Snowed In!

The sky cleared during the night.  I couldn't sleep and got up about 3 am to make a cup of tea.  It was very bright outside, but the windows were heavily frosted.  The window I took yesterday's blip from was the exception.  I gasped at the wonder when I looked out.  The snowy scene was glowing in the moonlight, the sky was greyish blue, and to the right of the tall fir tree the bright star Canopus flashed its jewel colours.  It was magical.

Today was sunny, with a pale blue, cloudless sky.  Everywhere was beautiful under the deep cover of snow.  But I found myself hemmed in.  There was at least 45 cms of snow at each door.  My waterproof boots are 23 cms high.  I could see Mount Hutt and Ben More from the house, but not the Torlesse Range.  My curiosity could not be contained.

I kitted up and took my camera and my walking stick that my son made for my birthday.  I sank into the soft snow to above my knees.  The front path was heavy going.  Fortunately I'd left the gate ajar yesterday and could squeeze through the opening.  The mound of hard and soft snow thrown up by the snowplough was challenging.  The stick was a lifesaver on many occasions.

Once on the road it was relatively easy, though the surface was icy.  Off I went on a walk in the brilliant landscape and sweet silence.  Occasionally the snowplough passed on the main road, or a farm truck went by, but mostly I had it all to myself.  I watched a very pale moon sink behind Abners Head.

This shot is of the stock water race, a narrow canal that takes water to farms for animals to drink.  There was a thin film of ice on the flowing water. That is very unusual.  The overnight low temperature was -8.7ºC*, the lowest I have recorded.  Although the temperature didn't reach 2º all day there was no wind and it didn't seem particularly cold.

A lot of birds have come to be fed.  At one stage there were more than 30 house sparrows, the most I've seen since they were almost wiped out by an infection a few years ago.

We had power last night, but no internet.  I managed to get only one comment in before it went off.  Now I'm very tired.  I may not get far tonight.  Thank you so much for all the lovely comments and the hearts.  I do appreciate them.

* Edit: that's as low as my thermometer goes. It actually went down to just below -11ºC!

Nice large