Tuesday, January 22, 2013

ICE WATCHING


It was 5˚F when Moon-the-Dog and I went outside this morning. We both paused at the edge of the deck. Moon sniffed the deep-chilled air, looked back at me appreciatively, and went snuffling off to check things out under the cedars. Of course she has a warm fur coat. I had on thin sweat pants, a tee-shirt, and house slippers—and let's just say it didn't take me long to shoot a couple of photos, toss out a few scoops of cracked corn for the ground feeders, and make a hasty retreat back inside to wait at the entryway window for my old pooch and not risk frostbite.

Yup, it was cold out there. But not cold enough to freeze the river…at least not yet.

Since moving here to this riverbank cottage, I've become something of an expert at ice watching. When and where ice along the river forms, and how quickly, reflects many factors—water conditions including current speed and pool level, weather before the cold arrived, how long the current cold spell has endured, how cold it has been during the days and especially the nights, and such things as wind, amount of sunshine, and cloud cover.

The weather has been cold and geting progressively colder over the past several days and nights; the coldest temperatures we've seen all season. Yet only now has ice begun forming along the edges of the banks, atop the slower pools, and capping a few rocks in the big riffle. The ice-sheathes will continue to grow throughout the coming week, as temperatures are predicted to remain several degrees below freezing throughout. But any freeze substantial enough to form ice from bank-to-bank across the river's slowest stretch will have to work at it to get the job done, and it's certainly not going to happen overnight.

I will be watching. 


10 comments:

Gail said...

HI GRIZZ - "Ice watching" wonderful as is the picture. I so loved watching our pond on The Trail" freeze over a bit away from where the brook fed in to it. The 2 ponds further away froze over because the water was not moving as was the case in front of our home. I miss the sound of the brook and "ice watching" so much. Truth be told I miss our home on The Trail. Not to say our bungalow and surroundings aren't lovely, they are. I just still feel like "The Trail" is still home. sigh......
Love to you
Gail
peace.....

AfromTO said...

I think watching things is very important work.that and lounging 2 of my favourite jobs. very satisfying when well done.

Grizz………… said...

Gail…

Favorite places, like favorite people, stay with us because they've earned space in our our histories and lives. It isn't just a mindset; it's a heartset. When a place ceases being just somewhere we sleep and eat, hang our clothes and have our furniture, it becomes home—our HOME—part of us, and it stays home inside us always, forever…which doesn't mean you can't have more than one "home" place in your heart. Life is bittersweet. But time dulls the sharpest edges. Don't judge where you NOW live by where you DID live. Let your new place shine, be itself on its own merits…and in time, maybe you'll be able to love it for what it is instead of not liking it for what it isn't. Cherish the old, embrace the new. Give it a chance to become home.

Grizz………… said...

AfromTO…

I agree wholeheartedly! One should watch with enthusiastic patience, and lounge with languid verve. An art mastered only through habitual dedicated practice.

George said...

Ah, your winter have finally arrived, my friend. It's quite cold here as well, though I wouldn't complain about my 17 degrees this morning, compared to your 5 degrees yesterday.

Grizz………… said...

George…

We still haven't gone below zero…yet?…but recent temps have been the coldest we've felt in a couple of years. I was out walking the other night admiring the close alignment of the quarter-moon and Jupiter, the temperature was somewhere in the single digits, the sky wonderfully clear, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself—the quiet and cold, the way my breath made luminous clouds against the darkness, and the icy brilliance of uncountable stars overhead. I'm glad for this bit of winter.

Gail said...

Hi Grizz - oh such beautiful and wise words - our bungalow is home and we are heart-setting it for all that it is to and for us - The Trail has a heart place forever and so too will our bungalow. Thank you for the words that tapped a well of tears this sunny cold Winter's day. I love you...
Gail
peace....

The Weaver of Grass said...

Get yourself wrapped up warm Grizz - don't want you freezing to death. Do show us a photograph if your river freezes over - I love your river so much.

Grizz………… said...

Gail…

I didn't mean to make you cry. Please forgive me. I was just trying to give you a different perspective—not because I'm wise, but because I've been there, know firsthand the way some places attach themselves to our hearts…and have gone through the heartbreak and trauma, the sorrow, grief, and tears of loss when they had to be given up. I'm definitely not wise. I'm simply a man with his own similar scars, hoping to help ease the hurting of a friend. Again, I'm sorry…

Grizz………… said...

Weaver…

I'm staying warm, so no worries there. I have my new woodstove going and the great room is quite cozy, and there's an arctic-grade goosedown parka from L.L. Bean in the closet for when I go outside should the temperature go seriously below zero or the wind really kick up. I'm really far more uncomfortable when it's within a few degrees either side of freezing and damp. Now, though, at 12˚F (-11˚C) I'm perfectly comfortable outside if I'm moving around, just wearing a lightweight jacket and gloves. For me, it isn't keeping my head warm or my feet, it's my hands. And this has been the case since I was a kid. If my hands are warm, I'm warm.

I will make and post photos should the river freeze noticeably more. Today, however, in spite of temperatures still being well below freezing, the ice formation doesn't appear much different than yesterday.