Mother Nature has been rather cruel to Northern Wisconsin this spring since when there is even a hint of spring arriving, more than a foot of new snow blankets the ground again. And Duluth, MN has set the fifth snowiest winter and with more snow predicted tonight, they might make number four.
I don’t know if spring will ever come before winter starts again and even my ducks must have headed south again as they didn’t like the snow.
Will Spring Come
Winter’s Strong Grip
Dry creek beds and little streams increase their size and look larger when the snow melts. And always good when the snow melts slowly so flooding doesn’t occur, even if many of us want all the snow gone right now. My little pond has filled up and is overflowing so maybe when the ice melts off the top, I will get some visiting ducks.
Winter River
Finally with some warmer temperatures this week, the snow is beginning to melt and maybe we will be done with winter sunsets for a while. But then we had a blizzard in May last year so probably will have a few more yet.
Winter Sunset
Yesterday I saw a lone trumpeter swan flying low by my place and it was checking out my pond but continued to fly by since my pond was totally ice covered yet. Other places reported their arrival yesterday, although the southern part of the state already seen their arrival last month, even if not a lot of open water for them then.
Course it is hard to get a picture when both heads are up when they are foraging for food but when they are in sync, they both have water running off their noses.
Trumpeter Swans
Battered and worn, this windmill has seen many seasons and it looks as tired as I am that this winter won’t end.
Wind Battered
I prefer the autumn picture I took of this barn and I imagine a spring picture would be pretty when the apple tree is in blossom, but I don’t know if I will get to see the spring picture since it is snowing again today so there would be more snow covering the trees and fence. And that might make a pretty picture too, but I can’t get out of the driveway yet until I clear the snow to go take the picture.
For those tired of winter, look at the autumn scene instead, click on this link – Signs of Autumn.
Signs of Winter
This cute little barn caught my eyes with the red doors, but the white barn sure would stand out more if there was green grass in the foreground instead of white snow.
Red Doors
Mother nature provided an April’s Fool joke this morning. Daffodils and other early bulb flowers should be displaying bright colors but instead the trees are rattling with a new layer of ice and the gusty winds are blowing snowflakes around.
So for all the people who keep telling me spring is coming, the joke is on us as winter has latched on with mighty grips and is not letting go.
Nature’s Joke
Another month is ending and I haven’t decided if March is going out like a lion or a lamb. It definitely came in like a lion but today it is actually warm enough for rain at the moment so could be a lamb. But the ground is still buried under snow and the rain is supposed to switch to snow later tonight so doesn’t seem to lamb like to me. And some areas are being impacted with a blizzard so March is going out for a lion for them.
End of March
The barn styles often change from one area to another. The foundations may be field stones, limestone or cement depending on available materials. The roof may be rounded, have several pitches or single pitch.
Weathervanes or cupolas may adorn the roofs. Cupola, meaning little cupo or little dome, allowed light in and hot air to escape and have been a part of wooden barns history. Farmers have often referred to a cupola as a roof over a hole in the roof. This barn, built in 1893, proudly displays a pretty cupola.
Cupola Barn
