What crazy weather is this!!

On the weekend, we were in Toronto and then Peterborough - both locations completely "snow"less.

As we headed back up, we ran into a few flakes in Gravenhurst, which continued for the rest of the trek. We passed a number of lakes that looked like they were partially or completely iced over - with a little coating of snow. And we were surprised to see the same site on our lake when we got home.

But, in keeping with the forecast of warmer temps, this is what it looks like this morning.

 Certainly not very Christmas card like, is it?

And the forecast doesn't seem to hold much promise of white stuff either.

The Ice Cometh

Here is what we woke to this morning, following a grey and drizzly day yesterday. And lots of melting on Monday.

If you look carefully at the top picture, you can see not only the frost on the glass panels, but little things floating in the water. The second picture shows it a bit better - ice crystals starting to form.

This seems very strange indeed, since we have been having practically balmy days of 5 degrees!! We went to Barrie yesterday for an appointment and it was 9 degrees there - wow!

We have lost most of the snow that we got on the weekend, which was enough to get the snow blowers out again. I guess we are on the northern edge of the weather pattern that Toronto is having - they are expecting a high of 11 tomorrow and they have NO snow. We aren't that warm, obviously, but we don't have a lot of snow compared to other years.

There is only a 1 in 3 chance for Toronto to have a white Christmas, which is sad, since everyone - even the most avid snow haters - want to see flakes on Christmas Eve. I think our chances are considerably better. I just don't want it to interfere with everyone's travel plans.

Even though I don't want a ton of snow, I am keenly aware of those who rely on it for their livelihood.
We passed Mount St. Louis Moonstone yesterday and other than the two runs they have been blowing snow on, there is nothing!!!!

Plus, we passed quite a few pick up trucks with plows on their fronts - who looked a bit obvious on the totally bare highway. Those guys depend on that work to supplement their seasonal employment, so that can't be good for them.

I feel pretty confident we don't have to worry in this neck of the woods. I just hope that the late start doesn't mean a late finish - with snow in April.

I spoke too soon.

As forecast, we woke up to quite a little blanket of white stuff this morning. Even when it was still coming down, it looked pretty, so I took a few pictures from inside.

Thought I would share.

These were from early morning, while it was still snowing.

And here's what it looked like after the sun came out.

Proof positive that everything looks better in the sunshine.

S'no more snow.

It came - and it went - now it is like spring/fall again.

We are getting the same mild spell that everyone else seems to be experiencing. Yesterday was particularly soggy with rain all day.

Today is overcast, with some pretty amazing clouds and very dark water on the lake.

I know we are in for some white stuff soon, but no shoveling in the month of November appeals to me.

Here We Go Again

Well, the weather forecast was eerily correct, for a change. Last night they predicted snow and when I was about half way to town, sure enough, there it was. It didn't amount to much and was very localized - to the point of nearly individual cloud formations having snow, hail or nothing. We didn't get anything at our cottage until this morning.

Here is what it looked like then. Cars and trucks from just a bit further north had lots of snow on them, so I think the "localized" is the buzz word.

Driving back from town in the early afternoon, here is what the road looked like.

Certainly not the 30 cm they were talking about. And the forecast is for higher temps tomorrow, so who knows.

But right now it's around 3:30 and looking out the studio window, it looks like this.

Quite pretty, which is always the initial reaction....and I figured you would want to see.

So glad we got the lights up before the cold weather hits.

Everything is Falling

The leaves. The temperature. People's moods.

Ah yes, the almost-November syndrome. And after relentless days of rain and grey, everything and everyone is a bit ugly. Fickle Mother Nature has followed up her most glorious, colourful days with dismal ones.

Not all the leaves are down - but most. And with all the rain, it makes it difficult to keep on top of the blowing. These pictures were taken before we did our first blowing, and when it stops raining, we will do a second to get what has fallen since.

There is a rumour of wet snow by the end of the week, so I guess things could be worse. We all know it is coming, but not that quickly, please. Our earliest recorded snowfall since we have been here - at least one that stayed - was November 5th. And that same year, the last snowfall was May 5th. Let's not repeat that, shall we.

There was also a bit of an adventure this week retrieving a runaway boat. During one of the high winds, it blew into open water and was spotted moving around the bay. By next morning, it had found shelter on the lee side of Booze Island.

Since our boats have all gone into hibernation, our canoe became the rescue craft.  Luckily, there was absolutely no contact with the very chilly water. The end of the story is a happy one, with the errant boat back on terra firma. And some very grateful owners.

Hopefully, the sun will come out soon - maybe in time for the little Trick or Treaters, something that we obviously don't see here - but a costume with a rain coat is just no fun.

The Foliage and the Weekend Were Perfect

I don't think I can remember a Thanksgiving weekend that was as beautiful as this one was. The weather was unbelievably mild (someone actually went in the water on Saturday). And the colour totally reached its peak on Saturday.

When we went for the tin boat ride, I didn't have my camera. So we went out again this afternoon and I took quite a few pics. Even with boat motion, they are not too blurry and I think capture the colours. I love the juxtaposition of the colours to one another, the leaves to the evergreens, and the contrast of the foliage against the trees that are nearly gone and how the birches stand out in the colour.

I hope you enjoy these. There are 35 here and I just decided to share them all. No editing.

It really is like living in a Group of Seven painting at this time of year.