Ice

We're having a big freeze--for us.  We've had a couple days of light snow, that started to melt, and then froze.  Then the same thing the next day.  All the trees are heavy with ice and being pulled toward the ground by the weight.  Any dead wood is cracking off.  If it weren't for the probable permanent damage to the structure, the ice sculptures would be quite beautiful.

My rental is all stairs and hills, and I'm afraid of the ice.  So I'm not venturing outside.  And my poor pup Sadie, is even more afraid of the continually cracking branches.  Who knows how long she can hold out and hold it in!  I'll have to assess the damage when it all melts.  This pretty maple will recover, but it will never look the same with its symmetry destroyed.

Birches in my yard haven't fared well.  This poor guy actually bent under the strain.

I haven't been to the new house in days--this is more strictly quarantined than I've been in the last year.  I have had power here, but my new house may be out for days.  I'm so grateful for the huge generator we've put in.  It would have saved the day a couple times this year already.  

I'm concerned that all the trees and plants I've recently bought and had planted will be in bad shape--especially those still in pots, without the warm earth around them.  But we'll see.  I realize this is a lot of complaining and concern for just a couple days.  All my years in California spoiled me.  I can't imagine how some parts of the country put up with this for weeks or months on end--every year!