Can you believe that we are already going into the third week of February? This has got to be one of the weariest winters in history. I think we have had just about every kind of precipitation there is. Where we live, up on the shore of Lake Ontario, we are one of the lucky ones who get quite a bit of lake effect snow. However we do not get as much as some of our northern neighbors. Do you believe they got more than four feet of snow in less than 12 hours the other day? Wow.
Saturday, my daughter and son-in-law and I traveled to Lake George to visit my daughter Brenda. When we left the weather was good, we had good roads all the way there, we saw many ice-coated trees (so pretty) the further north we went. After we had been there a few hours, it started to snow lightly and steadily.
We decided to cut our visit short and head for home and it is a good thing we did. The roads on the route we traveled were bad. We saw several cars off the road and visibility was bad. The ice-covered trees we saw on the way up were now coated with snow on top of the ice, and many had fallen. By the time we got to Albany and the Thruway, the weather had let up some and we could now see better and the snow-covered roads had changed to wet roads. By the time we got to Utica, we ran out of the bad weather and had dry roads the rest of the way home. It was well worth the trip, as Brenda had no idea we were coming so she was sure surprised.
The weather has a different effect on our little town. As a resort town, we rely a lot on tourists, fishermen, etc. and with the crazy weather we have been having, we have very little ice at this point. So therefore, the ice fishermen have not been around much. There are a few diehards that give it a go from time to time, but the ice has not been that good. Just as it freezes, it turns warmer and rains, ruining the ice. They had a fishing derby scheduled only to have to cancel it as all the wind this week has broken up the ice that had just nicely started to be good enough to go onto. Oh well, all part of living in upstate New York, I guess.
We are lucky enough here to have as one of our little community gems, The Sterling Nature Center. Every year they have a photo contest, the following is information on it.
Cayuga Naturally 2008 Photo Contest
The contest is under way so don't forget to snap a few photos of winters wonders! Cayuga County is a diverse and wonderful place filled with nature's best, from the shore of Lake Ontario to the heart of the Finger Lakes. Capture your favorite place for hiking, canoeing, fishing, hunting or other outdoor activities, as well as the beauty of the streams, lakes, trees, wildflowers, birds, animals and other aspects of nature. All photos must be taken within Cayuga County and be of nature-related subjects. For an official entry form, send a stamped self-addressed envelope to: SNC Photo, P.O. Box 216 Sterling, NY 13156.
They also hold several programs throughout the year and listed are the following programs scheduled for the next few weeks:
Winter Aconite Open House
11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 1
You are invited come out to the Sterling Nature Center for an open house to celebrate the blooming of the first flowers, winter aconite. Every year as February draws to an end and we struggle to break winter's grip, the aconite, with its six golden rays of hope, pushes up through the frozen ground and snow. Inside we will have hot cider and cookies available for you to enjoy while you visit, look over exhibits or do some armchair bird watching at the bird feeding stations. Outdoors there will be a cabin fever guided walk at 1 p.m., as well as the chance to go cross-country skiing, hiking, snow shoeing and sledding down our little hill (if conditions allow). If there is no snow you can still go for a hike to cure your cabin fever and look for signs of spring. The program is free and open to the public.
1 p.m. Saturday, March 1
Do you have cabin or spring fever? Or are you having trouble believing that winter will end and spring will be returning soon?
Join interpretive naturalist Jim D'Angelo for a hike in search of the signs of spring. We will search for the winter aconite blooms in the gardens as well as signs that winter is coming to an end.
With Easter so early this year, the following would be a fun thing to do. Wow, talking of Easter already, must be that spring is on the way.
Natural Egg Dying
1 p.m. Saturday, March 15
See what colors you can get from your pantry just in time for the spring table. Go back to nature with this fun and entertaining program using natural dyes to color your eggs.
Please bring your own boiled eggs to dye. An adult should accompany children. The program is free and open to the public.
The Nature Center is such a great place, just to go sit and watch the lake, birds or whatever. It is so peaceful and relaxing there.
Well, try to stay warm (isn't the cost of fuel unreal?), and have a great week. Until next time.
Nancy Webster lives and writes from the village of Fair Haven.
We decided to cut our visit short and head for home and it is a good thing we did. The roads on the route we traveled were bad. We saw several cars off the road and visibility was bad. The ice-covered trees we saw on the way up were now coated with snow on top of the ice, and many had fallen. By the time we got to Albany and the Thruway, the weather had let up some and we could now see better and the snow-covered roads had changed to wet roads. By the time we got to Utica, we ran out of the bad weather and had dry roads the rest of the way home. It was well worth the trip, as Brenda had no idea we were coming so she was sure surprised.
The weather has a different effect on our little town. As a resort town, we rely a lot on tourists, fishermen, etc. and with the crazy weather we have been having, we have very little ice at this point. So therefore, the ice fishermen have not been around much. There are a few diehards that give it a go from time to time, but the ice has not been that good. Just as it freezes, it turns warmer and rains, ruining the ice. They had a fishing derby scheduled only to have to cancel it as all the wind this week has broken up the ice that had just nicely started to be good enough to go onto. Oh well, all part of living in upstate New York, I guess.
We are lucky enough here to have as one of our little community gems, The Sterling Nature Center. Every year they have a photo contest, the following is information on it.
Cayuga Naturally 2008 Photo Contest
The contest is under way so don't forget to snap a few photos of winters wonders! Cayuga County is a diverse and wonderful place filled with nature's best, from the shore of Lake Ontario to the heart of the Finger Lakes. Capture your favorite place for hiking, canoeing, fishing, hunting or other outdoor activities, as well as the beauty of the streams, lakes, trees, wildflowers, birds, animals and other aspects of nature. All photos must be taken within Cayuga County and be of nature-related subjects. For an official entry form, send a stamped self-addressed envelope to: SNC Photo, P.O. Box 216 Sterling, NY 13156.
They also hold several programs throughout the year and listed are the following programs scheduled for the next few weeks:
Winter Aconite Open House
11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 1
You are invited come out to the Sterling Nature Center for an open house to celebrate the blooming of the first flowers, winter aconite. Every year as February draws to an end and we struggle to break winter's grip, the aconite, with its six golden rays of hope, pushes up through the frozen ground and snow. Inside we will have hot cider and cookies available for you to enjoy while you visit, look over exhibits or do some armchair bird watching at the bird feeding stations. Outdoors there will be a cabin fever guided walk at 1 p.m., as well as the chance to go cross-country skiing, hiking, snow shoeing and sledding down our little hill (if conditions allow). If there is no snow you can still go for a hike to cure your cabin fever and look for signs of spring. The program is free and open to the public.
1 p.m. Saturday, March 1
Do you have cabin or spring fever? Or are you having trouble believing that winter will end and spring will be returning soon?
Join interpretive naturalist Jim D'Angelo for a hike in search of the signs of spring. We will search for the winter aconite blooms in the gardens as well as signs that winter is coming to an end.
With Easter so early this year, the following would be a fun thing to do. Wow, talking of Easter already, must be that spring is on the way.
Natural Egg Dying
1 p.m. Saturday, March 15
See what colors you can get from your pantry just in time for the spring table. Go back to nature with this fun and entertaining program using natural dyes to color your eggs.
Please bring your own boiled eggs to dye. An adult should accompany children. The program is free and open to the public.
The Nature Center is such a great place, just to go sit and watch the lake, birds or whatever. It is so peaceful and relaxing there.
Well, try to stay warm (isn't the cost of fuel unreal?), and have a great week. Until next time.
Nancy Webster lives and writes from the village of Fair Haven.
