CANADIAN REGION - What are you doing October, November and December 2015

What would you rather have?  A steady downpour of rain all day heavy enough to deter one from walking the dog who hates rain, or clear skies and freezing and a human who does not like cold weather.

Either scenario I cannot work outside. 

The consolation of the rain is that the wood chips are soaking up the rain for next year, and decomposing nicely for spring planting.  We still have plenty of time for snow.

Bright, sunny morning here today after a rather frosty start, so Jazz and I went out for a nice walk to soak up some of this sunshine.

Snow/rain forecast for the next two days, then it is above freezing/below/freezing for a few days after that. I am hoping that any snow we get melts so as not to  hang around.  I really want the temperature to remain either above or below freezing.  The up and under temperatures make for really slippery walking, made worse that walking to town is downhill and returning home is uphill and we get sheets of ice if not sanded.

Last winter we had only about two weeks of snow but it half-melted and froze and there was little to be done about it.

Going down to -8 C tonight here in Ottawa.  Then on Thursday we are getting a high of +13 C. Crazy temp fluctuations.  My driveway  snow removal service did a dry run a few days ago just so they know their routes and driveways to clear.

11:00pm and the snow was falling.

2:30am and the snow is still falling and we now have a winter wonderland. 
But not for long, as the snow is already slipping off the telephone wires.

I am hoping it will turn to rain by morning and I will not need to clear the driveway or wear my snow boots.

Go to bed, think good thoughts, and in the morning your driveway will be clear.

Woke up this morning to see that the fish pond is half frozen over. The part close to the waterfall is still open water. On the plus side it's a bright sunny day but at this time of the year that means it will be cool/cold. It will warm up on Thursday but that will be a rainy day.

Yesterday, I started a fresh batch of microgreens. This time I am trying alfalfa.

sanderson wrote:Go to bed, think good thoughts, and in the morning your driveway will be clear.

HAH!  I have some shovelling to do after I have found my boots.  The winter wonderland is no more, just a few inches of slush that will probably find that leak in my boots.  I have to go out this morning as I have an appointment so I will have to wade through snow, slush and water.  A real mess.  Give me firm, clean snow that does not turn to water and back to ice.

Jazz will not venture out. He hates this weather.  One can have clear and cold weather, or wet and warm.

Woke up today to brilliant sunshine and with the sun shining on the frozen snow it really was bright.

So took Jazz out for a two-hour walk and he slept for the rest of the morning and early afternoon. I just slept the afternoon.

33 days to Winter Solstice 

Kelejan wrote:33 days to Winter Solstice 

I love your optimistic outlook.

Me too!  I'm already looking forward to spring & longer days....  I can just imagine what it's like that far north!

The one advantage of being further north is that in the summer we get longer daylight hours than you folks in the south. Of course the opposite is true in the winter.

Daylengths (hours:minutes:seconds)

June 21 - Ottawa 15:40:27 - Atlanta 14:24:01

December 21 - Ottawa 8:42:51 - Atlanta 9:54:31


Go here to check various locations throughout the world.
http://www.timeanddate.com/sun/canada/ottawa?month=12&year=2015

You are right, trolley, I love our longer, summer days. If I was a rich lady, I would consider gradually working my way down to the equator so as to take advantage of the longer daylight hours.  Ou may just go on a cruise until I can get back to my little bit of heaven in time for the spring equinox.

On the other hand, having the cold and dark winter makes me appreciate the rest of the year.

So far, another beautiful day with dry roads, sunshine and no wind and the temperature is above freezing so time for another walk with Jazz, and perhaps start a little clear-up in my car port on our return.

West of where I am, there has been a lot of wind and rain, causing much damage.  I hope no one has been hurt.

sanderson wrote:

Kelejan wrote:33 days to Winter Solstice 

I love your optimistic outlook.  

Sanderson, it is easy to be optimistic when you know that it is going to happen regardless.

When I pressed the quote button, I wonder why your name did not come up, Sanderson?

My name is there. Can you see it now?

sanderson wrote:My name is there.  Can you see it now?

Yep.

sanderson wrote:My name is there.  Can you see it now?

I see it, I see it.

Two days of some snow promised, then the temperature drops for several days of sub-zero that means frozen snow and ice will remain for days and days..

The only upside is that outside will be in bright sunshine which lifts my spirits and I don't have to shovel snow. I only hope that grit/sand/sand is laid down for we pedestrians. Car drivers are always looked after.

Nothing much happening our way in the Southern Interior of BC.  A little bit of snow that the snowplows soon cleared and put down sand or salt.  It is going to remain below freezing for several days now, no more snow  so it will continue sunny and dry but with a nasty cold wind.

Twenty-five days to Winter Solstice.

Kelejan wrote:Twenty-five days to Winter Solstice.

sanderson wrote:

Kelejan wrote:Twenty-five days to Winter Solstice.

That's the Pagan in me.  Celebrate that and Christmas as well.

Or the Gardener in you. I told Ken that I wanted him to make me a shadow calendar in time for Winter solstice. Sort of a take off on that Indian solar calendar we saw last month in AZ.

sanderson wrote:Or the Gardener in you.    I told Ken that I wanted him to make me a shadow calendar in time for Winter solstice.  Sort of a take off on that Indian solar calendar we saw last month in AZ.

A Shadow Calendar? that sounds interesting.  I would assume that would be very specific as to where you live, just as Time differs around the world.

It would be latitude specific. Just like the calendar in AZ would not work in Montana. It will have the Solstices and Equinoxes marked, the other 8 months, maybe weeks or 10 day marks indicating planting different crops. It will take a year to make it.

Hi there all, been away a long time.

In early September I was assigned to fill in for my supervisor while he (and my junior engineer) both went on three months'  training. That meant little time for anything, since I was doing the work of three people. My garden suffered, but I did get some nice tomatoes and peppers. The carrots and beets are resting quietly under mulch and I'll dig them soon. I DID manage to plant my garlic and some crocus and snowdrops a couple of weeks ago. And I have established a composter.

We had our first snow the week after Thanksgiving (Canadian Thanksgiving , in October). We've had a couple of snowfalls since (only a few inches and it didn't last).

Time to get the fire wood stacked. Its a beautiful sunny day here today, around freezing.

By the way it is possible to calculate the position of a shadow. I have tables for various latitudes and longitudes. Its likely on line as well (I have a site that gives sun and moon rise and set for any location as well).

Nice to "see" you again, Fred, and welcome back.  You seem to have been able to get some gardening done and congrats in getting the garlic in.

Let's hope your supervisor and junior engineer have had enough training so that you do not have to do their work again.  Did you get a bonus for covering the extra two positions?  Would be nice to be able treat yourself to something for the garden so that you can get more done.

Now that winter is here there will not be much you can do until next spring.

I would appreciate the information for shadows etc., unless sanderson's DH comes up with it first. I have lots of shadows in my garden. All of my garden is 100% under shade for several months of the year.  The next time the sun touches the edge of my garden is February 24 2016 if I have done my calculations correctly.  All due to the hill that is south of my property and my property is tucked underneath it.  Lovely place in summer though.