Snowy Reflections

Here's another picture from last week's snow up the lake.


As we leaving the cabin after the storm, we had a chance to enjoy the snow covered scene reflected in the calm lake surface.

Stop by Weekend Reflections for more great photos from around the world. - Margy

Not All the Snow is in Sochi

Yesterday morning we woke to a gentle snow storm.


 It began at 2:00 in the morning and was still falling lightly when we opened the sliding glass door.


We don't get snow down at our elevation often, but when it happens we enjoy the experience. I just hope they got more in the high country. We'll need it come summer to keep our lake level up. -- Margy

Foguary

January is fog time in Powell River. In between rain coming off the Pacific, there are high pressure breaks that should bring us some much needed sunshine. But this time of year a forecast of "sunny" often means "foggy."

The fog can cling to the surface of Powell Lake for many hours. Some days it barely rises above the surface of the water and out of the tops of the trees.

On other days, the fog harbours ice. Fog depositing ice leaves frost encrusted trees in it's wake.

It's an amazing weather month, even if it is hard to get around sometimes. -- Margy

Frost Beards

Several years ago, Wayne and I discovered an unusual phenomenon while on a quad ride. It's called frost beard or flowers. In our area, it's most often seen on fallen alder trees and branches.

The frost formations occur in freezing weather before the ground is frozen. Moisture trapped under the bark or rising in the stem expands, causing long, thin cracks to form.


Water is then drawn through these cracks and freezes. As the process continues, it pushes thin ice strands further from the stem, causing the beard or flower appearance to form. Here's an interesting video by Chris Karrow on YouTube of how frost flowers and beards are formed. Have you ever seen a frost beard or flower? -- Margy