Entering the snowy season

It could be argued that we have two seasons here: the months when the earth is covered with snow, and the months it is not. 

The times vary year by year. We have seen  White Time start as early as Halloween, and as late as the night before Christmas.  Snow may be gone from the land as early as the beginning of March, and as late as mid April. 

Mercifully we don't get the extreme cold people East of the Rockies and further North have to deal with. Our typical daytime winter temps hover just below freezing, with thawing spells in warm years, and cold spells down to minus 10-15 in others. Once the snow is in place it is actually nicer to just have it stay below freezing.

My favorite daytime winter temperature is around minus 5. Cold enough to make the air nice and crisp and prevent the soggy icy mess one gets with thaws, but not too cold. In return for our mellow temperatures we put up with a lot of grey skies.

Last winter was a long one. We had snow on the ground from November 23rd to mid April. This year promises to be similar. I get great comfort from knowing that I will be able to work/play in the greenhouse in late winter.

Meanwhile this is my quiet resting time. I have to get over feeling guilty when I just sit and read in the middle of the day. Chris is doing snow duty and monitors the infra structure, like making sure the pump doesn't freeze. I appreciate his management immensely. Would you believe in 42 years I have never shoveled snow? Haul me before the House of un-Canadian activities! 

I also wonder how best to participate in the world-wide political awakening. It really doesn't make much sense to contribute to climate change by driving two hours to Nelson for a token few hours of moral support. I am not even sure the physical occupation of space makes much sense. It did at first, but may have run its course.

Meanwhile one of the most positive developments in recent years has been the rise of the humble farmers' market everywhere. I ended up being one of the 2 coordinators of the Nakusp market. Not because of any talent, just because nobody wanted to take it on. I have decided to spend my energy on preparing during the winter for the best possible 2012 season ever. Building the New is more constructive than protesting the Old anyway.

We need brochures designed and printed, we need new signs, we need to discuss certain issues with the village, we need better ways to involve the vendors. I am working on a Facebook page.

For my own sales, I need to do a better job figuring out how many plants of which variety to start, so I don't waste too much time that could be better spent on my own garden.

I am also doubling volunteer time with my friend with Parkinson's  so her saintly mother can take a break. I might do the odd stint at the Thrift Store. This slow season should fly by......

A Good Start

Originally posted on Multiply January 1 2010

How is everyone doing with those silly New Year's resolutions?

One of mine is to spend more time outside in winter. I don't enjoy walking on icy roads. I used to cross-country ski on the land, but that ended after I broke an ankle 12 years ago. First it took more than a year to heal completely. Then there was no money to buy new ankle-supporting boots. They remained on the 'next year' agenda for a few years but by now quite frankly, I am becoming too chicken. Maybe there are snow shoes somewhere in my future, but do we really need them? It's not like we go hiking in the wilderness anymore.

Today was a typical old-fashioned West Kootenay winter day: just below freezing and snowing generously. The white stuff is welcome. You can still see the tops of bracken fern, dogbane, bunch grass and other 'bossies' above the snow. That should be hidden under a deep layer by now.

Chris does the snow shoveling, for which I am truly grateful.

But without a reason to go out I can stagnate indoors for days. Who needs the world when there is a laptop and a cable connection? So today I pretended that I was a child in Holland, where snow was always a total thrill. Who needed snow shoes? Lack of gear is just an 'if only' excuse. So far the snow is only knee-deep, you can still break a trail through it. I just stomped around for a good 40 minutes and created a little loop.

If I keep it up daily there will be a nice trail to use all winter. Yeah me!

Entering The Long Grey

Ask me how I am, and you get a weather report. I don't get clinically depressed when the days get short, but my energy sure picks up the moment the sun comes out. Winters here are GREY. The only way to keep your sanity is to make your peace with clouds between Halloween and Imbolc (AKA Groundhog Day), the dark time of the year. Be mentally prepared for endless grey, and consider every appearance of sun a total bonus.

Periods of high pressure result in blue skies for the heli skiers, but a ceiling of low cloud over the valley. Temperature inversion creates a narrow band of fog that hangs halfway the mountain. Or is it the other way around? Whatever. We call it "Flat Cloud" and it is my least favorite feature of the local climate. It makes you feel like you are in a pot with the lid on top.

It just needs a breeze to lift, but our deep valleys tend to be sheltered from the wind. The best cure for 'Flat Cloud Blues' is a trip to higher altitudes, so you get above it. I cherish a beautiful picture by Rosie of the view from a logging road high above the lake, looking down on the sea of clouds, with the mountain tops forming a different coastline. Alas, it doesn't exist in digital form.

Right now we are in the season when the snow line starts coming down the mountains. We had the first token fall on the land the day before yesterday. It is all gone, but soon the landscape will be a subtle symphony of black and white. I took this picture in mid October, on the first day the mountains started getting their winter look. Too bad about the power lines, it was just a quick shot while driving to town.

Snow makes it all brighter. So here's my firm resolution to get my lazy butt out there during the dark times, even if it is just for 15 minutes, FlyLady style.