It's wonderful to have Ruthann with me after 6 weeks on my own.  We have enjoyed relatively warmer weather since she arrived.  The Sunday before while talking on the phone with Mom I went outside to enjoy the sun on the snow (and to get better reception on my cell phone) and I had to run back inside to grab my camera.  

I am beginning to appreciate why Eskimos have so many words for snow. There are several things that I have not seen before where I lack the vocabulary to describe. One of the more spectacular (at least to me) is how snow accumulates in quantity and the effects that has on the scene.  I noticed the effect of plowed snow in creating what I call "glaciers" since the have such a harsh and tumbled texture ... and of course in my previous experience that would be the end of the snow since it would warm up and the pile would melt.  

But what happens when more snow falls, not just a little, and not just once but repeatedly?  With the sun adding it's effect, I call these "snow dunes."

The pristine and gentle slopes of fresh fallen snow with the sun highlighting the contours is really an unusual scene for those of us from more moderate climates.  And of course the variations in lighting and color are really interesting with the sun setting.

I especially liked the sun through the trees and the variations in color and texture of the snow in this shot

OK, so we are having one of the more snow filled winters than in some time.  Great time to move to New York!

View from my door - you can see my solitary footprints.

The big storm that cut across the north U.S. left us with about another foot of fresh snow.  As you can see by the shots around my temporary apartment it has been piling up.

Apartment front

Cleared sidewalk that shows the buildup of plowed snow
 

Great fun four-wheeling!

Snow in New York!

So by the end of my first week I had a number of exciting things happen:  it snowed, my first box arrived, my pickup was delivered and we sold our house!  Pretty eventful week.

Here is the view on Saturday morning of the apartments in the snow ...

New York

Well, so we don't have the pictures from the great time at Christmas in Washington where Grandma, Grandpa and Alyssa got to have Christmas morning with the Howells and then had the whole family together the following Sunday ... since the picture drive is in a box in transit ...

Speaking of transit ... I am now blogging from Saratoga Springs, New York!

The Saratoga Ward building

I arrived in the evening of New Year's day and then after a late night shopping and unpacking I spent my first Sunday at the Saratoga Ward.

Here are some shots from downtown Saratoga Springs on a bright and relatively warm (low 40's) January day.

And then the apartment complex where I am living temporarily - "The Paddocks" is nestled in the country just northeast of the town ...

View of "The Paddocks" from the entrance

The clubhouse

Building 13 where I have a upper story apartment

Kitchen / Dinette view from living room

Living room view from dinette

Master bedroom

It is quite a spacious 2 bedroom when I was expecting a small 1 bedroom.

Anyone want to come for a visit?  I've got the room!