing so far this spring are still in the realm of normal, I will admit that the weather has been somewhat of a tough pill to swallow. 

 

I'm not complaining, though.

 

We had snow last night and again this morning.  The ice still booms on the lake through the night - not because it's breaking up, but because it's still forming.  We have had temperatures well below 0 overnight during the past week.  The lake has shown no signs of melting ice yet.

 

We have lost a significant amount of snow, due to rain and some warmer daytime temperatures, but much still remains.

 

I'm not complaining.

 

Hopefully one day soon, we will wake up to the robins singing, and the first green shoot emerging from the earth.  That day is not today, and probably not tomorrow...or the next.

Still not complaining.

Thaw

Another January thaw is on the way.  After a stint of frigid temperatures, it has warmed up and will continue to do so for the next few days.  We are expecting rain, rain and more rain.

I think it's good.  A respite from the cold is always nice, but it's also helpful in terms of getting the roads cleared.  With the freezing rain and snow of two weekends ago, and then the deep freeze, the roads have been perpetually icy every since.

Trying

I'm trying to like winter.  I really, really am.

 

 

 

And I do.  I love it when I get to stay home and only go outside when I choose.  I like it when the flakes fall softly down, and there are skaters silently gliding on the lake.  I love the snow covered tree branches.

 

Last year, I was a winter-lover, but this year, having to drive so much more, and having to go outside when I don't want to, well, I am seeing the bad side of winter.  The slush and ice covered roads.  The frigid temperatures.  I'm longing for spring, but trying to live in the moment and take in the beauty that surrounds me.  I'm going too fast these days, though, and am finding it difficult.

 

 

Ice, Snow

Winter weather has returned once again. 

We had quite a few days that were well above seasonal temperatures.  The lake was covered in standing water, and snow banks were decimated.

Last night we had a burst of freezing rain and then light flurries off and on until this evening.  There is more snow forecasted for tomorrow.

Being that it is still January - and only the middle of January, this is just fine with me.  We need the frosty winter to truly appreciate Spring when it finally decides to truly grace us with it's presence. 

Until then, I look forward to invigorating days and cozy nights.

Puddle Jumping

The thaw continues.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From the Weather Book

December 22
- cold, snow
- blue sky, wind - lake opened up

December 23
- cold, snow
- ice building on lake

December 25
- sunny, lovely

December 26
- -15C

January 1
- bright, sunny day
- MapleLake365 turns 1 today

 

January 3
- snow, heavy all day
- wicked wind

January 4
- gloomy
- very windy

January 5
- sparkling morning, cloudy afternoon

 

 

 

Ice

The ice is finally here to stay. 

Last night it was loud.  Booming and cracking and buckling in the dark. 

This morning we headed out into the sparking bright day and checked it, and did some playing.

A buckle in the ice.

 

From the Weather Book

November 19
- sunny, warm, lovely day

November 20
- foggy


November 25
- snowy

Novemebr 28
 - lovely snow in the morning



November 30
- cold, bitter wind

December 1
- the cold has arrived

December 6
- ice on the lake

December 7
- dreary

December 11
- more ice on the lake

 

December 16
- freezin rain, rain

December 20
- brutal wind in the evening, snow and freezing rain
- bitter cold

From the Weather Book

March 14
- really gorgeous day
- slush, mud, melting

March 15
- intense thunderstorms overnight

March 16
- fantastic, gorgeous day ...14C
- robins singing everywhere

March 17
- thunderstorms in the morning
- fog and mist
- high water, open along the shoreline
- what I believe to be an otter spotted on the ice. It looks too big to be a muskrat to me. If you know better, let me know!



Look at that little tail!

The Lyricism of Ice

Even in the stillness of winter, a frozen lake is very loud.  This morning I stepped outside to snap some photos of the spectacular morning sky, and as it always does, the unearthly noise coming from the lake took me by surprise.  It's fascinating to listen to.  Unpredictable.

A frozen lake makes noise in this way because the ice is elastic and dynamic.  Constantly changing due to currents underneath and ranging temperatures.  Certainly, our lake is the noisiest on very cold mornings or when there has been a dramatic temperature change.

We are nearing our one year mark of living here - we moved last Easter weekend, and I am looking forward to coming full circle, as it were.  When we arrived last year, the ice was already out and there were only patches of snow left.  I want to see the lake ice melt.  Having only visited here in the past, and never staying long enough to notice anything significant, I am constantly surprised by how dynamic and lyrical winter is.  I would have never guessed that the most interesting season on a lake would be winter, but it is.

A Letter to Winter

Hey Winter -

I've really enjoyed you this year.  More than ever before.  You continue to be beautiful, and for that I am grateful.

I am growing weary however, of ice, of my husband having to plow, and of more grey days than not.  I also think that I may have a slight case of the February blahs.  Totally not your fault, you're still doing a fantastic job.  Snowstorms, frigid temps, sparking snow, impressive icicles.  I'm just putting it out there.

I long for fresh breezes, melting snow, running water washing away winter grit.

While you're still here I'll admire you, enjoy you and feel nostalgic about you (my son was born in a March snowstorm), but consider yourself served. 

 This is your eviction notice.

We are officially waiting for Spring.

A Frozen Lake

I love walking on the lake.

Slightly surreal and dead quiet.  A landscape that only exists during a few cold months a year.  It's a strange feeling to walk past the end of your dock.

Walk farther out and a vast flatness surrounds you.  Winds swirls on the surface and sunlight glints.  New perspectives are forced.

And then, of course, my mind dwells a little too long on what lies beneath and the mechanics of it all.

I scurry back to shore.  A paranoid mouse.

From the Weather Book

January 7
 - a thaw
- dramatic skies

January 8
- loud ice in the morning
- very cold!
- spectacular sunrise

January 11
-a beautiful afternoon, continuing mild temps
- major fox activity all over the property

January 12
- snow, snow, snow
- amaryllis bloom