The Great Snowpalooza of 2017
[Photos from 26 February – 1 March 2017, posted online 1 May 2017. Finnur and Anna are in Paris this long weekend, on her confirmation gift trip.]
This winter was a warm one. Even climate-change-y warm if you are inclined to believe scientists.
In fact, February was so warm that the news were full of photos of trees starting to bloom way too early, and birds preparing to lay eggs, also way too early…
Thankfully, a freak snow-dump turned winter back on, with style. Yup, we went to bed with almost no snow, and woke up to 50-60cm (almost 2 feet) of powder covering everything!
Happily, the snow-dump happened on a Sunday, so we had lots of time to clear the driveway, and saw neighbors out we’ve never seen before. 🙂 (42 images total)
Sunday 26 February 2017
The view out the window at 08:40 in the morning.
The first order of business was trudging out into the backyard to look for the snow-shovel I’d left LYING ON THE GROUND somewhere. I got really lucky and found it (bumped my toes into it) on the second pass.
Deep snow! But thankfully very light and fluffy, and not very wet.
The backyard. You can judge the snow depth by how far up on the BBQ it goes.
Bjarki in his favorite costume, checking out the snow situation.
Two kids outside, as I begin clearing the snow off of the cars.
I ended up having to help push one car back to its parking lot, as it was obviously not driving anywhere that day. Meanwhile, Emma camped out by the side of the road.
One car clear of stuff, and Anna finally outside helping.
What’s the best way to dig cars out of snow?
The day quickly turned gorgeous!
Hrefna: “Hey, this would be a great day to go hot tubbing.” Finnur just goes out and makes it happen. Magic!
By two in the afternoon, the cars were free, and we’d cleared out a parking space for our neighbors who were due to return from Barcelona that night. Our ulterior motive for being good neighbors was that we were expecting guests for dinner, and they needed a place to park!
We needed to buy a few things at the grocery store, but weren’t sure our cars would make it. So on foot/sled we went, Anna, Emma, and I. (See all the people outside?!?!)
Navigating snow!
Happily, the main walking path up the hill had been cleared, so the walk wasn’t too difficult.
The view down the hill. There weren’t a whole lot of cars around.
Emma enjoying the sweet life.
The store in sight!
The last little bit had not been cleared, and navigating the roundabout was a little tricky, but we got there in the end!
Emma wanting everything in the store!
Walking back, under menacing clouds.
Up on the sound barrier by our street.
I managed to climb up too!
Our street.
Mmmm, snow!
Butt-sliding down.
We cleverly took a second sled to carry the groceries!
Our guests arrived in one piece, and the kids happily went hot tubbing.
So. Much. Snow!
The kids quickly began dumping snow into the tub, but since warm water keeps flowing into it, it was fine.
Icicles.
The view from the living room at 7 pm. What a fun day!
Monday 27 February 2017
We had no way to clear the snow off our roof, so over the next few days, it came down, eeeever sooo sloooowly. The icicles were spectacular! And horizontal!!!
Photographing horizontal icicles is remarkably difficult!
Tuesday 28 February 2017
The next morning some of the snow had come down, and landed on the garage roof. It was as if icicles had grown out of the roof!
Please don’t fall down and kill anybody!
Same icicles seen from below, later in the day.
The situation at the back of the house…
Wednesday 01 March 2017
The next day, the snow at the back of the house had crept even lower down, forming very impressive structure!!
The other direction…
Icicle facing the wrong way.
As a birthday present to myself, I pushed lightly on the wall of ice, and almost all of it crashed down. It was extremely satisfying!
Thus endeth the most intense snow-days in recent memory. The snow lingered far into March, so early-spring was delayed somewhat.
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