Good Times in Vermont: December 2009

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Back in California, Part 2

So, what do I do when I am in warm, sunny California? I go right back into the snow, apparently...

Snow cone!

Snow patterns...

Dad at the Cabin

Surprisingly, the lake was almost totally frozen!

Neat sunset!

I am heading back to Vermont tomorrow. I very much enjoyed spending time with family, but other than that, I am very much excited to be back home in the snow!

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Back in California, Part 1

So, I am back in California for a few days for Christmas. Of course we went to the beach, since there isn't one in Vermont.

Then, Neahga and I went to my favorite canyon, Solstice Canyon.

Sick burnt tropical plants!

Early-blooming phacelia

"fall color"

Ferns

water

fossils

large squirrel in tree

rocky canyon.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

I uploaded a ton of plant and landscape sketches I made during the last semester to a Flickr account. There are far too many to post here, though I posted some photographs of some of the sketches in the past.

Check it out here:

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Beaver Tracks?

IMG_7536.JPG, originally uploaded by inyopfc.

with beaver dam.

Beaver Tracks?

IMG_7537.JPG, originally uploaded by inyopfc.

note the drag mark, perhaps from a beaver's tail.

Poor Cows

IMG_7532.JPG, originally uploaded by inyopfc.

Winter

IMG_7531.JPG, originally uploaded by inyopfc.

A few months ago we were canoeing here!

Ice Formations

IMG_7530.JPG, originally uploaded by inyopfc.

It looks like the river froze over quite fast, then the water level dropped, leaving weird ice pieces.

Hole in the Ice

IMG_7525.JPG, originally uploaded by inyopfc.

Maybe someone fell in the river? You could see water flowing by under the ice. I threw some sticks at it but didn't attempt to walk on the ice, which would have been a really bad idea.

Winooski River

IMG_7523.JPG, originally uploaded by inyopfc.

The Winooski River is almost totally iced over near Ethan Allen Homestead

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Single Digits in Vermont

So, what IS it like when it's 7 degrees (F) out? I found out this week... and it is quite interesting, though very cold.

It looks like it says 73 degrees, but it isn't the case.

It's like being on another planet, where you have to wear a space suit to go outside. Of course, I wear more cold weather gear than others since I am used to warm California still.

Lake Champlain takes a long time to freeze. Meanwhile the temperature of the water is near 39 degrees even though the air temperature is 7. The lake looks like it is steaming in the morning when it isnt windy.

Even though the lake hasn't frozen, any water that splashes on rocks, plants or anything else near the lake freezes solid.

As I walked away from the lake I noticed numerous tiny ice crystals in the air. It was quite odd but is probably the sort of thing that always happens when it is 7 degrees F.

As it turns out I found cheap plane tickets to California so I'll be spending the next week and a half back in warm weather. It will be a weird contrast! However, they've had some rain so it should be green and pretty.