We finally got a big snowstorm – bringing a power outage (fortunately only an hour and a half), 30 MPH winds, and 8 inches of heavy wet snow. We have a lot of snow on the ground, but most of it has come from small storms – this is the first big one this year.
Sara and Chuck came before the storm so we got some walking and picture taking in before it hit.
Sara at the Big View Prairie bench – the seat was covered with snow, so we sat on the arms.
The view from Big View Prairie
Sara, coming down through the woods
Chuck returning after a morning of photographing (from one of the wildlife cameras)
Chuck had a great time taking photos, including this wonderful panorama of our house.
Then the snow came.
The next morning, as the clouds rolled away
Blue skies after the storm
The snow was so heavy that all the willows were bent down, and some of the less flexible trees were broken.
The wetland and Big View bluff
This is the view from our kitchen window. The snow pile is from snow falling off the roof – snow from the whole winter, not just this storm.
Mike plowed the driveway so Chuck and Sara could drive out, but by the next day it had drifted in again.
More of the driveway
The creek above the beaver dam
Mike got to play with his snowblower a lot for a few days.
I got caught in the snow plume trying to get a picture.
Snowy trees in 3 Finger Valley
Early morning sun shining on the ridge
A mink on the beaver dam
Northern Flicker
We startled a Barred Owl as we were coming back from a walk yesterday. It flew up from the ditch beside the driveway and then settled down behind a thicket of branches.
Chuck took two nice photos of us.
Mike in the tractor
Me with Tansy