by Leslie Cox; Friday, November 24, 2012

I have been immersed in the subject of GMOs lately and am now quite depressed. It is probably heightened by the dismal grey days of autumn added to the rivers of rain coursing down the windows and the roar of the wind threatening to lift the roof off the house during the last storm.

But yesterday and today there is sunshine and the weatherman is forecasting sun for tomorrow too here in the Comox Valley. Sun always helps lift my spirits.

I did not waste too much time yesterday morning to take Molly for her morning walk. Had not checked the long range forecast yet and one never knows how long the non-rainy periods will last here on the West Coast. Heading out the door, I am really glad I grabbed up my gloves at the last minute…just in case.

It was cold yesterday…cold enough for snow. Yet the overnight low only went down to 3 °C. It felt more like -3 °C…at least. Some after effects of my cold, I guess.

We have had our first snowfall for the year already. On Nov. 11th – Remembrance Day – of all days…and a full week earlier than last year. Luckily, we only got about an inch (2.5 cm) that was gone by the next day…except for the odd patch here and there. Last year we got 5.5 inches (14 cm)  that stuck around for a week or more.

 

This photo on the left is of the first snowfall in the back garden in Nov. 2012 taken from our dining room window.

 

 

 

 

The photo on the right is of the front garden, also taken in Nov. 2012…a peek-a-boo shot of our pumpkin showing a bright spot of colour next to where my Kolkwitzia amabalis ‘Pink Cloud’ always shines in a cloud of pink blossoms in spring.

 

   

 

The photo on the left here was taken last year – Nov. 18, 2011. A deeper blanket of snow…and quite pretty. We did not get too much snow after this date last year. Mere dustings of snow two days in mid December that were hardly worth mentioning.

 

Heading into the new year, there were only five snow days throughout January with four inches (10 cm) the maximum and some snow over the last two days of February that stuck around into the first days of March.

But what a start to spring on March 19th. One inch of snow on the first day followed by two days of sleet and hail! Sheesh!

However, even with that nasty start to our spring, we really did not have that much snow last winter. It all stayed up on the ski hill where it belongs. Mt. Washington garnered the world’s record for the most snow…second year in a row.

Let’s hope it stays up there again this year! But time will tell, of course.