2013 at the Hammond Barn

[Bob Carriere]

..... Guys down under are bragging / complaining of average 40C temperature and you show them a picture of the farm with just a dusting of snow...

For the record we have 2 feet of snow....... just finished blowing the latest 6 inches...it now -6 C and raining....forecast is for at least 12 hours od freezing rain....... we are just on the edge of the rain snow mix and may be lucky to only get snow or freezing ice sugar snow.

Along the St Laurent, south of us they have already massive power failures after only 3 hours of freezing rain.

To be cautious I follow the wife's advice and fogt an extra 4o gallons of petrol and test fired the electric generator...... now to find all the flashlights and sit tight and wait.

It's a good thing Winter only officially started about 4 hours ago.

Freezing Rain should end on Sunday then the temp. will fall to -18/20 C on Xmas eve.....

The good side we will have one heck if a White Xmas.

Wishing You and your Families All The Best for Xmas .........

.....may you find a CMP under every Xmas tree.

The Hammond Gang !!!

[RHClarke]

Originally Posted by Bob Carriere

Guys down under are bragging / complaining of average 40C temperature and you show them a picture of the farm with just a dusting of snow...

Bob, I didn't want anyone to get jealous of our lovely weather. Besides, my camera malfunctioned and I lost all of the pics I took yesterday.

Today we do have some freezing rain in Ottawa - more of a mist than rain, but nothing compared to what the folks south of us got yesterday. It is a good day to stay off the roads and to sit by the fire and watch war movies.

[RHClarke]

I hope that Bob and Grant (and all MLUers) got what they wanted for Christmas. I did; a very happy son! Jesse and I will be visiting the barn over the next few days to inventory what has to be done on Jesse's 54 SMP radio van.

From our household to yours, we extend our wishes for a healthy and happy New Year!

[Bob Carriere]

To one and all and one heck of a New Year.

Yep ...got almost eveything I wanted then some....what I did not get was illegal anyways.

Will be spotting for Snowys and Great Grey Owl on Boxing day with Joyce but will be at the barn on Flyday.

Don`t forget wild willbe dropping by on Saturday at 1 PM....... will have a chat at the barn first but intend to have a cold seasonal beverage and snacks at the house.....

Cheers

[Stuart Fedak]

Originally Posted by Bob Carriere

Will be spotting for Snowys and Great Grey Owl on Boxing day with Joyce but will be at the barn on Flyday.

Cheers

I hope you did not tell the mice what you have in store for them on Boxing Day... I know that Joyce will take some amazing photographs of the snowy and great grey owls......

Best wishes to you, your family and all the critters (2 and 4 legged) who come to visit the Hammond Barn.... The best for 2014....

Cheers!
Stuart

[RHClarke]

Just in case you were wondering what was happening at the barn over the past few weeks - not much. On some days it has been colder here in Ottawa than it was at the North Pole. Given the extreme forecast for next week, I expect that we will be staying indoors just a bit more this January.

Yes, we wimpy Hammond Barn types can't handle the cold anymore... Maybe we are just getting smarter??

[Bob Carriere]

Took the garbage out this morning to the main road and walked back to the barn to get an old tarp for the garbage pickup.

Snow blinded at first.... my fingers, ears/nose were starting to hurt very Sunny day but -25C.

Tried to start the Ford diesel to run some errands.....ran for 20 second and died out..... sure sign of a frozen fuel line or the fuel has gelled in the lines.....will try to do it again with spray ether.....

Hopefully it will warm up to -12 tomorrow and it may be more humane to try photographing the owl......
When it is so cold outside the first thing to go are your fingers...standing still or crouching in an open field is very taxing.
The worst part is trying to keep your live bait mice from freezing...... I usually put them in my underwear and fish them out as needed....also keeps you skirming so you don't freeze.

Apparently the days are getting longer now and Spring is coming.....

Bob C