Thursday, December 10, 2009

Friday Shoot Out- Weather

Today's theme was chosen by Emma...

Ever since I was a little girl, I've been interested in the weather. I remember being in 5th grade and wanting to be a meteorologist. I would open up my parents' encyclopedias and read about any word I could think of that had to do with meteorology. When watching TV, I would actually sit for hours just watching The Weather Channel. My parents had a big screen TV and I would stand in front of it (and in front of the meteorologist) and give my parents the forecast.















Our weather lately is I think like most of the US. One minute its sunny, not too cold; the next minute its rainy and dreary; then last Saturday I left my poetry group and snow flurries were coming down. Where was my camera, YIKES, when I needed it. At home.

We had snow on the ground for a few days, but most of it melted.

Today in Princeton, New Jersey the weather report is...


Fair and Windy

40°F
Feels Like
30°F
UV Index:
2 Low
Wind:
From WNW at 20 mph
gusting to 29 mph
Humidity:
43%
Pressure:
29.64 in.
Dew Point:
19°F
Visibility:
9.0 miles

The first photo I posted above was from Sunday evening. We were on our way home from a Christmas Party, and we noticed about a mile away these lights. The sky seemed to glow from a mile away. You might have thought an alien ship had landed. Actually we thought of National Lampoons Christmas Vacation when we stopped in front, and laughed so hard when my flash did not even go off!

Below I snagged this photo from an online weather camera. The turnpike is about two miles from our home...













Emma, I too shared a love for reading encyclopedias. My father got talked into buying a set from a door to door salesman. He and I enjoyed them for years. I loved reading about everything, but one thing in particular, I always remembered the giant Redwoods in California. I finally made a trip to San Fransisco and had my picture taken next to one. I also was threatened in elementary school, because I would bring them for 'show and tell', and read things. The kids told me if I kept bringing them, well, they would beat me up! So I stopped.

Now the internet is another 'encyclopedia' favorite of mine, as well as the many books we have on food history, and such!














My sweetie grew up in NYC, and his family would ski each year. I grew up on the lakes of Texas fishing, and we did not have 'real' snowy weather, mountains, money (I believed only the rich went winter skiing each year), nor did I have a passion for doing so. I looked down a black diamond skii hill once in New Mexico, near Albuquerque, and thought, you have got to be crazy to go down that steep thing! I did sketch it though. He keeps his skis handy in the front storage, or by the front door when we get enough snow to go cross country, well, a'cross our back common area.

Call me crazy, but after spending forty plus years in a state that is known for the heat, and shadows cast on the ground by passing clouds...I love the cold weather!

24 comments:

GingerV said...

I love the cold too, there is a smell in the air that says - winter and home, but if I put some thought into it I like my tropical weather better. when it is 60 here I am cold, can you imagine me in Princeton? would freeze my boom boom off.

~JarieLyn~ said...

I'm still cold at 70. Ok, that might be a slight exaggeration, but I like my warmth. I love wearing winter clothes though.

Love your first photo. I just watched Christmas Vacation the other day. Love that movie and Chevy Chase. He's a riot.

My word verification is: hotasa
(Hot As A...)

HoodChick said...

I know I would miss snow if I didn't live somewhere that gets it. But I'd be much happier if it never dropped below 28 (especially since we have 50mph wind gusts making it feel 0 today!)

Suburban Girl said...

I love the photo of the skier, so wintry. And that house all decked out - I wonder how long it took them to wrap all those trees!

Liz Mays said...

Are you getting dumped on with the snow out there? We're getting some here and it's blowing like crazy and making travel treacherous!

Unknown said...

love the Christmas shot. now that is a ton of lights! I wonder how they do that without blowing out the power!! have a wonderful weekend!!

Kerry said...

HA! The flash didn't go off? Now that's bright. Good for you for appreciating the cold, even though you didn't grow up with it. I am surprised to see that you are about 20 degrees warmer than we are right now--usually it's the other way around.

Jama said...

Weather in Singapore are mostly sunny with occasional rain, so I would love to escape the heat to enjoy the coldness of snow! but only for a few weeks, any longer I think I'll freeze! lol

NanU said...

I love the warm. Doesn't matter how hot it gets! But cold - not good. Though snow is very pretty, so every winter now I bundle myself up and go outside to see the sights (before hurrying back inside for a hot cup of chocolate!)
Nice Shootout!

Bagman and Butler said...

After living 40 plus years in Massachusetts, I love the warmth. Your decorated house looks, from this angle, at first, like Noah's Ark.

Anonymous said...

I love the changes of the season. When it is cold, I like it. When it is warm I like it. I do not like ice on the utility wires that leaves folks without power for days at a time.
QMM

Anonymous said...

My first attempt with your group. I have been following for some time. Love the idea. Weather was a pretty good subject. It sure is on everyone's mind. Nice post.
QMM

Sarah Sullivan said...

Oh meeee tooo!! After 14 years in the AZ heat...I loove the snow and cold! Up here the snowboarding and skiing is pretty much for the rich too..which makes me sad..I would love my kids to go and ski here!! Loved you shots and your words!!
Hugs, Sarah

Chef E said...

Mark is right, maybe I have stumbled onto something...Noah's Ark has been in plain site all along, I am going to be rich and famous after all!

Maybe not...

Thanks guys, I as always minimize my photo post...thanks for putting up with me :)

shabby girl said...

I'm sorry, I know it was mean of them to threaten you, but, LOL, that was funny! Great photo!

Scriptor Senex said...

I like the cold when it's crisp but at the moment we have got the damp and dreary sort - Ugh.

Mary said...

This year seems to have a lot of Griswolds decorating their homes in our town too.

Sandra Leigh said...

I think I've turned into my mother. I do remember hearing her say that she never wanted to see another snowflake, and now I understand. However, I do enjoy looking at snow -- on calendars and in photographs - and even on mountains in the distance, as long as I don't have to go there.

RedLan said...

I can say that weather becomes crazy nowadays. We experience here too like what you describe. The only difference is we dont experience snow here.

BTW, can I grab the best photo of yours that I like? I will make another special post. Thanks in advance!

spiritsoflena said...

This may sound wierd, but when I saw the first picture, I thought it was a boat! It's gotten cold here in Jersey these past couple of days!

A Scattering said...

I'd personally take cold, snowy weather over a humidex of 40 degrees celsius anyday. Have a great week!

Emma said...

When it comes to Christmastime, I like the cold too, but that's the only time. :) I loved the let up house, and you got an actual LOL out of me too when you said the flash didn't go off!

Pauline said...

Love your first shot. And the story around it! Snow is not something that happens here, so I love seeing photos of it!

Heather said...

Hello there, Chef E :)

I'm using your winter skier for Tuesday's Tale over at Write With Pictures today. Thought I'd let you know and say thank you for sharing.