While I am so very thankful we escaped the worst-case forecast when it comes to Winter Storm Fern, I know some were hit harder. And it’s still very cold – and will be cold – for the next week. Please keep staying safe and warm, friends!
Also, chicken update: They have barely come out of their coop/box, opting to stay cozy and warm inside with a few quick hops out to get a snack or sip of water. Smart chickens.
Benefit of having to keep the chickens in fresh water is I’m already outside and bundled, so I might as well snag some photographs while I’m out there. We even got very brave and took a short woods walk {walking in the snowy woods is one of our favorite things}, before scurrying back inside.
The first set of photographs is from January 19th, when we woke up to the most gorgeous hoarfrost. I decided to post them as a comparison to the way things look coated in wintry precipitation.
It’s amazing to me the multitude of forms “ice” can take. This hoarfrost happened because we had hours of rain and soggy snowflakes the day before, saturating everything thoroughly, before a very cold overnight low. You could see all the individual strands of ice/frost, especially on the chicken fence. And the sun made it glitter.
In contrast, these photographs are from yesterday and this morning, the aftermath of Winter Storm Fern. I think we must have had a little freezing rain to begin – just enough to get things wet – before the shift to very small snowflakes and a lot of sleet. Where typically freezing rain ice is glossy and clear, all of these coatings are almost velvety.
We are expected to make it just above freezing today {with nasty windchills}. Of course, anything that does melt today will freeze solid overnight, with forecast lows near single-digits. But the sun is out. The power is on. We are warm and safe. And Winter sparkles beautifully.
Embrace the hibernation, friends: stay cozy, be safe, and read all the things.
Love all your pictures, Rebecca. I’m glad you weathered the storm just fine. We ran the gamut from snow to sleet to freezing rain and back again, but thankfully our area did not lose power and idt had much ice damage. They closed the roads to all but emergency personnel, so people stayed safe! We are actually still under a Level 3 advisory until this evening. Lots of ice on the country roads still. I feel bad for those in states that had all the ice damage 😦 We will be below freezing now until February. I could not have picked a better time to retire 🙂
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Oh yay, I’m glad you escaped the worst too! Definitely picked an excellent time to retire 🙂 Our roads are still dubious in places, as is my yard 😂 but the sun keeps coming out and we’re breaking freezing during the day {but COLD at night} so hopefully things will start to clear – just in time for the next potential system to roll in Saturday/Sunday?!
Keep staying warm and cozy! ❤
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Your photos are stunning. I get such a kick out of snow/frost against a bluebird sky.
We have snow, snow, and more snow around here, but we are safe and warm.
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Thank you! Yes, I love how blue-blue-blue the sky gets, and then the sparkles against it? Makes it maybe not *quite* as terrible to be cold? 🙂
Glad you’re safe and warm with all the snow!
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Such gorgeous pictures!
We have had a LOT of snow and it is showing no signs of stopping. I think things are supposed to taper off tomorrow morning but I’m expecting schools will be closed another day while we plow/shovel out. I don’t really like winter but, to be honest, a proper storm feels nicer than slushy/wet/miserable weather. At least this feels cozy and does truly look beautiful.
That said, I’m hoping everyone goes back to school on Wednesday (though my daughter has exams Wednesday and Thursday so finishes at 11 am, and Friday is a planned day off for marking…so she might literally only have 4 hours of school in the ENTIRE WEEK)!
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Thank you! ❤
Yes! If it's going to be super cold and miserable, it might as well be gorgeous and snowy and beautiful to make up for it. This morning, having to repair a flapping tarp corner and refresh water for the chickens, it's just cold, with not much pretty left to appease the eyeballs. Sigh. Carolina Winter …
4 hours of school for the whole week?! Crazy thought! Snow days + exams … I can’t decide if that would make the week better or worse, as a student, haha 🙂 Good luck to Belle! And hang in there, mom ❤
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