Our Backyard

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Our back yard accumulates snow during the winter. This photo does not depict a typical winter; normally we remove all snow from the back yard and deck leaving snow only on the hardy rosebushes. The top window ledge is approximately 3½m (12 ft) from the ground. The twigs sticking out from the snow are some of Gary's hardy northern roses; this rosebush has flourished for ten years. The wooden dowels were 'planted' by Gary so he doesn't damage his roses or flower bed when he or his son are removing snow. Not only is snow an excellent insulator (ten inches of snow equals about six inches of fiberglass insulation) it also acts as a muffler. We're always amazed when the snow melts that we can hear sounds from IOCC and the railroad that are muted in the winter. The snow removed from our driveway is pushed across the street.

View of the same window. Top photo taken outdoors and left taken from inside. The 2 m (6 ft) wide deck is completely hidden by the snow.

When the temperature warms to almost thawing and there's a strong wind, it results in odd-shaped icicles on our second story eaves.