A little bit of this, a little bit of that (again)

Though this winter started late in western New York (WNY), I am thinking Mother Nature has fooled a lot of people who thought we'd get a little bit of snow this winter, and not anything like that big mess that fell back in 2014/15 or even the six months of winter snow back in 2017/18 when winter stuck it out till Spring! Even worst was the Buffalo snowstorm of 1977, when this whole area was paralyzed and cars were buried under the snow! Here's an article about that 1977 blizzard 
https://www.theweathernetwork.com/news/articles/blizzard-of-1977-meteorological-analysis-canada-niagara/78699

Glass of a frozen front screen door!
I love the trees in the frozen "tundra"

Since I last posted, it's snowed three times more, but the in-between times were the warmest yet to date, getting up to the mid- and higher 40s. Those higher temps and a little rain melted all but the biggest piles of plowed snow in parking lots and roadside. 

As I write, it's snowed a few hours and everything is again white, but now it appears to be freezing rain. How fun!! As I have reported previously, WE aren't scared of weather extremes, and this winter we've been out in -17 temps and with gusting howling winds!

This tiny waterfall is cute in summer
BUT in winter, it is truly gorgeous!!!
This is the first time I've ever seen it completely frozen!

The last time we had to clear off the vehicle, it took over an hour after an evening and all-night session of freezing rain. It left about an quarter of an inch to - in some spots - a half-inch of frozen hard clear ice on the windshield and most parts of the vehicle! I haven't had to deal with ice like this since the mid-90s when I lived in Norfolk, Virginia! 

I know...  YOU can't even find your car.
Our car was luckily sheltered from the snow/wind

Just an example to show the depth.
This is probably about four inches or sooo

Not cracked windshield but cracked frozen ice, as I attempt
removing the ice and not crack the windshield in the process!!

Icicles hanging off the backside of our camping minivan 

Icicles everywhere, including from the front end!!

Thank goodness the windshield didn't crack!!

Frozen ice on passenger side of the car. Some of the
ice covering the rear view mirror was removed already

On the other hand, the amazingly gorgeous ice sculptures and abstract snowy drifts that look like someone's hairdo, always takes my breath away! 

Snapped through the window, these icicles were fabulous!

Even the trash can lid sprouted icicles!!

If you live in a icy cold area, have you been outside to admire what Nature has given us? Share your experiences, BUT be careful driving or walking around in the white stuff!!!

Are you seeing and hearing the strong winds too? It started yesterday and will continue all day till tonight Wednesday, but we have been experiencing strong winds about once a week for some time. Last night the winds were howling all night, and was louder than a steam train! Several times its direction shifted, but it still howled, just from a different direction!

Remember you can click on any image to see it bigger. Most of these pictures were snapped with my Samsung S5, which now needs to have its cache cleared about four times daily. The apps don't function correctly and often freeze or just close unexpectedly. Same with the bluetooth, and it's just being a pain. If you buy a samsung phone, be sure its update will continue or else you too will end up with a very annoying and non-functioning dumb phone, like I have right now!

Down on the river named Niagara, there's LESS ice than last year
at this same period of February. BUT, that's a lot of ice cubes!!!

Looking north to Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada 

UPDATE 4:35pm Wednesday: Almost whiteout conditions with over 25mph winds blowing snow 

If you can't see and you need to use your wipers, your lights
 should be ON to improve visibility. Be careful while outside!

Not to forget all those little piggies enjoying a
birthday during this year's Chinese New Year,
Happy Chinese New Year! 

First Sunset of February 2019

Ice on the Niagara River is an awesome thing to see.

A flaming red sunset is also really gorgeous.

Together, it's an incredible scene that stays in your mind and heart forever.....

This morning's sunrise was also a flamer and very red. Did you see it?

ahhhhhhh

ooooooooooh!!

More pictures at http://www.fototaker.net

and 

http://sheilak-lee.pixels.com

Western New York Winter Storm (Yet Again)

Since we have returned from Michigan four months ago, there has been a "winter storm" seemingly every week! 

The cracked slabs of thick river ice

A few more nights of frozen nights and you'll be able to walk
on the river to the Falls, and beyond to Canada!

The car is covered with snow....   wait a day and the snow removed naturally by the heat of day. Wait another few day's and it's covered with snow again!

The news has been going overboard with scenes of the last huge snowstorm of 1977, when the area was hit with massive snowfalls, even burying cars, with another 10-20 feet of the white stuff on top of the vehicles!!! WoW!

It's been snowing for a few hours, then the huge flakes began to dance its way from the sky. So gorgeous to see, but such a pain to drive in! But in more simple times it would be great, but not in this modern age!

There's a RIVER somewhere in this image!

Across the Niagara and blowing snow, 

is Grand Island

We shoveled our way out of the house then took a little walk. Everything is white, and everything is just gorgeously covered with the snowflakes. We wanted to take our cameras but I didn't want to sizzle the electronics neither! I was snapping with my smartphone, and it was being covered with a bit of snow, and the screen and controls were going crazy! 

My phone is a "waterproof" S5 smartphone, but am guessing it didn't like the snow since it was zooming all by itself plus snapping a picture every half of a second for about a total of ten snaps!! Fortunately the device did capture some pixs correctly, though I am sure this will be my last samsung device since I found out a few months ago my S5 will not have its androidOS updated any longer. 

Since that was discovered, I get so many android error messages daily, plus screens that flash, bluetooth that doesn't stay on, galleries that don't want to display its images, and images snapped that have disappeared into thin virtual air, among many other annoying problems. If I knew this would happen, I would have NEVER purchased a samsung anything!! 

What do you say to that samsung??? I used to toot your smartphone and tablet's abilities all over my social media, then I dropped that a few months ago due to lack of time and still trying to "live". I am almost sorry I built up my amazing sharp samsung imagery (like those here) and everytime a iphone user hears my ability to snap a smartfone pix simply by saying "shoot", and being able to snap a sunset and having it look completely golden without any need to touch any button for special apps or effects. Well, I won't be doing that anymore! One of my daily chores is to clear the S5 cache, and of course even that action does nothing now  :(

These trees are gorgeous in their frozen state

While we were out it was snowing and by time we made our second walk, probably just under an mile, our foot steps were already almost covered by the newly falling snow. It just takes a measly 12 minutes if we're walking slowly, but we rarely walk slowly!

Even frozen the Niagara looks marVeLous!

Tomorrow the weather will be more extreme and lower temps, almost all day in single-digit temperatures (all below 4°f) with windchill temps of -18°  at sunrise with 18mph winds, and a nice temperature of 0° and a windchill of -25° , dropping throughout the afternoon until it levels out at sunset (set sets here at 5:25pm) of almost -16° , dropping even more through the evening till just before midnight, it'll be a windchill of almost -30°f!!!

As I was typing this, I looked out the windows for a second to observe complete white-out conditions!!!

Please be CAREFUL while driving in icy conditions

Stay safe, careful and if you are in an area with some of this white weather we are and have been "enjoying", then be sure your headlights are on, and drive slow. You don't want to be a sliding steel carriage in those slick wet and snowy roads!

Simple Pleasures of Life (Don't Forget to Look UP)

Still rereading pieces of my past as I continue cleaning out my virtual mailboxes.

This is extracted from an email dated November 2014 shared with a friend, and it was snapped with a Samsung SSG S4 I had then.

Isn't it amazing, but Nature has all these gorgeous sights for us to enjoy, if only we would look UP.

Just a reminder (for me too) to look at your surroundings, and to enjoy the simple pleasures of Life

"Almost straight from my Samsung Galaxy S4 is this wondrous colorful image I snapped by some side of the road while lost somewhere in Sonoma County, as I stopped each and everytime I saw autumn colors. I am always amazed by what my S4 sees and captures so well"

Freezing temperatures BUT wonderful winter scenes

The weather was dreadfully cold, very gusty windy and snowing all the while, but WE got out and about yesterday! Traffic was very light as everyone was encouraged to stay home, and especially on a weekend when windchill temperatures drop to 10°f/-25°c!!

When the temps are this low, the Niagara River freezes in various parts of its course through the area. These are snapshots of the lovely textures created by the waters of the Niagara, and how the ice also covers bushes and plant-life near the water also! 

Just love seeing these in the Niagara

Even twigs and branches take on another soul and appearance

This bush by the water was transformed into a huge ice monster

No need for ice cubes or swords here!

Yesterday we spent a good half hour shoveling the snow which was about a foot deep, with accumulations reaching two feet and higher. I love these sights though, and how Nature will blow and sculpt a little mountain out of sand at a beach, or in this case, out of snow around a dwelling!

A view near Goat Island. It was a very grey day, then the sun smiled!

We went hoping to see frosty trees at the Falls as in previous winters, but instead it was just the usual naked trees with light snow on the top of branches. We were disappointed but still, it's quite lovely how Nature paints a snowy winter landscape for our eyes and minds to enjoy for those brave enough to wander out.

I was delighted to see visitors at the Falls too. The weather can change and who knows what can happen between the time when travel arrangements are made, and what is really there upon arrival and while wandering around? I think those who visit from faraway lands, actually luck out because many see the Falls in summer or Autumn, but to see it in Winter is really a special treat!

After our little chilly outdoor jaunt, we return home to another "joy" of winter. The outside screen door was frozen shut and couldn't be opened! We also have discovered in previous winters that same screen door freezes during the night and we can't get out!

Now Monday, the temps are really low at 3° with a wind chill of -17°, BUT the clouds are few and a lot of blue sky can be seen, but the wind is blowing in excess of 16mph. But the best part of it is the bright warming sunlight everywhere! Yesterday while we were out the gusty winds bit through our outer wear and chilled us a lot, but we have been out in more extreme temperatures and conditions.

​Yesterday's scene at the Falls as the sky broke through. You can't see the snow
falling but it was wonderful! Snapped with my SSG S5 in pano mode ~ really!

Sunday night brought reminders from many near and from far, to not forget to look for the Wolf Eclipse! I kept thinking "see what?" since it was forecast to snow practically all day.....  but before the day ended, I put on my shoes for the last time to go out and shoot that Wolf Moon just before 11pm! I knew there was something wrong with the moon since it was due to be a full moon, and all I could see a little more than a half of the moon! It was frigid cold but I got the shot.

Not bloody red nor blue, but I saw the Wolf Moon!

It didn't turn red, but I couldn't stay
outside to see; it was freezing cold!

Remember you can click any image in any post of my blog to see it larger and beautifully displayed to enjoy!