Saturday, December 31, 2011
2011 Weather Report
Record rainfall and one of the hottest summers ever.
That's what we experienced in 2011!
Average precipitation: 42.2 inches.
Previous record: 57.58 inches in 1990.
2011 (as of 4 p.m. Friday) 73.26 inches.
Most of the precipitation was rain in 2011. We had precipitation on 146 out of 365 days - on average, the region sees 131 days of precipitation each year.
Nineteen of those 146 days saw an inch or more of rain.
20 percent of the year's total precipitation fell between April 9 and May 4 when it rained 18 out of 26 days.
We were spared the extreme weather that beset other parts of America - a series of killer tornadoes in Missouri, Alabama and other locales and flooding from remnants of a hurricane that soaked New England.
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Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Presents in the Mail
My Grandma's of New England Coffee Cake.
Cinnamon Walnut coffee cake.
A tasty, moist coffee cake.
Thank you, Christine and Bob!
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Christmas Day
G. and G. with the Little People.
And, let the unwrapping begin!
Little Miss El was the present deliverer this year.
"Don't open it!" she says.
A pretty pink sweater.
The biggest present.
What could it be?
You can't use that big popcorn machine.
Better leave it here with G. and G.
A hand-made John Deere ornament.
Bet you would like one!
A camera? No!
And, Belle for El.
A Christmas blanket with pictures of the Little People and their parents.
How beautiful!
Now, for a piece of pumpkin pie!
And, a couple of cookies.
Merry Christmas!
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Saturday, December 24, 2011
Niederman's Family Farm
We walked around the Christmas display at Niederman's Family Farm.
The temperatures were in the mid-forties as we walked around the Christmas display.
Hot chocolate and cookies in the barn are always a treat!
We walked through the animal barn to see the pony, llama, and donkeys.
We also visited the turkey, ducks, guinea hens and the rabbit.
The signs said, "Do not feed the animals!"
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And, just to let you know, we have now had 72.40 inches of rain.
The normal is 41.56 inches for this time of year...
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Presents 'neath the tree...
Presents for the Little People and their parents when they come for Christmas.
Merry Christmas to You!
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Decorating cookies:
We'll just have to have a couple of samples!
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I am thinking of you...
Henry vanDyke
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Christmas Presents
The Little People and their mom are coming up for a visit.
Where to hide the Christmas presents?
What a large, deep trunk!
Just the place to hide the presents!
Is there room for more?
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Last year at this time, the school children had already had two 'snow' days.
Not this year!
We have had 70.83 inches of rain (almost 30 inches above the normal), more rain tomorrow with a possible hint of snow Christmas Eve.
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Tomorrow is the first day off winter.
The hours of daylight will start to increase!
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Wednesday, December 07, 2011
Christmas Pictures
Visit with Santa.
Merry Christmas!
Happy New Year!
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Happy New Year!
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Tuesday, December 06, 2011
December Rain
December is taking off where November ended!
I thought the rain gauge had been emptied after last week's rainfall, maybe not.
Rain started to fall Sunday afternoon and continued through Monday evening. Sometimes heavier than other times.
As of 7 p.m., 2.68 inches of rain had fallen.
That brings this year's total rainfall to 69.85 inches, drowning the record of 58.57 inches set in 1990.
The 2.68 inches of rain that fell December 5 surpassed the record of 1.08 inches of rain that fell December 5, 1880!
Let's hope we remain dry for the next few days.
Saturday, December 03, 2011
Lebanon Carriage Parade
The 23rd annual Lebanon Carriage Parade began Lebanon's annual 'Historic Christmas Festival.' Horses ranging from Clydesdales to miniatures pulled more than 100 traditional Amish style buggies, sleighs, trolleys and ornately decorated carriages through the streets.
And let the parade begin!
The sun was shining and the temperatures were in the mid-fifties; warmer than it has been in the past five years.
The streets were packed with on-lookers!
Santa's elves were at the beginning of the parade.
Here comes the Grinch.
A matched pair of haflingers.
The present on this wagon contains a miniature horse.
A matched team of black Percherons.
Teams stopped often as teams up ahead were introduced at the bandstand.
Slim and Sally Van Gordon.
A nice looking pair of Belgian horses.
The six horse hitch of Clydesdales: the stars of the show.
Cinderella riding in her 'pumpkin' carriage.
The bus pulled by a team of black Percherons.
A six horse hitch of black Percherons.
The fire engine was pulled by a four wide hitch.
Each of the 122 carriages was unique.
It has been said that Lebanon's carriage parade is the traditional start of the Holiday Season!
It has been said that Lebanon's carriage parade is the traditional start of the Holiday Season!
Merry Christmas!
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