It could have been snow. I'm not sure, really. All I know is that on Monday night the temperature plummeted to 10 degrees (that's Fahrenheit, for those of you in Oslo). Rain quickly turned to ice and by dawn the windows were frosted and the doors were nearly frozen shut.
When I cautiously crept out onto the front porch the "yard" looked like this:
I always put "yard" in quotes, because it isn't really a yard. It's an unnerving force of nature.
Although it was difficult for my muddled mind to accept the fact that this is a premature onset of winter, the daytime "high" temperature of 20 degrees eventually convinced me.
Frigid temperatures usually attack Tennessee in January. Or February. I've never seen ice floes and penguins in early November. I was completely unprepared.
On Tuesday night I stayed up until way after dawn, to make sure the water pipes didn't freeze.
The first winter that I lived here, one of the frozen water pipes burst. I had to go down an icy hill to access the water meter and turn it off. I slipped on the ice, re-injured an old spinal injury, and was in agony for a year. That's why I'm still in pain and nearly crippled today.
I'm dreading to see what my next heating bill is going to be. This house is colder than a snowman's kiss, and I kept the furnace blasting so the two cats (and I) wouldn't turn into popsicles.
I usually try to be very frugal when using the furnace, but as soon as I turn it on my bill quadruples.
Inspired by the Polar temperatures, I made a big pot of quick, cheap, homemade soup. I use potatoes, onions, and vegetables (this time I used corn). And milk and butter.
And if I happen to have ham,
bacon, or clams, it's always a good addition.
Something just reminded me that we should never begin a sentence with a conjunction.
Ready and willing to photographically document anything that happens around here, I ventured onto the back porch.
There wasn't really much to document except dying leaves and frosty weeds (and icicles hanging from my ass)....
but I'll share some pictures anyway - -
even though I'm fascinating enough without visuals.
Am I smirking sarcastically? Naw.
It kinda looks like I live in an Alpine fantasy instead of a hillbilly hell, doesn't it?
Sorry - cold weather makes me say strange things.
BTW - the very first photo on this post is my autograph on the snow-covered car.
I think I finally corrected the typos.
We were hit with 7 inches of lake effect snow. I hurt my neck (you read that right) just trying to push the snow with a shovel. It was a heavy, wet snowfall. Too damn early for this! Soup might be the only thing I like about winter, though technically this is still autumn.
ReplyDeleteWow - seven inches of snow! It should have waited until Christmas. I can certainly understand how you hurt your neck shoveling snow. It's a grueling and dangerous task. I never realized that until I lived in the Missouri Ozarks and had to deal with the blizzards.
DeleteTake it easy and keep warm!
Jon, I think this sudden and unusual freeze we're having in November is happening all over the States. For the past two days here in Center City, Philadelphia, it's been in the 20's, with freezing rain/snow. But I have to say, I would MUCH rather deal with this than the horrendous heat we had to deal with this past summer. I know I'm usual, but cold (freezing) weather feels wonderful to me; whereas, hot and humid weather is utterly painful. So, I will take this cold over the heat I had to endure this summer anytime. This past summer felt like it would never end.
ReplyDeleteYour photographs are GORGEOUS! OMG, the view of your yard from your front porch is stunning. I love gray days, when everything is covered in snow/ice.
The pictures from your back porch are gorgeous as well.
"It kinda looks like I live in an Alpine fantasy instead of a hillbilly hell, doesn't it?"
HA! Yes, it does!
Have a great rest of your week, my friend!
P.S. love your autograph on the car windshield!
Ron, when I think of the heat and bugs that we had in September, the cold is a welcomed change. I just hate having to heat this frigid house. Actually, this dusting of snow put me in a festive mood. It's inspiring.
DeleteI'm glad you liked the photos. I'm surprised that the foliage is still hanging on. Usually it's almost all gone by this time of year. I'm in an extended Halloween mood and still have my pumpkins (I didn't carve them).
I like the windshield autograph, too. It turned out better than I thought it would.
And I like pretending I'm in an Alpine retreat!
Looks like heavy wet snow to me. That stuff clings in clumps to the branches and whatever it fancies--like cars. Looks like this might be a long winter. Stay warm--kitties, too! :)
ReplyDeleteIt was indeed a heavy wet snow and the car is still covered with it. It's nothing compared to what you get way up north - but it was an exciting event...for so early in the season.
DeleteIt's definitely going to be a long winter.
I left some bread out for the birds yesterday. I keep hoping I can get a photo of them eating - but they always seem to eat when I'm not looking.
Great photos, Jon! I showed Norma the iced rain with your name on it and she said, "I wonder if the weather addressed that ice just to Jon or does it do that for each house it visits." I suspect her idea of Tennessee is rather magical. Stay warm and enjoy the magic.
ReplyDeleteGeo - the weather apparently addresses the ice to everyone around here, but I seem to be one of only a few who incorporates it into creativity.
DeleteYes, Tennessee is magical....and the farther away you get from it, the more magical it becomes (*smile*).
Your conditions make me feel like a real wimp, bemoaning our 26* morning. Pretty smart, making that stick-to-your-ribs homemade soup. Tom's doing pork chops as we speak, but (shhh!), your soup sounds better.
ReplyDeleteMyra - I think it would be best if we had soup AND pork chops. At this point in my frigid environment, I'm considering 26 degrees to be a heat wave. I'll try to save some snow for Christmas.
Deleteit was 5 degrees here overnight. and we got 5 inches of snow. cold as hell. love your photos of the trees. that's a great autograph on your car. love it.
ReplyDeleteIt's far too early in the season to have five inches of snow. Mother Nature should have delayed it until Christmas. I haven't even gotten over Halloween yet...
DeleteI'm surprised that our autumn foliage still looks good in mid-November - I'm glad I was able to take these photos.
And I think I've got problems! It is freezing where I live and all the fires are keeping the rooms warm. Some are coal fires but some are driven by electricity.... HELP! We also have floods, just to make life even more insufferable. I decided to forget about electricity/gas bills and just take care of myself, after all it's only money lol. Did I really say that?
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear about the floods and freezing temperatures. I agree with you - - it's best for us to stay warm - despite the annoyingly high cost of heating bills. Take care and keep cozy!
DeleteOh wow those are really fine photos, specially the sprinklings of snow and the autumn colours! You do live in a beautiful place, despite the shortcomings. Maybe you could use some of the fallen timber to insulate the house. It sounds like it needs it. Reminds me, I'm going to make a stew tonight too. It's not as cold in London as it is where you are but it's cold enough.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised that the autumn foliage still looks so nice - - it's usually all gone by mid-November. It's ironic that I had a fireplace when I lived in (not) Texas, but don't have one here. I was thinking of getting a wood-burning stove so I could use some of that timber.
DeleteThe stew sounds wonderful!
Jon, I think you should frame the frosty autograph photo - it seems to have made many people smile (including me). We get tons of rain in the Pacific Northwest, but very little snow. That's what I miss most about Chicago - more than enough snow to make the world seem like a magical place!
ReplyDeleteStay safe and warm :-)
Dylan
I'm glad I decided to take that frosty "autograph" photo. At first I didn't think it would be interesting, but it turned out really good.
DeleteSnow does make the world seem like a magical place. Despite all the problems and inconveniences, I'm glad that I (finally) live in a place where there is a change of seasons. It's always inspiring - - and it always provides something for me to photograph.
I hope you're recovering from the flu. Unfortunately, it usually seems to drag on forever. Take care!
Holy crap. That's way too cold way too soon. I hope it isn't a sign of things to come. The past couple days have been pretty darned cold here, too, but nothing near THAT cold. And it's supposed to be back in the sixties in a few days. (Two or three days of winter are plenty for me.) Oh, and you can jolly well start a sentence with a conjunction if you want to!
ReplyDeleteHave a super weekend. Stay warm!
You can send me some of your 60s temperatures, Susan. Today it "warmed" up to nearly 40. It's definitely too early in the season to be this cold - - especially in TN.
DeleteHope you and Smarticus are hanging in there and doing well. Big Warm Hugs are sent your way.
Thanks. We are doing well. He's now more than 2/3 through with the radiation treatments and halfway through chemo. Woo HOO! Except for losing his hair and needing to take more frequent naps, he hasn't had any bad side effects. His appetite is still going strong, so I'm cooking him whatever his little heart desires. :)
DeleteOne thing about this unexpected cold snap is that it took the focus off the bug invasions and hopefully the little critters all froze. I mean that in the most sincere way and good riddance to them too. Wow on those wonderful scenes and I am slightly envious, but not quite wanting you to share any just yet as we have to travel at Thanksgiving. Once Dec arrives, then some snow would be welcomed. Sorry to read about the unexpected need to turn on the furnace. We had a big old house when we lived in VA and do now how costly staying warm can be, but the. The alternative isn’t good and sure the kitties appreciate not being frozen either. Like others have said, your autograph was a great post start. Stay warm and hope it warms up a bit but not too much to resurrect the dead buggers.
ReplyDeleteWell, I hope you will have a safe and snowless Thanksgiving. I agree that the snow should wait until December. This bitterly cold weather is very unusual this early in Tennessee. The best aspect is that it DID finally kill those pesky beetles....but now I have the dreaded task of cleaning them up!
ReplyDelete