Winter Wonderland....?!

For the last two weeks we have been covered in snow. Yesterday the temperatures in our state were colder than the South Pole! Minus 11 Fahrenheit is not my idea of fun. Nowata, Oklahoma was Minus 31. We are not in the north and we are not talking wind chill! Baby, it's cold outside!!

This video was taken when my Border Collie/Chow mix went out into the early snow last week. As you will see by the look on her face she had a mission that snowy morning. It kept snowing, so every time she went out she had to blaze new trails. Finally when the snow stopped, her "sister" was so glad Sweetie had blazed those trails. Sasha is older and it was too difficult for her to trudge thorough such deep snow.  She quickly found if she used the trails blazed by Sweetie she could negotiate the back yard and get to their favorite spots. I wish I had an aerial view of those trials!

Sweetie loved blazing those trails!  The camera was shaky because I was not dressed appropriately for the weather.  I was really cold, but I wanted to grab the opportunity to capture her intensity in the storm!


The piece of fence that looks like it is getting old is actually an additional picket section we propped up along side the fence in the summer.  We used to have it out further so the dogs could go between the fence and that section for shade (a make shift lean-to).
I have not had a chance to blog much lately but I have some fun things I will be sharing with you soon. Think color, think art and think ink!
Warmer weather coming our way!Inky Zebra

As the Snow Falls...

I work downtown in a town about 25 minutes away. Last night we had lots of sleet and rain. This afternoon it started snowing a lot. This is a picture taken with my mobile phone while waiting on the bus.

Earlier in the afternoon I took this picture from the 6th floor of my building looking out at the parking lot by the Jazz Museum. Not very many people were still there, as you can tell from their parking lot. (Their building was a train depot it its previous "life." Trains still pass by all thru the day.)

My building is an all-glass building. In some places there are dots on the windows to "shade" the floor. I apologize but my phone did not come with a dot filter!

When I got home, it seemed we had more snow than at work.

After I greeted the dogs and hubby all at once (they all met me at the door - what a warm greeting!), I grabbed the camera and took a few pictures in the backyard. I apologize I did not have a chance to adjust the camera. My concern was grabbing daylight.

The snow really shows on Sweetie! She loves to rub her snout in it.

Picnic anyone?

We could throw something on the grill!

Still snowing - that is what those white slanted lines are
(If you click on a photo, it enlarges and you can really see the snow falling --
then click on your back button to come back to the blog.)

Even the Snow Girls did not seem to want to be out there while the snow was still coming down. I have a feeling it was stinging their eyes.

After they had their supper, the snow had fallen stopped falling.  Now they are out playing in the new fallen snow -- yes, now that it is too dark to take pictures!

Stay warm and safe!

KZ

Spring Snow

Once again this year we had snow in late March.  We had so much rain yesterday and this morning around 8:00 a.m. it started snowing.  I grabbed the camera and rushed outside when I heard it was snowing.  

The snowflakes were really large.  I made a little video with snippets from the day to give you an idea of the size of the flakes.  Apologies for the grainy videos.  As mentioned previously, a better camera is on my list!  

Our six inches of snow was nothing in comparison to the blizzard that pelted Kansas! We had a little bit of thundersnow at the onset of our snow. That is a phenomenon where you have thunder and snow at the same time.  By nighttime the snow is still around but beginning to melt. Tomorrow's higher temperature will make this snow begin to become a memory.

The snow gives a whole new meaning to "White wall tires" ~ 

Someone recently asked me what "Carpe Knitting" meant so I realized many are probably wondering.  I really like the Latin phrase "Carpe Diem" ~ "Seize the Day!"  I tried to locate a Latin word for knitting but could not find one.  So I just had to settle for "Carpe Knitting" ~ "Seize the Knitting" In other words, enjoy your knitting and make the most of your knitting {or crocheting} time!

They have renamed our state "SNOW-klahoma"!!

So far, I am not liking the ice storms we keep getting this winter season (2006/2007)! What a mess it has been! The ice was so thick everywhere I looked during one storm! One ice storm moved out, only to be followed a few hours later by another one, followed by another one. Thankfully we were not without power and finally they said the storms were moving out! Thank you God!!

You cannot tell from the above picture, but the ice was really thick on the doors of my car. Luckily in my new position I now have the option to work from home on an occasional day. I remoted into work and stayed safe. In the position I held until the end of the year, working from home was only an option when you were on call and received pages in the wee hours of the morning.

A week later the ice was still thick ~ something we are not used to in our part of Oklahoma! Usually after a couple of days, it begins to melt. Below is a picture of my windshield. After much work, we got into the car. DH chiseled the ice down to this {yes ~ the picture above and the one below were taken one week after the multiple ice storms had hit!}:

We have had so much winter "mess", they have renamed our state "SNOW-klahoma." I am not sure who wrote this, but here are the lyrics which are sung to the tune of "Oklahoma." {Click on the title for a link to KOTV's new anchor LeAnne Taylor singing our new state song.}

SNOW-klahoma,where the cold fronts sweepin' down the plain; And the piles of sleet beneath your feet Follow right behind the freezing rain.
SNOW-klahoma, Ev'ry night my honey lamb and I Travel home from work and hope some jerk Doesn't wreck our car in passing by.
We know we belong to the land But it could use more salt and more sand! And when we say Yeeow! Ayipioeeay!
We're only sayin' you're slick as snot, SNOW-klahoma!
SNOW-klahoma, Oy Vey!

I leave you with a snow and ice free sunset. The afternoon of January 1st, I went to see a dear friend who lives on Skiatook Lake. We talked knitting and beads all afternoon ~ ah, what fun! I had planned to get several pictures of the first sunset of 2007 while at her home. We were so busy having fun, I almost forgot and ended up capturing the last moments of the first sunset of the new year.

Next time, I promise knitting!

Carpe knitting,
KZ