February Winds

A beautiful morning today, reminds me of a summer morning actually, until I look at the 12 degree temperature.  The sky is absolutely clear, a brilliant blue, no clouds, just an orange tinge on the horizon, which disappeared as the sun rose.  Yesterday, we had heavy winds, and branches from our willow litter our yards.  Winter winds are heavier, more dense, 25% heavier the experts say, then a summer wind, thus the damage they cause, the coldness we feel as it finds its way through a coat.  Because it was fairly warm yesterday, the snow has contracted and with last night's cold, it looks like a crust of frozen ice.  The snow on the lake actually looks shiny as the sun is reflected on its surface; it might be too icy to cross country ski, no crunch or powder, just a thick crust.

We had a great Valentine's meal at Ron and Linda's last night, crab cocktails, filets, and flourless chocolate cake, an ideal way to celebrate the day.  We had not seen them since early January, so we had a lot to catch up on.  They have been good, enjoying their winter in Pittsburgh, getting organized, and like us, are looking forward now to spring.  This weekend is the Mayville Ice Festival, which if the weather cooperates , should be fun.  Yesterday, however, because of the warmth, was cause for alarm, as the call went out for help with the Ice Castle, now about 20 feet high, which was beginning to melt from the warm wind.  They needed bodies to help pack snow around the cracks to keep it from melting.  Fortunately, he was cold last night though the next couple of days its predicted to be in the high forties, alas.

We just got back from  cross country skiing on the lake, a beautiful sunny day, blue sky, crunchy snow but good enough.  It's really the first day like this we have spent on the lake because these days, sun filled with blue skies, and good snow, are rare in this area.  We have to take advantage of them when we can.  I went as far as Sandy Beach and back, but Evie went all the way around to Tom's Point and back, a  good hour jog around the lake.