Snowmageddon! The new talk-about-the-weather thread

You'll be blessed for the Mitzvah, Boom Boom.

We're supposed to get snow here on Sunday. Ms. C is planning to attend a Blue Christmas service that evening with her father, weather permitting. Her mother passed away on Nov 10.

 BA,  I don't think it's exageration. Both my grandparents talked about a storm that did the same thing.  They said the groundfloor windows were pretty much covered an they had to dig a tunnel to get out of the house because it blew against the house and blocked the door to two feet above it.

BA: 

"All of which pales to the time my almost 80 year old neighbour talks about.  They were recruiting people to help clear the roads it was so bad.  He was snow shoeing to town for the work as a young man and tripped over the telephone wire- still attached to the top of the pole.  He is not given to exaggeration and it is the same storm that my great Aunt was stormed stayed for almost a month at a place in town and met the young man who became my great Uncle.  (No it wasn't  a 'shotgun marriage' a few months later!) "

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I dunno, BA. Sounds to be in the category of  the one Tommy Douglas used to tell about raising a hat from the ground after a dust storm. Got to talking to the person under the hat.

Wasn't that fella even mounted on a horse?

I have an old b/w picture somewhere of my uncle when he was 12ish standing on a snowbank and his head is at the height of the top of the telephone poll. That would have been about 55ish years ago.

   Today was one of those snow days that I absolutely love.  Our driveway was buried and the snow was up over the bottoms of our doors but it was blue sky and sunny. Absolutely beautiful where I am.  We have trees in our back yard that back onto a marsh and the whole area was crisp and glistening in that winterwonderland sort of way. All the shovelling didn't even bother me. 

  The coolest thing though was we have a snowy owl in the area! It was perched first on a telephone pole and then flew back to sit on top of a tree in yard for a while.  I've never seem one so close before. It was huge. It then started swooping back and forth through the yard and the trees until it took off over the marsh. Perhaps hunting the wabbits that live back in the trees.   I watched it from my deck for about 20 minutes.  

  Wish I had a camera today. Mine got chewed by one of our dogs a couple of months back. 

I'm sure they exist in other parts of the country, but if one places and observant eye on old farm houses in the Grey/Bruce counties, one sees what appears to be doors for upper story balconies that no longer exist.

The balconies were never there, they were "snow doors". 

For getting out of the house.

Of course, this begs for some kind of explanation.  I don't think that the average snowfalls of yore were much worse, if any than we have today.  Why, then, does it seem that there was "deeper" snow?

I have suspected, from looking at woodlots in south western Ontario that the forest cover has been making a slow come back in the last fifty or so years.  You can tell that by looking at the pioneer species of trees and where they are in relation to older woodlots.

A recent reading of "The View from Castle Rock" by Alice Munro seems not only to confirm this, but the lack of woodlot or forest cover in the late 1800's and into the 1900's was dramatically less than it is today.

Which, according to my hypothesis, means that while they probably didn't have any more snow than we enjoy today, they had a helluva lot more drifting.

The effects of a woodlot can have surprising effects on snowfall, or more accurately, where the snow falls.   Just a couple of years ago, I was driving south on HWY 23 between Listowel and Mitchel.   I was surprised to see how a woodlot 3/4 of a mile or more away from the road eliminated the drifting snow across the flat fields, and the highway.  Clear of the woodlot, the near whiteout conditions resumed.

My theory is that since it's warmer these days, the air holds more moisure, and that's why it's snowing more. If it's really freezing cold out it almost never snows, and the farther north you get it's darn chilly but they don't get the snowstorms we do.

By the same token though, snow doesn't stick around anymore like it did before -- whether due to outright melting, or evaporation in the sun on warmish days -- so we don't get the same net accumulation over the winter.

The high craggy snowbanks already along my driveway notwithstanding.

"Most farms too kept a wood lot going at all times on the farm as a source for fire wood, lumber and such."

The Munroe book I refered to indicated that such woodlots were mandated during settlement, that if the pioneers had their way, all the trees would have been cut down and the land put under the plow, but that part of it may have been opinion.

Besides Munroe and my own always suspect observations (I am not expert) I've come across other sources that indicate we have more tree cover now in S/W Ontario than has existed since the late 1800's. 

A while back, I did some quick research on line to find out if I could utilize the ash from our firepit to make some potash.  I mean, if pioneers did it, how hard could it be?  Actually, very hard.  It's a more involved process than I imagined.  Anyway, in searching that out,  I found that the forests and woodlots of New York State were clear cut by the farmers there in order to cash in on the British demand for potash in the early to mid 1800's.    I think the same may have happened here, a bit later, for both domestic and British demand.

And, of course you know about how the Bruce was denuded in those times.

Consider the lack of tree cover, and how the snow would naturally drift around the houses, barns and outbuildings of those times. 

ElizaQ brings up a good point about the freeze/thaw cycles.  We may have more of them today than we did in the previous century, and that would go a ways into shrinking snow drifts.

April 1854

An editorial appeared in the Backwoodsman, probably authored by Charles Clarke, a co-founder of the Horticultural society, which "advocated the planting of maple, elm, and willow trees on all streets in Elora."

1858 By-Law 8: Charles Clarke

Charles Clarke, councillor, persuaded his colleagues on Council "to regulate and encourage the planting of ornamental trees. It required trees to be at least eight feet at the time of planting, and to be planted on the street nine feet from the property lines. Those who planted trees that survived the first year would receive 25 cents, the approximate value of shade trees at the time."

1866

T.C. Walbridge introduced a Bill in the Ontario legislature encouraging the planting of shade trees along the provincial highways (Elora Observer, 1866).

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All those ancient maples along Ontario's highways (pre-400 series)were the products of the 25-cent-per-tree offer.

At Confederation, there weren't many trees left standing in parts of the province. Arbour Day, born in the U.S. about then, came north.

But, I suppose, given the importance placed on human life in Dickens' England (and the waifs sent to work in Canada from London), the  devastation of forests in the colony was not out of line with Victorian (double) standards

You tough guys on  the eastern lee of the lakes don't produce as many imbecilic and outright homicidal drivers, though.  Or, at least, your weeding-out process works better than here in wussville.

Well our highways are all closed and they've pulled the plows...it doesn't get much worse than that.

We're all snuggled down, but I have a friend who's father is out in it trying to get home.  So we're a bit worried.

Hah- you beat me to it!  Francesca don't forget your Little House.  Dads always make it through.  It is a special thing we are taught at the ultra-secret Dad's courses.

By the way today is a storm!  I loss sight of the barn heading out for chores.  I could only tell where I was when I ran smack right into the fence.  I had to follow it along the line to come to the barn opening.  It is no wonder people have gone missing in weather like this.  I had no idea where the hell I was for a few seconds.  If I was in open ground instead of within the buildings I might still be wandering around.  Coming back was better thankfully.

Tommy we have something even rarer.  It is an old growth Elm.  It is a massive, beautiful tree.  We have had Guelph out to take cuttings.  There are actually a fair number (that's a relative term of course) in Bruce they told us.  We can see another one just across the river.  They are too isolated to breed, but we hope to get something from the cuttings.  Unfortunately ours is getting close to its natural lifespan and is starting to loose limbs and leaf cover. 

Where we used to live we had Ironwood that grew as straight as an arrow.  The problem with it is its density I think.  Apparently my great, great Grandfather was a mastercraftsman.  There is a wagon broom in the original farmstead that he made that I remember using as a kid.  He also designed this system to lift wagon racks up into the air to fork off the hay instead of using a cumbersome fork system in most barns.  The braces and other parts of it were still there a few years ago when I was visiting the farm.  So maybe he could just do something most others coulding.  Frankly I have no idea how it managed it. 

The number of skills we have lost that we might need again always disturbs me.

My great grandfather on my other side apparently predicted at my Christianing that I would see the day when we went back to using horses as we would use up all our resources because we were so greedy.  That was a LONG time before anyone ever heard of the term peak oil. 

Ooops time to add another stick to the fire.

"Tommy we have something even rarer.  It is an old growth Elm.  It is a massive, beautiful tree."  

My favorite Elm is the one on the west side of Hwy 6, on the north side of Clavering.  You can see it from quite a distance.   

I pretty much figured Elms to be near extinct, but since I learned the distinctive shape, I notice them all over now.  My nephew has a couple on his property near Appin, and my friend up in Dundalk has a couple at the foot of her lane.  And, there's a variety of elm just a block over, and it's reproducing.   They aren't the grand old Elms that were here before dutch elm disease though.  

Yeah, I was just oot and aboot to pick up my daughter from work.  It's a stiff wind out there.

Funny, HWY 4 is open along the same stretch that 21 and 23 are closed.

And, I find it odd that HWY 6 is open on the Bruce.  I would have thought that would be the first to go.  I wouldn't want to be driving it tonight.

But, I would like to see what Tobermory looks like in weather like this. 

The number of skills we have lost that we might need again always disturbs me.

Sure, but necessity is the mother of invention - we'll figure them out again..  There's tons of people around who are mechanically ingenious.

Well, I thought the snow was going to end overnight, but it hasn't.  The wind has dropped quite a bit, but now we are getting a rather dramatic streamer off the lake which is pushing all the way into Elgin county, which doesn't happen too often.   There's also another streamer coming off Georgian Bay, with a finger of it tickling all the way to Toronto.

I am declaring an "all hands on deck" for snow removal later today.  The three of us should make short work of it.   I have to get it cleaned up tonight because the weather is supposed to warm up-- in fact it's supposed to rain on Wednesday and Friday.  

I don't want to end up shoveling slush.

 Here's a link to the Canadian Ice Service, showing ice cover on Lake Huron and Erie.

http://ice-glaces.ec.gc.ca/prods/NAIS25ECT/20081218180000_NAIS25ECT_0004122573.gif

George, the number of snowmobiles in Saskatchewan are not great enough to be considered much more than negligible.  Cars and factories ever so much moreso.

Actually, in winter, snowmobiles were a fairly efficient way to get to town and back when the plows weren't able to keep up with demand.  Probably fewer emissions than taking the pickup.

 Time to start digging out...again! We can't even see our driveway this am. Though since the roads are all closed we taking it slow. Can't go anywhere anyways. Still in the robe and drinking coffee. 

 Glad about the Dad Francesca. That's one of the things I don't like about winter. sitting nervously at home in bad weather waiting for someone to come home. 

BA, I loved the Little House books growing up but that part was uber stressful.  :)

 It's funny that you would mention bringing the possible necessity of bringing those old skills back. As can probably be gathered by other posts I do have an interest in crafts. Always have, but over the past few years that's morphed from making decorative things to exploring more artisanal crafting.  I have a small but growing collection of old books and papers on many types of skills but of course real life people are always better.  With most things now I think a lot about, so if I need this how would it be made if I couldn't pop out to Canadian Tire or Walmart. 

 I have to agree somewhat with webgear about Mennonites and Amish in terms of people that may provide a lot of 'how do you do that advice'.  There's are other groups of people that I've discovered whose weekend hobbies are keeping many of those skills alive. The reenactors. Everything from groups like the SCA (medieval) to Civil War reenactment groups. Beyond the battling part crafting is a huge part of those types of groups. Not only is there a huge wealth of information that has been researched and complied and available on the net but there are people that actually practice.  So maybe that mutal fund manager who turns into a blacksmith from 1800 on the weekend might find those skills more important in the future.  

 One area where I can't see there being much of a problem in terms of skill revival is in what I'll loosely call the domestic arts. Textile work, sewing, weaving, leather working, spinning, pottery etc etc are alive a thriving.  Woodworking is another area. 

 What's lacking though are more primary producers.  People that have the skills to make the tools or materials necessary for many of those other crafts to happen. I think if  it does come to a point where a skill revival is needed those that can work with metal will be the kings and queens.  I can also see the fix-it-guy or gal making a huge comback as well.  

 Anyways this is off topic but for me at least thinking about all of this is how I actually spend my snowdays looking into. Yesterday I spent a few hours trying to answer the question, "So what if I had to make my own shoes?"  The next few hours were spent trying to make a dress using basic construction methods and without a store bought pattern.  Pants are next on the agenda.   Since it looks like we won't be going far today, I'm going to plan Christmas dinner using only foodstuffs that could be made and bought in our surrounding area.

 Yeah I'm a bit weird, I know but after yesterday I now know in theory at least how to make a pair of basic leather shoes and how to make waterproof leather bottles.  

  That's a great point Francesca.  I'm actually in the same situation right now.  Though we do have a woodburning stove in the plans we can't afford it right now and are dependent on electricity for heat.  Since power outages are common and also tend to happen during storms it actually makes me quite nervous.  It's not out of the ordinary to get stuck without power.  What we do have as an interm solution or backup are a couple of small propane camping heaters that can be used indoors, but with a caveat, you have to watch out for carbon dioxide so we have a CO2 detector and make sure a window is cracked.  Last year during a storm we did have to use them. It was very unsettling to feel like if the problem lasted for several days we'd be in trouble. 

I am tempted, and I should probably do it, to go back to high school and start taking courses on electical stuff from the ground up.

It's one of the big gaping holes in my self education.   I mean, I do basic electrical stuff, like replacing a switch, but I've never been comfortable with it, and I can't diagnose electrical problems in a car or in other things to save my life. If it's not an obviously loose wire, forget it.

BECAUSE it seems to me that on days like we've had, a simple bodged together windmill wired to an electrical base board heater would suplement the heat loss due to the wind.  Sure, it's not going to power your whole house, but it should emeliorate the heat loss in this kind of weather. 

It's a really noisy storm, you can hear the wind from almost everywhere
in the house except my basement office.

I've got quite a headache now, must be from not just the noise but the changes in barometric pressure and probably some carbon monoxide from the wood furnace. I'm going to air out the house soon.

ElizaQ

I agree about your views on re-enactors, many of them have knowledge of dying trade skills. I have picked up some knowledge from a War of 1812 group out of Ontario.

The primary producers will be the problem, unless you can produce your own material like wool or leather, I believe those arts are lost. I know of no small scale company that can produce linen or other basic fabrics.

I am currently working with leather, I am hoping to start woth wool late next year.

Tommy, I recommend trying looking at horse tack stores, another possibility is re-enactment stores that deal with medieval supplies.

I will do some searching for you.