Still alive into the New Year

I can barely believe we are into the 21st century, and now already into 2022! WoW!!

Sheila and I are well - thank goodness - and we still wear a mask at the ready hanging around our necks. That way we know the masks are readily available and easy to begin wearing; all we need to do is pull the mask up and viola, we are protected!

It's been a "mild" Winter in western New York, with little or no snowfall at all during the period of Autumn's end till the end of 2021. Though the Winter here was cold - it's been freezing even through the Autumn, it was eventually record-breaking snowfall in the area, though the highest snowfall fell close to the end of December and into January. In a normal area Winter, we'll get regular snowfall most every week, and the records show that in a regular Winter, we get an average of 63" of snow. This current Winter we got just a few snowfalls that started at the end of December and continued into January, but that amount we got in those few snowfalls totalled over 80"!! WoW!!

Yes, as you can guess, we got out into the snow to get a few snaps. Of course! Winter is absolutely a thrill to see and get out into, and though it's just a very few times I've lived in a snowy location, it is always nice. Last Winter of 2020-2021, I got what I thought was a bit of frostbite on both feet though the left foot was affected more. That kinda "healed" slowly and all was "well" by August. This current Winter the signs of frostbite returned - going out into the snow didn't help at all, and after having my poor black and blue feet almost healed, I had thought, but still looked as bad as it was almost a year earlier! My feet were seen by a foot doctor in early February, who did not say it wasn't frostbite, but didn't say it was. The doctor also pointed out a foot problem with both feet, probably attributed to my wearing sockless and archless footwear for a few years. I was then fitted with custom insoles for my shoes, and amazingly enough, though I've been using that new arch for just a few weeks, the arch and foot problem is healing quicker than I would have imagined! I started with those zero arch shoes about a decade ago, going from very thin and flat running shoes, and eventually moving up to flat archless hiking shoes. Though I felt NO pain in the arches of both feet, it eventually gave me problems that - though I never thought it was major - caused enough problems for me to see a doctor, and I am glad I finally did!

I remember the first year I began wearing those flat archless shoes while living on the West Coast. I took those shoes to Spain, where I have a few friends nearby my location in SW Spain who run on a regular basis, and they all stared at those flat shoes I wore, and warned of pain and bad arches! As I mentioned before, I've never experienced pain, but unknown to me, the problems were apparently building up! I haven't wore those flat shoes in many years, but am now feeling the distress of having worn them!! Beware!!

Otherwise, life is going as well as can be expected. We are grateful to be well during these past years, and I think good health should never be taken for granted. Hoping you and yours will remain safe, and till the next time!

    The river ice is nearly gone and daytime temps are warmer, Can't wait till Spring!

Taking care during the Winter Months

 Well, here I am, in yet another month of a western New York (WNY) winter, and this time, though the snow hasn't been heavy nor as often as in previous years, the cold has been its usual bitterness. The wind chill here has been winter-cold freezing months before winter even started!

Of course, Sheila and I are out in all weather conditions. We have been out in cold, hot, high winds, rain, and every and anything in-between! Cold "doesn't" bother us, but now we are wary of the heat. I am getting rid of all my short sleeve shirts, replacing them with long sleeve shirts. I am not getting any younger, and my poor skin has been toasted enough in all the sunny, extreme hot areas I've been, and my skin is beginning to show the wear and tear of those climates.

Being photographers, we are almost always out, and for the first time in my life, I have exposed my skin and extremities to freezing temperatures without proper clothing and protection. I've previously worn thicker hiking boots - always - but after I had foot/toe problems with those thicker boots, I switched to lighter zero-type boots with no elevated heels. These are also made of lighter, thinner materials, and my first winter of wearing these thinner shoes has possibly resulted in some serious worries!

I think I've got frost-bitten toes on both feet! I have always had poor blood circulation in my legs and feet, and though I've hiked around in the snow of southern Norway and other cold spots without any problems in the past, I also had then my thicker boots, plus the winter humidity in Norway was minimal, while here in WNY the humidity is almost always higher. While hiking around in deep Norwegian snow for hours without the slightest sensation of cold, the WNY humidity is so high that even after five minutes the fingertips begin to tingle due to the cold!

I am not posting any pictures of my toes but it's not pretty, plus you can just surf the web to see images of others who have suffered from frost-bitten limbs and extremities, and many got it worst than me!! I already have an VA appointment to see a podiatrist in a few more weeks, but I think the diagnosis will be as I suspect. I guess I'll find out soon enough.

How to avoid frostbite

Wear thick shoes or boots, and clothing especially suited for cold weather. Stay advised of the weather conditions, wind chill factor, and wind direction of where you plan to be. Depending on where I am headed, I also have cleats that I can put on any shoes/boots I wear. You can also limit your time outdoors in cold, wet or/and windy weather, and dress in several layers of loose, warm clothing, including wearing a hat or headband that fully covers your ears, and using mittens rather than gloves for more warmth. I have USB-powered hand-warmers that we use while outdoors which have turned out to be very helpful. Be sure to wear socks and/or sock liners that fit well, wick moisture and provide adequate insulation for the temperatures you're going out into, and watch for any signs of tingling and/or pain, etc. which can be a warning sign of frostbite!

Most importantly, stay safe, be aware of your body and any signs of cold, and if it gets colder than you thought, get back to a warm shelter. Stay warm!!

Here's a scene from the ice at Lake Ontario!

Lakeside iced waves create an interesting pattern!

 

Niagara Falls, New York during the Pandemic

 It seems that people are still out and about, but NOT at the Falls!

We were there today and saw the least amount of visitors to the internationally-famous Niagara Falls during the daytime hours! As you can see in this image, at the far left are the walkways in the Niagara Falls State Park. This is Prospect Point of the park, and before the pandemic, this would be packed with wall-to-wall people. Well, the fireworks has been canceled due to the huge crowds that gather and wait for hours to see the free fireworks. The night illumination lights are still lighting up the waterfalls each night, so you can see the colorful designs each night. 

If you do come to the Falls, please wear a mask and practice social practicing!

Do YOU Look UP?

It seems Sheila and I look up almost all the time. Of course we can't be looking ALL the time, or we'd be falling left and right, and bumping into things!! I know about that very much from places and years past.... 

BUT to see the treasures above, is more than often very worthwhile! 

Do YOU look up to admire the pleasures Natures gives us?

Just Another Upper Niagara River Sunset

Yup, it's just yet another sunset. We are used to this color of gold....  

I am just so lucky to always be in some fabulous locations with awesome clouds and sunsets!