Yes, Virginia, there is a winter in New York!

Just a quick update to let you know that they do have winter here in Western New York!  We got a blast of cold air last weekend (6 below zero and minus 30-35 windchills, which really was a bit nippy...), plus several inches of snow.  Once it was through, I happily ran out to take some pictures.  Even though the sun was out, it was still hovering either side of zero and I found operating a camera with thick gloves to be a bit of a challenge. 

Click on pictures to enlarge

This huge Black Locust tree casting its shadow on the Smith's frame home is about 200 years old and was no doubt there when the Smith's lived in the home.  This five-foot in diameter tree really is magnificent!  

Speaking of Black Locust trees - all of these "worm" or "snake" fences on the Smith property are Black Locust.  It is apparently virtually impervious to rot.  You can stick a post in the ground and come back 100 years later and it will look the same as the day you buried it.  

We decided to take a drive up to Lake Ontario to see what it looked like in the winter (20 miles north of us).  It was sunny in Palmyra when we headed out and stayed that way until we got within a couple miles of the lake - that's when we went through some kind of weather warp.  All of a sudden it was 3 degrees, snowing and windy.  The lake was not completely frozen - there was open water a couple hundred yards out from shore, but it looked plenty cold.   As soon as we got a couple miles south of the lake on our way home, it was sunny again. 

"New" Lighthouse on the Jetty

"Old" lighthouse

This part of the lake from the jetty - check out the waves frozen in place.  Pretty amazing...!

Check out Ann frozen in place.  Amazing, huh?   

On Tuesday we got dumped on with a memorable blizzard, even for around here.  We got 15+ inches, although it was much deeper in surrounding areas.  I of course, had to go back out and take some more pictures.  It was beautiful.  Somebody said it was like an inch short of setting a record for the most snow in a single day in February, but I'm sure there are missionaries who were here last year who would argue that point...

We took a walk into the Sacred Grove late afternoon the day of the storm.  It was like Narnia and really cool.  Unfortunately these photos don't do it justice.

This is the main trail, usually 10 feet wide, but reduced to a narrow path by the hanging branches.

Also on the main trail

Same bench as the one in the previous photo above

A few days after the storm a beautiful morning dawned!

First Vision Statue in the Welcome Center

From the Parlor in the Frame Home

Our apartment is on the left (luckily, we get to use one of the garages!):