We are ice-bound!

[PJMcK]

Our house is in Northeast Pennsylvania in the Lower Catskills on the Upper Delaware River. It's a beautiful area with rolling mountains, plentiful wildlife and fresh air.

This winter has been the most intense we've experienced in more than 10 years! There have been repeated snowfalls followed by rain that froze and then was covered by more snow. The result is we can't drive down our driveway! It's a little more than 100 yards long but the vertical drop is about 75 feet. With all the ice, there isn't any traction so we can't drive.

Fortunately, the town is only about a half mile walk and we're well-provisioned. The weather is supposed to warm up this week so hopefully I'll be able to clear the driveway!

[surfered]

1. Stay home, stay warm till the thaw. I bet it's beautiful the other 9 months of the year.

We have also had unusual weather here on a barrier Island in the former Gulf of Mexico, then Gulf of America, but now the Gulf of Surfered.

I’ve lived here 55 years. On average, it used to freeze every other year, usually a light freeze just before sunrise.

This year we’ve had two freezes, the first getting down to 31 and the second down to 29. Prior to this second freeze, we had warm spells in the low 70s causing the plants to begin to bud. I even pruned the frozen foliage, thinking spring had sprung.

Each of the previous four winters had a hard freeze, getting down to 18 and remaining below freezing for 33 hours. This was unheard of in my lifetime.

But some people claim climate change is a hoax.

[Walleye]

2. Wow, be careful. Don't take any chances. It's not worth it. Predicting a warm-up here next week I hope so.

[PJMcK]

3. Thanks!

We’re hunkered down and it’s a lovely day. My plow-guy is going to bring salt tomorrow.