Woohoo! Peggy and I looked outside and the snow was coming down. We haven’t seen much in our neck of the woods lately. The D word is making the rounds again. The D stands for DROUGHT. We try not to use the word in case we might invoke it!
New snow means we have to go out for a walk. And you are invited. Please join us. We have to go out soon. The snow normally doesn’t last long here— a few hours at most! This view is from our patio looking west.
We will start on our patio…
We may have all of two inches! But beware, danger lurks…
Peggy simply cannot resist new snow…
Moving around the house the sun breaks out briefly. I’m not sure Cockle Doodle is as happy about the snow as we are…
Nor are the daffodils who are about to burst out in bloom proclaiming it is spring.
Big Red was disgusted…
…that Quivera the Van was protected in our pole barn while he was forced to sit out in the open.
The walk up our road takes us past this Douglas fir lightly dusted with snow…
And past its cousins.
Soon, we have entered the Rogue River National Forest that backs up to our property.
A piece of quartz has retained enough heat to reject the snow and reminds us that “Thar is gold in them thar hills!”
Several miners’ cabins once stood above our home. All that remains is a cave and this old auto body. Our son-in-law’s dad, Doug Cox— who knows about such things— says that this is likely a 1919/20 Essex.
Gnarly oak limbs have a way of pulling me in to admire their beauty in fresh snow…
As did this Ponderosa pine reaching for the heavens.
A madrone showed off its unique bark by forming a V.
I thought these trees deserved a black and white treatment.
Peggy insisted that I photograph this manzanita.
Manzanita leaves decorated with snow.
A slight detour gave us a view of the Upper Applegate Valley and Sanctuary 1, a home for farm animals that don’t have a home. Blackberries have a front-row seat.
Normally fresh snow provides a whole world of animal tracks for us. This time, all we found were a few bird tracks. These were made by an Oregon Junco. Peggy and I wondered if the local cougar was hanging out in our area again.
Blue skies suggested that our snow storm was about over.
Peggy insisted that I pose in front of an old oak. We call it the Hobbit Tree because it looks like it would fit right into Fanghorn Forest or the Shire.
It’s a tough old coot. Wait, was that why Peggy insisted on photographing me there.
“Why don’t you let me take a photo of you under the Douglas fir limb, Sweetheart?”
Whoops! 🙂
Later, when it was time to go on our newspaper and mail walk, the snow around our house had pretty much melted but was hanging on in the surrounding hills and mountains…
While the Applegate River had returned to looking spring-like.
My last photo for the day. On Monday we return to our trip down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. Thanks for joining us on our walk today!
Wandering through Time and Place 
Brrrrr…..Beautiful though. It was 26F last night and the night before. The orchards are not happy and we are still in drought.
Mother Nature is really confused, Cindy. It isn’t unusual for us to see a bit of snow in February and March, but that doesn’t stop our plants from hoping for warm weather and budding out. As for drought, we had hoped it might be past given last year’s snow and rain in the Sierra’s and Cascade’s. Sigh. On the positive side, Sierra passes may improve my chances for a major walk this summer. 🙂
Beautiful.
Thanks, Ray. Not much snow down Florida way.
Lovely walk. We’re heading in to winter, but almost never get that much snow.
It isn’t common here, Peggy: two to three times a year and usually gone in a day, or at least a few days. Thanks. –Curt
Beautiful photos!
Thanks’ Carrie! –Curt
We had to head up into the hills to find any white stuff to play with. It was perfect for snowballs. Great to visit, but I’m getting soft in my old age… don’t want it sticking close to home for long.
It’s the best of all possible worlds when it comes in overnight and is gone by mid-afternoon. 🙂
What a gorgeous walk! Your ‘hobbit tree’ does look like it could strike up a conversation some day- beautiful. Ha! Poor Peggy- hopefully she got some ‘snowball revenge’ for the Douglass fir trick…
The thing about Peggy, Anne Clare, is that she likes to stand under trees and have snow fall on her. 🙂 Remember, she also likes to jump off cliffs into water. I thought that when she passed 65 that might change. It hasn’t.
I like to believe, if we listen carefully, the hobbit tree does talk to us. (grin) –Curt
She’s fun AND she bakes cookies! 🙂
Good cookies! Mmmm… 🙂 And loads of fun. –Curt
I’d love to join you, but… our snowy Pyrénées are much closer… 🙂
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have a fine Sunday and an inspiring week, you – beautiful people! ❤
Thanks, Melanie! I am sure your Pyrénées are more snowy than where we live. Peggy just told me that nearby Crater Lake now has 87 inches however. –Curt
Lovely winter photos, Curt. I long for the coming winter. We finally had some good soaking rain. It was badly needed.
Thanks, Gerard. This is really the first sustained weather we have had this year. There is fresh snow out again this morning. Glad you are getting wet. 🙂 –Curt
Oh snow fights. How we missed that!
So if it snows good, this means the snowmelt will bring lots of water right?
It usually takes Peggy about five seconds to whip up her first snowball. 🙂 And yes, a heavy snowpack reduces the possibility of drought. We aren’t there yet, however. –Curt
Let’s see. If this snow continues, it is ‘good’ in a way
Yes it is. We do need the water, and snow is stored water!
We have seen no snow yet this winter but forecasters are promising a major fall this week. Apparently weather is coming in from Russia and is billed as the ‘Beast From The East’
Great pictures!
The “Beast from the East,” eh. Sounds like our polar express when really cold stuff comes in from Canada and other points north.
Thanks, Andrew. I can’t resist running outside with my camera when the snow falls because of the beauty and because I know it won’t last long. We had fresh snow this morning and I was out in my slippers. The slippers had a discussion with me about inappropriate use. 🙂 –Curt
The Douglas Fir trees are made for a dusting of snow – they look so idyllic! Until standing under one of course and snow cascades down! Curt, it’s been lovely to join you both on your snow walk … we are promised some next week as part of the arctic freeze! The landscape becomes pretty but not so wonderfully dramatic as yours! Hope the D threat lifts for you all.
Snow here again this morning, Annika. It makes the third time in the last couple of weeks we have awakened to our winter wonderland. It should melt pretty quickly. At least I am hoping so since I have to drive the 30 miles to town! Thanks on the D. –Curt
I hope the daffodils survive the cold!
They usually do, Jess. I can’t say that they are happy about the white stuff, however. 🙂 Thanks for commenting. –Curt
It does seem a bit odd having snow and cold strike after the roses are pruned, the crocus are out, and the daffodils are getting ready to pop. Pretty though.
I’ve noticed since we moved here seven years ago, Dave, we’ve had late-winter snow here several times. Shooting stars, another early harbinger of spring, are also starting to poke up out the ground. They haven’t bloomed yet, however. Did you get much snow in Portland? –Curt
Oh, that was surprisingly enjoyable! I am relishing all the snow walks I can take virtually this winter. 🙂
Lots of snow and water all over Lexi. We woke up to more snow here this morning. Positively beautiful outside. –Curt
What a wonderland. Really magical (Even more so, compared to the mud from, all the rains here!)
I really like the picture of the car parts dusted with white (just like sculpture), the Ponderosa pine (those always smell like the mountains to us), the black and white treatment and the one Peggy insisted on.
Lovely (Spring is arriving here with robins, monarch and citrus tree blooms already – too fast! – Scorching heat not far behind UGH)
We love it Phil. We came upon it a few years back when I was doing genealogical research in the area. It just happen to coincide with a search we were doing for a place to land after three years of travel. Other that what seem like inevitable forest fires in August (and smoke), it is perfect for us. Good choice of photos. Thanks. –Curt
Magical photos 🙂 I really enjoyed them, thanks for sharing. I love that you can actually see the snow falling in that first one – I was never able to master that while living in a snowy climate!
Thanks, MB. The fact that the snowflakes were huge helped. 🙂 –Curt
Ha! I bet!
Soooo pretty! Thanks for the foray into your backyard!
My pleasure, Kelly. 🙂 –Curt
The botanists call spring’s “now you see them, now you don’t” flowers by the name “ephemerals.” It occurs to me your snow shares that quality; it’s an ephemeral, too. Some people get snowdrops, and you get snow-drops!
Good word, ephemeral. I suspect it could also apply to our lives, Linda. –Curt
Snow pictures always tricky as I found out today. Had to take off my gloves to take them … yours are majestic, as always!
Thanks, Dave. My pinkies were feeling it since I never put any gloves on! 🙂
The snow in your pictures is just enough to be pretty but not so debilitating. Now, that third nor’easter this week in Boston — not so pretty any more!
Yeah… we flew into Logan, yesterday… 🙂 –Curt
The most perfect kind of snow. Arriving for some snow photos and play and gone by the time the mail/newspapers arrive. You and Peggy are having way too much fun! All my best to both of you, – JoHanna
Absolutely, JoHanna! But I don’t think there is anything as ‘having way too much fun.” 🙂 –Curt