Various Native American tribes had various names for the different moons of the year, tied to natural phenomena that reliably occurred alongside them. February is a snowy month in the northern and eastern US; hence the full “snow” moon.
The moon rise last night happened at 6:06 pm, but it didn’t rise above the hill that blocked its view until 6:50 pm. The moon had been full 7 hours previously, so the moon that rose wasn’t completely full.
The Almost-Full Snow Moon
Four minutes later the moon had risen a little higher in the sky.
The Almost-Full Snow Moon
It was a bit chilly last evening, waiting for the moon to rise over the hill so I could see it! I had enough of the cold, so I didn’t wait for the moon to rise above the tree!
The snow moon was followed by a snowy day.
Snowy day
Currently there is a winter weather advisory in effect until 6:00 am tomorrow morning. Mixed precipitation is expected. Total snow and sleet accumulations of 1 to 3 inches and ice accumulations of up to one tenth of an inch are expected. Snow fell during the late morning and is expected to continue through mid afternoon. The snow is expected to change to sleet by late afternoon, then over to lighter freezing rain this evening.
On Monday, September 10th, wunderground.com issued the following warning:
“a Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Big Island interior, Big Island north and east, Big Island summits, Haleakala Summit, Kahoolawe, kohala, Kona, Lanai makai, Lanai Mauka, leeward Haleakala, Maui Central Valley, Maui leeward west, Maui windward west, Molokai leeward, Molokai windward, south Big Island, and windward Haleakala… Olivia … is forecast to close in on the main Hawaiian islands Tuesday and move over portions of the island chain Tuesday night and Wednesday. Maui and The Big Island will be the first to experience impacts from Olivia. Do not focus on the exact forecast track or intensity of Olivia and be prepared for changes in future forecasts. Also, keep in mind that just because Olivia is forecast to be a weaker storm than Lane, the impacts could be significantly worse. Damaging tropical storm force winds may begin as early as Tuesday afternoon across Maui and The Big Island. Additionally, hurricane force wind gusts are possible as Olivia moves across the state Tuesday night and Wednesday.”
We wondered if Tropical Storm Olivia would affect our plans for air travel back home the next evening. We hoped not but, honestly, if our travel plans were to become disrupted where better to be stranded than in Hawaii!
We took John and Dorothy’s Mustang Convertible for a ride in the morning. Bob and I sat in the front seats (Bob driving), and Dorothy sat in the rear seat.
Bob driving the Mustang Convertible
Our first stop was at a cave along Highway 19, a short distance from the Kona Airport.
The cave was part of a large lava tube from the Hualalai lava flow of 1801.
The cave is collapsing in several spots and looked rickety and unstable.
If you look closely, there are a couple people inside the cave.
Our second stop was at the beach at Kekaha Kai State Park. The state park is located about 12 miles north of Kona. We drove to Kekaha Kai State Park on September 1st. There was no parking near the beach. We parked up the road a bit that day and took a picture of the beach from our lofty position. This morning we found nearby parking and walked down to the beach.
Dorothy went for a quick swim, while Bob got his feet wet from the incoming surf.
What a pretty beach!
This man had an underwater camera and was photographing the waves.
I got my feet wet, too, from the incoming surf.
I had to hold onto Bob to keep my balance,
as vertigo affects me when the surf goes back out.
Our third and final stop was at Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, located along Highway 19 in Kona. We had visited this park the previous day, but only the beach area.
Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park Visitor Center
After stamping our National Park Service Passport at the Visitor Center, we hopped back in the car and drove to another park access road to go see Kaloko Kuapa –the largest fishpond wall in Hawaii.
The speed limit on the access road was 5 mph. I don’t believe we exceeded the speed limit!
The last 1/4 mile stretch of road was very rough. Bob did well, driving very slowly, avoiding the high and low parts of the road.
The Kaloko Kuapa is the wall on the right side of this picture.
I walked on the Kaloko Kuapa.
Walking toward the Kaloko Kuapa
The Kaloko Kuapa is over 800 feet in length and 40 feet wide.
Kaloko Fishpond is on the right side of the wall.
This is the view on the left side of the wall.
The stones of the Kaloko Kuapa are dry stacked without the use of mortar. The stones are not even, and they rock a bit when walking on them. I stayed in the middle of the wall, when I walked across it.
As we were making our way back to the main highway, we chanced upon two Gray Francolins.
Gray Francolins
I captured a short video of Bob driving the Mustang, once we were on the highway again.
I had never been in a convertible with Bob before. I enjoyed the drive!
Back at the house we were visited by turkeys again.
One of several turkeys that visited in the afternoon.
Late in the afternoon the four of us went to downtown Kona for liquid refreshments at Humpy’s and dinner, afterward, at Foster’s Kitchen.
We saw our first snowfall of the 2017-2018 winter season on November 1.
Our first snowfall, on November 1st, was only a dusting.
On November 10 it snowed again.
Bob mowed our lawn the day before, a good decision on his part.
The snowfall of November 10th was a bit more than a dusting.
Along comes Tuesday, December 12th. A lake effect snow warning was in effect from 7:00 am until 1:00 pm Wednesday. We live a little more than an hour’s drive southeast of Lake Erie. When we have lake effect snow warnings, our snow comes to us as it crosses over Lake Erie. Heavy lake effect snow was expected, with total snow accumulations of 8 to 12 inches. Some places in Warren County could see as much as 16 inches of snow. Sometimes, with lake effect snow, we get a little bit of snow. Sometimes we get dumped on. It all depends on the wind direction off the lake. The lake effect snows that have been hitting us since yesterday morning have resulted in lots of snow.
I took this photograph from our bathroom window, looking across our back yard.
This is the amount of snow that was on the ground shortly before 9:30 am on December 12th.
I took this photograph from one of our living room windows,
looking across our driveway into our neighbor’s side yard.
This is the amount of snow that was on the ground shortly before 9:30 am on December 12th.
Around the same time I stood on our front porch and took another picture, looking east away from our house.
Note the snow on top of my solar lighthouse. Our street is snow covered.
This photograph was taken shortly before 9:30 am on December 12th.
Later in the day the sun came out for a short time.
The sun is out right now, as I am typing this.
I took this picture at 12:40 pm on December 12th.
Our back yard today looks similar to this picture, only with lots more snow.
It snowed during the night. It snowed a lot during the night!
Snow accumulation on December 13th at approximately 9:30 am
Look at the amount of snow sitting on the snowman’s head!
The bird seed in the green feeder is being eaten. Birds have not been eating it, though. I haven’t seen one bird come to these feeders. There are deer tracks all around the feeders. We have yet to see the deer at the feeders.
One last photograph of the snow on the ground so far.
I took this photograph from one of our living room windows around 9:40 am today.
My viewpoint is looking across our driveway to our neighbor’s side and back yard.
The snow has stopped falling for the time being. The sun still shines. It is a winter wonderland outside. A chilly winter wonderland, though, as it is only 20 degrees. At least it has warmed up from the 14 degrees it was, when I awakened this morning!
A Winter Weather Advisory was issued earlier today, which is in effect from 6:00 pm this evening until 8:00 am Thursday. Another 2 to 4 inches of snowfall is expected for late today and tonight.
We don’t have many spring-flowering plants in our yard. Our yard hosts azalea plants, hyacinths, daffodils and andromeda shrubs.
Hyacinth Flowers
(photo taken on April 5th)
This is what I awakened to this morning.
Hyacinth Flowers in the Snow
and this
Dorothy Wycoff Andromeda shrub in the Snow
and this
Our back yard
No worry.
“The snow is too light to stay, the ground too warm to keep it.” ~quote by Shannon Hale
The weather forecast for next week calls for temperatures ranging from a low of 34 degrees to a high of 73 degrees … typical springtime seesaw temperatures!
What crazy weather we are having here in Northwestern Pennsylvania! Bob and I went for a bicycle ride this afternoon.
We rode to Pioneer Arboretum, located approximately 1.5 miles from our house.
Today is January 21st. The temperature was just shy of 60 degrees, when we left on our bicycle ride. How nice it is to have Springlike weather in the middle of Winter!
A lot of rain has fallen since yesterday, and continues to fall. Flooding is occurring near where I live. Many photographs and videos have been shared on Facebook of flooded roads, pastures and back yards turned into lakes, and gushing waterfalls. When the picture displayed below appeared on my Facebook newsfeed, it made me think of our granddaughters.
Island Park in Youngsville, PA
Photo by Sonya Walters Irons, obtained on Facebook
I sent a copy of a similar picture to Stacey via message. I asked Stacey to show the picture to our granddaughters and ask them if they would like to go to Island Park to play in the playground. The Island Park playground is one of their favorite places to play.
Here is Harper at the Island Park Playground in August 2015.
As shown in Sonya’s picture displayed above, the swing and playground equipment are under water today.
I am looking forward to a warm Spring day, when Bob and I can take our granddaughters to the playground for some playground fun!
Island Park in Youngsville, PA
