Sixty degrees does battle with the Snow

North Side Snow

The Cat Lives

It got above 60 today for the first time this Spring. Even with these temperatures the snow on the North Side of the mountain is resisting leaving. However, the weather change allowed me to get out and clean-up from the mess left by snow and firewood. We even got the porch swing moved back to the front porch and sat out listening to the birds and watching the Robins on the front yard. Before the bugs come it is very pleasant to sit on the porch in this nice weather.

The other good news is the cat has returned after being run off by raccoons invading the garage. We have gone to putting food out for the cat only during the day and taking it up at night. The raccoon still got into the garage hoping for a left-over, when Lee Anne saw it she promptly went out with a stick to do something to it. I suggested that might not be a good strategy against a mad cornered raccoon. She got lucky or maybe the raccoon did as it hid somewhere not showing itself.  With the weather warmer and the cat hanging around, I will have to trap it so we can get it some shots and it doesn't get rabies or distemper from any of the wild animals. As it is now if it would scratch us we would have to go through shots and that would not be a very fun thing to do.  Our local shelter has a way to sedate feral cats inside the trap then neuter and vaccinate them, which is a great way to get a more than difficult problem solved.

Is it Spring?

Leetonia Road early morning

Wilson Point Road

This morning the weather started at 20 for my morning walk to the top of Cedar Mountain. The sun rose quickly into a clear blue sky and shone brightly by the time I got up to Wilson Point Road. By the time I got back to the house it was 39 and made it all the way to 50 for the high of the day. The roads vary from dry and dusty to a small amount of snow and you shouldn't have much trouble driving through any of the State Forest roads with caution. I would imagine with the warm temperatures most of the snow will be gone by the end of the weekend. 

On a sadder note our feral cat has gone missing the last three days. We had an invasion of raccoons, who got into the cat food in the garage opening the metal container I kept the food in, crushing the food bowl, and leaving teeth marks in the metal can of cat food. We heard them making noise and when we got up didn't see the cat. I haven't found the cat dead anywhere, but if they chased him off in the middle of the night he may not have met with a good end as Lee saw a bobcat outside the kitchen window the other day. We also have owls, coyotes, and fox who would gladly make the cat a midnight snack. It is sad to see the cat porch empty each day and now with three days gone by and no cat it isn't looking too hopeful for his return. Life is rough in the mountains of Leetonia and the cat was lucky to have found free handouts for the winter. I will update you all if he returns. 

We are looking forward to real Spring and weather above freezing and hopefully some numbers in the 50 and 60's. If you are coming for the weekend it should be nice until Sunday when rain is forecast. Mountain girl, Paula, logging out.

Road Conditions variable and changing

Leetonia Rd going out of Leetonia South

Icy Area

The road is about half mud half packed snow and ice. I actually saw 4 snowmobilers on Leetonia Road, Saturday. I think they were doing a lot of damage to their sleds running on these road conditions. We are supposed to get 1-3 inches of snow tomorrow, whoppi! The only good news is it will start melting toward the end of next week as we are heading into a warm up. You have to be prepared for just about all kinds of road conditions right now. Hopefully, by the end of next week I will have better news on the roads. The weather was nice and sunny today, which always makes me feel a lot better. There is something about the sun that takes away the sting of more bad weather to come. Mountain girl, Paula, logging out.

Wood Prediction according to the porch

Firewood on left front porch

Firewood on right front porch

In the 11 years we have lived up here we have never used more firewood than the front and back porch can hold. As of today these couple stacks of firewood are all that is left on either porch. This year's firewood use has been different as it is continuing to be as cold in March as it was in February. Last year it was unseasonably warm this month getting into the 60's and 70's and we ended up with firewood left on the porch. I have noticed that for every 30 degrees drop in temperature we use an additional cart full of  firewood. So when it is 65 we use basically none, when it is 35 we use 1 cart full, 5 degrees 2 cart fulls, 25 below 3 cart fulls. So with the temperatures ranging from single digits to 25 we are using twice as much wood this month as normal.

Now I may have totally confused you as to my point. But we are due for a fast warm up if the wood on the front porch is to last. So I am sticking my neck out here and saying the probability of a quick warm-up is definitely in our favor due to the porch prediction. We can go through the rest of March this way, but April will need to see some 50 plus weather to balance out the use of firewood. 

Now for those of you worried we will freeze once the porch is gone, have no fear, we have other wood stacked away from the house. However, the wood miser is very jealous of the pile and will not easily use it. We do like the wood to be gone during summer month that is stacked close to house due to the bugs in wood affecting our house and just the moisture of having the wood stacked against wood siding isn't good for it. I will let you all know if the porch predicts the end of the heating season accurately this year...it hasn't failed us yet, so I am hopeful. Let the heavy coat and boot days end, the mountain girls are ready for Spring. Mountain girl, Paula, logging out.

Where did Spring Go?

The sun is up this morning but the temperature is 9 degrees, not a very good showing for the second day of Spring. We haven't been able to break the cycle of repeated small amounts of snow each week so many of the roads on North sides of mountain and in higher elevation are still covered in snow and ice. We got about three inches two days ago followed by freezing rain giving the snow a crunchy top. During times the temperatures or sun get the road above freezing it quickly turns to slippery mud gathering on your tires and wheel wells thickly then freezing at night so that moving your tires can be a challenge the next day.
At this point everyone is ready for some real Spring that lasts. The contrast between this year and last where we hardly had a winter is making this one seem very long indeed.
At least today the sun is out giving us hope that it will warm up quickly and take the single digit temperature away. I haven't been down the road towards the Cedar Run direction in a while so I am not sure how bad it is. I am hoping to make a trip down that way in the next week if things improve. Trout season is just around the corner so whoever is in charge of Spring needs to start waking up. Mountain girl, Paula, logging out.

GMO TREE THREAT

It isn't often that I get political here but most of you who read this blog do it because you love the forest of Leetonia. It seems there is always something threatening the natural state of the forest, but I have to say this new way is very concerning to me. It is about GMO trees and how they can change the way our forest looks and works. If you have time you should all watch A Silent Forest. It is a 45 minute commitment but worth the time to understand this issue. I never realized how much a genetically engineered tree could change our forest, even if they aren't planted here. The pollen drift from trees planted in Michigan could infect our trees and completely change the plant and animal life for the worse.
What would our forest be like if it no longer produced anything animals could eat and it literally became toxic to the earth it was rooted in? What if every time the wind blew most of the trees fell and they were constantly eaten by bugs who had muted to be resistant to them? These are a few of the questions the film presents and helps you to understand the health risk to humans and animals these foreign organisms represent.
Many of you know the feeling of walking through the forest and breathing in fresh air and feeling a sense of calm and peace. I hope this never ends and I feel it is my duty to educate myself and others to any dangers posing a threat to this peace. I would like to say enjoy the movie, but it is hard to watch. Mountain girl, Paula, logging out.

Wild weather

We are back and forth from snow to mud to slush and any combination of those you can think about. If you are thinking of driving up on unplowed roads be ready for anything. We are all getting anxious to see the end of snow and some colors other than white and gray.

I received this email request from Adam Garber about drilling in Loyalstock State Forest. If you have any desire to preserve the natural state of our forests consider making your voice heard.


Subject: Tell Gov. Corbett: Don't frack Loyalsock state Forest

Hi,

I signed a petition to Richard Allan, Secretary of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and Governor Tom Corbett which says:

"Loyalsock state forest is the heart of Pennsylvania's Endless Mountains Region, and provides thousands of visitors amazing hiking, canoeing and camping experiences.  Please keep gas drilling out of Loyalsock State Forest."

Will you sign this petition? Click here: NO GAS DRILLING




Thanks!