I took this photo last night following the Sturgeon Bay Rotary Club’s annual trivia contest.
There has been considerable melting following the blizzard from a week ago.
Nevertheless, there were kids climbing and sliding on the BP’s
Matterhorn at Michigan and Third Avenue. In the foreground is the snow
still bordering the sidewalk.
Nuts.
As for the trivia, hoping for a four-peat First, our Team took Second Place.
Rats.
Just got home following some folderol with our curling
friends in the naked city. And it is stunning to see how much of the
snow deposited over 48 hours a week ago has melted. My sump pump
rejoices.
And a bigger hand to everyone else who toiled under stressful conditions to keep roads and essential services open.
Cheers!
Yo!
Deer Camp Pals....
Been perusing some older digital photos in the collection and came
across this one. It was taken during a rain-sodden deer camp in
November of 2005.
The perspective is looking west out of the second floor blue bedroom.
Except for low-light conditions there was no way a whitetail could sneak
across this stretch of territory without being vulnerable.
Twenty years later - not so much. It's some dandy permanent cover out there nowadays. A real forest...
The storms that moved thru here late yesterday exacted a price.
Our handsome, young mulberry tree was snapped-off a couple feet from ground level.
To be fair it was a weak spot on the tree where I had to prune a faulty crotch a couple of years ago. And laden with a heaping burden of ripening fruit it clearly couldn't withstand the wind.
We'll clean it up. Maybe it will resprout another leader. Otherwise we'll start over new.
Shucks.
Alerted by multiple cell phone audible alerts a fast-moving July storm moved thru quickly this evening at the start of our Lions Club meeting.
And after all the ruckus was over on my way home I was greeted with this.
When you live in Flyover Country the panoramic views are far better than in an urban setting. Two rainbows in two weeks.
Ma Nature smiled on the landscape with her all-clear sign….
The full moon we experienced last Thursday is sometimes called
the Thunder Moon. This is as a
consequence of weather patterns in our hemisphere being the stormiest in the
month of July. None of this is a result
of climate change – it’s just the way it’s always been.
So far we haven’t experienced any
particularly show-stopping storms but I did stumble across one from 2016 that is worthy of sharing.
Ordinarily I would not recommend standing on a wet porch in your bare feet during a lightning storm. But the view of that stormy sunset was spectacular.
Gentle spring storms moved thru late afternoon treating us to a colorful sky display.
View to the southeast...
As per usual I rose before sunrise, turned-up the heat, turned on the coffee, checked the indoor/outdoor temperatures (65/-14F), checked the Indoor/attached garage temperatures (64/34F), fed the dog and went out on the porch to check the sunrise.
I sure hope the worst of this polar vortex is going to be behind us in the 24 hours.
It's not fit for man nor beast out there.
Polar vortex sunrise this morning. -3F here, halfway between the equator and the North Pole.
There is a large area of low pressure and frigid air that persists at both the earth's poles. It is the counter-clockwise motion of this flow of air that lends its name to vortex. It is always there and strengthens in the winter while weakening during the summer months. Periodically during winter this air mass will expand, sending cold air southward via the jet stream. Not confined to North America these cold surges occur in Europe and Asia as well.
While wild critters are better adapted to extremes of weather the only danger to people and their families is prolonged exposure to extremes of cold. Which is why you should find a spot to bask in the winter sunshine.
If you live on the peninsula it doesn't take long to figure-out that when you are situated on a narrow landmass, surrounded by water, weather conditions can be both quirky and unpredictable.
In the summertime the sun could be shining brightly enough to require a hat and your shades; while a mile to the east it is raining cats and dogs and you can see it unfolding before your very eyes.
During dry stretches and hoping with all your might for a good summer soaking you might be tracking a storm front and all of its accompanying rainfall approaching from the the prevailing southwest and as soon as it hits Green Bay, just like Moses parting the Red Sea, the front splits in two dropping all of that precious rainfall on the bay of Green Bay and Lake Michigan. The peninsula landmass remains parched.
Winter is no different except for the results impacted by colder temperatures. One minute it is sunny and clear; and moments later there is a popup snow squall approaching whiteout conditions that materialized out of nowhere and disappears just as suddenly leaving the sun shining on snow-covered ground.
From last month there was this.....
This happens all the time and woe be unto anyone driving in these conditions.
Recently, the Missus and I were chatting it up about this local anomaly so this has been on my mind as I am reminded of it by looking out my window and having to delay walking my dog. These types of weather patterns are called Lake Effect at our latitude and are a consequence of the proximity to large bodies of water. Just talk to the good citizens of Buffalo, NY. I cannot recall a winter where I haven't read news reports of the entire community digging out from the effects of a very localized snow dump.
You can read all about the science of here in great detail; but the Cliff Notes version goes something like this. Colder air masses have a tendency to travel from Canada southward and across the Great Lakes region. The air above these large bodies of water tends to be warmer (relatively-speaking) and contain large amounts of moisture from the lakes. Then the two air masses collide, clouds are formed, clouds contain precipitation and when the clouds reach the coastal landmass you get snow this time of year and rain during the spring, summer and fall.
If you live in a coastal community in northern Wisconsin, Michigan's Upper Peninsula, northeast Wisconsin (Door County) or northwest Michigan (Traverse City) Lake Effect can be responsible for a snow dump.
Sometimes it can cover the yard around the house deeply enough to cover the porch with drifts reaching the windows on the machine shed.
Anything more than four inches summons the plow guy who is on retainer during the snowy months.
It's not all bad - especially if you enjoy winter like we do. Summers on a coastal community are less severely hot than inland communities. Our micro-climate here on the peninsula is ideally-suited to growing orchard crops; and in the last decade an increasing number of vineyards have materialized. What's not to like about local fruits, cider and wine?
I suppose the trade-off is that you do have to take the out-of-place blizzard when you least expect it. Take it from me, it can mess-up your spring turkey hunt in April with an unpredictable snow dump. It's happened to me more times than I can count...
When the wind howls from the north, you light a fire in the wood stove, retreat to the kitchen and scratch your itch français.
Pretty good chow if you can get it.......
Got back home Monday late afternoon following a trip to South Dakota to chase pheasants with my new dog and nine of my buddies. Most of the guys are long term hunting and fishing pals along with some new ones.
Here's a handful of photos from the festivities.
Drive west including an unplanned Minnesota blizzard.
Some photos from the field.
All the corn was off the fields so we exclusively hunted cattail sloughs, reed canary grass you could barely see over and other natural cover. Ugh.
Add rain and wind and it was the toughest hunt in memory
A day's tally of dead birds.
Lounging around the house.
The Red Rocket (Ruby) is a natural. She put-up her share of birds on her own and had several retrieves. First trip out - I think she's a natural.
She shes got some aches and scrapes so if you're looking for a Pro Tip for a sore schnoz there is this...
An article in the Washington Post last week outlined a detailed analysis of risks associated with the places we chose to live. And consequently the implications associated with this choice. There are implications related to risks. The article may be pay walled, nevertheless this is the link if you want to take a look and avail yourself of the interactive risk calculator.
I
also want you to know that 10,000 years ago - where I live on the Door
Peninsula - was covered by an ice sheet a mile thick! Yup, that is a
pile of glaciation. So much so that the earth's crust continues to
rebound from the weight of all of that ice. The truth of the matter is
that things have gotten warmer ever since.
The climate has changed.
And yes - beginning with the industrial revolution - I'm sure the hand of man has contributed to this change. But I digress.
In this column the issue of climate risks assesses both the opportunities and threats that this poses for homeowners. As a
recovering financial guy I can appreciate the careful study of risks as
they relate to the financial implications.
Some families live in locations with too little water while others live with flood risk. Some households chose to live within a spectacular view of the water; consequently there is the risk of sea level rise and dangerous storm surge. If you've ever visited Asheville, NC you'd likely think: This would be a terrific place to live. Asheville, NC is no more because of a never-before flood event. And while mountain views are also spectacular a wildfire can reduce your home to a smoking pile of ash. More than once.
Many of these events come as a result of many years of climate change. And they come with ramifications for the choice we make as to where to live, market impacts on the prices of our dwellings and the costs associated with insuring against losses. All of which cumulatively impact communities on a larger scale.
As it turns out Door County, WI has very low climate risk. Here's a breakdown of the individual risks:
Coastal Flooding and Hurricane - Very Low
Heat and Wildfire - Very Low
Inland flooding and Drought - LowMonday evening delivered more overnight rains; consequently, everything is supersaturated. Nevertheless, Tuesday dawned with fair weather, cooler temps, no humidity and a delightful breeze.
Everything is growing like gangbusters - including the poison ivy.
From our morning walk there was this.
Wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) is a perennial wildflower in the mint family. It's also known as bee balm or horse-mint.
Ratibida pinnata, commonly called Yellow Coneflower, is native to prairies and savannas throughout the Midwest.
And Ruby scored a fresh deer bone.
We've been on the receiving end of three inches of rain over the past 3-4 days; and as a consequence conditions are quite squishy around here.
Mud season is at peak.
Nevertheless, we haven't given-up on our daily walk - unless it is pouring rain.
From our walk today there were-
Blue Violets
Life is good
Yesterday was the last day of another Turkey season and it's looking like it's SPAM Aux Gratin for Thanksgiving dinner this year as I am turkeyless.
Saw four jakes, a lonesome hen and had three opportunities to work a gobbler only to have them each hang-up on me. Jill reminds me that this is why i is called hunting and not shopping.
I also have no recollection of actually hunting in scattered thunderstorms.
Of course, I'm old and forgetful from time to time...
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