Snow and a White Christmas

Sunday, December 20, 2015. We got snow on Wednesday: the perfect-for-snowballs-and-snowmen variety.


The view through my webcam, Wednesday afternoon. (December 16, 2015)


Freshly-fallen snow in the back yard. (December 16, 2015)


Snow on the branches. (December 16, 2015)

It's not quite as picturesque now: quite a bit of the snow has fallen from branches. But we'll almost certainly have a white Christmas.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like - Easter?!

Sunday, December 13, 2015. It's beginning to look a lot like: Easter, actually. The week's rain melted our snow, and it's been unusually warm: nothing record-breaking, but above freezing on occasion.


St. Paul's addition is taking shape. (December 9, 2015)


Christmas yard display in the neighborhood. (December 9, 2015)

We may get more snow Wednesday: or not. Either way, Christmas is about two weeks away.

Snow, Fog

Sunday, December 6, 2015. We had some clear days this week: but I decided to put off picture-taking until later in the week. That, in retrospect, wasn't the smartest thing I've ever done.


Snow-covered spider web in the kitchen window. Not the sharpest photo I've ever taken. (November 30, 2015)


Sunday morning: fog. (December 6, 2015)

We've also had fog now and then, and snow. That, I got photos of. The spider web was a great deal prettier in person. Each snowflake had a bit of the web to itself. I've never seen that happen.

More Snow, and Holiday Humor

Sunday, November 29, 2015. It's the first Sunday of Advent, and I haven't taken any pictures this week. I did, however, to a holiday-themed picture for Apathetic Lemming of the North, one of my blogs.



The first winter storm of the season should be here Monday and Tuesday. Mywebcam will give you a look at Sauk Centre, near the corner of Ash and South 9th: assuming there aren't technical issues, of course.

The three Catholic parishes around here, St. Alexius, Our Lady of the Angels, and St. Paul's, did something new this year: 'stewardship fliers' for each household, letting us check off or fill in what we could do for the parish and community.

More than 20% of the households in each parish turned in fliers: more than 32% in St. Alexius. That's a remarkably good response, I think.

Neighbors east and northwest of us had their Christmas yard displays out, and lit, by the end of this weekend. Those will look nice, with the coming snowfall.

Rain and Green Grass

Sunday, April 26, 2015. It's rained, which resulted in a few dreary days: and very welcome moisture. In town, lawns are perking up and trees starting to sprout leaves.


A duck, napping on the lake access dock. (April 22, 2015)


Lilac buds. (April 26, 2015)


Green grass: Finally! (April 26, 2015)

The local Knights of Columbus council had our annual "Tootsie Roll" drive: it's called something else, and we give the money to Special Olympics, but that name stuck. We offer Tootsie Rolls to folks who contribute.

Anyway, I was at Coborn's, down the street, yesterday afternoon, and we had K. of C. members at the doors at church this morning. I haven't heard how much Special Olympics gets this year: not yet.

The three clustered parishes had First Communion this afternoon at St. Paul's. I didn't go: my guess is that with all the families gathered, it was packed.

I'm either feeling more like getting outside now: or less like staying indoors. Either way, it's a nice change of pace from winter.

Ash Wednesday and a Wind Chill Warning

Sunday, February 22, 2015. Depending on a person counts the days, this is the first Sunday of Lent, the 22nd day of February, or 53rd day of the year, according to the Gregorian calendar.

It's also a day when a wind chill warning became a mere wind chill advisory by evening. Can't say that I'm disappointed.

Wunderground.com reports that "a record low maximum temperature of -2 degrees was recorded today at the St cloud Airport. This easily retires the old record of 1 degree set in 1965."

I stayed inside all day, and plan to do the same tomorrow.


Chaplets, a crucifix and knotted cord worn around the neck, before Ash Wednesday Mass and Our Lady of Angels. (February 18, 2015)


Last year's palm fronds, now ashes. (February 18, 2015)


Chaplets being handed out, after Mass. (February 18, 2015)


And, of course, the ashes. (February 18, 2015)

This week's Sauk Centre Herald reports that Centre Lumber closed its doors for the last time Friday, February 13. The Herald says Phil Pfieffer started Centre Lumber in 1998, and that it was owned more recently by Ken Arens.

Rob Polipnick, who owns Steiner Lumber, bought Centre Lumber, but doesn't plan to move to the Centre Lumber site. We'll see what happens to Centre Lumber's building.

I haven't talked a whole lot about Centre Lumber, but I did take a picture of their sign in August of 2008.


Centre Lumber has a new sign: at least, I hadn't noticed it looking this fresh before. August 21, 2008.

Another, not so happy, time I mentioned that business was in my July 24, 2003, post. Dennis "Whitey" Hoeschen, co-owner of Centre Lumber, had died in a traffic accident.

That's about all I've got this week. Next week, I hope I'll have more. I also hope that I get over the its-not-quite-a-cold I've got by then.

Last Sunday Before Lent

Sunday, February 15, 2015. We've had a few light snowfalls, the latest one touching up the ground - and making driving a little more interesting this morning.


Arvig's antenna farm, near Main Street and the Lake Woebegon Trail. (February 11, 2015)

This is the last Sunday before Lent, so I brought last year's palms to church this morning. They'll be burned, and used as ash on Ash Wednesday.


Last year's palms at Our Lady of Angels church. (February 15, 2015)

That's all I've got for this week. I all I remember tonight, at any rate.

Not Much to Say, But There's a Picture

Sunday, January 11, 2015. There's a bug of some sort going around town. The nursing home and, I think, hospital are restricting visiting to -- I think it was immediate family. I'm not feeling all that chipper, myself.


A larger version is in "A Tale of Two Birds," Apathetic Lemming of the North (January 9, 2015)

It's below zero outside, but our furnace is working. Getting a new one helped. That wasn't a planned purchase. Our old one finally gave up this week.

Happy New Year 2015!

Sunday, January 4, 2015. I'm still writing and typing "2014" as the year. Experience tells me that this will probably keep up for another week or so. Maybe a month.


Happy New Year, 2015! A larger version is on Apathetic Lemming of the North. (January 1, 2015)

Between holidays and not-quite-having-a-cold, I don't have much to say this week: except that it's 10 below outside, with a wind chill advisory; but should be warmer tomorrow. Not warm: "warmer." I gather that means it'll be above zero in the early afternoon.

There. That's all I've got. Next week I'll probably have more: or less.

Sunshine, Frost, Snow: Christmas is Coming

Sunday, December 21, 2014. I'll say this for the climate here. It's not boring.


Wednesday afternoon: beautifully clear blue sky, sunlight on snow by the Coborn's parking lot. December 17, 2014.


Thursday afternoon: overcast, fog, hoarfrost decorating trees — and cars. Frosted branches in the trees were lovely, frosted roads: now so much. December 18, 2014.

We're into the fourth week of advent, and there's snow forecast for tomorrow and Tuesday. I'm pretty sure we'll have a "white Christmas."

Winter Fog

Sunday, December 14, 2014. I've been under the weather this week, so there's just one picture.


Fog: all day. This picture's taken through my webcam, 9:55 this morning. December 14, 2014.

We had generous amounts of fog today: and there's still a winter weather advisory and dense fog advisory for quite a bit of central Minnesota. On the whole, I'm glad I stayed inside.

A Little Rain, a Little Sleet, a Little Snow: Christmas is Coming

Sunday, December 7, 2014. There's a winter weather advisory out until midnight: a little freezing rain, a little sleet, a little snow. I'm sincerely glad I could stay inside for most of the day.

Holiday decorations are up on Main and Sinclair Lewis Avenue, near downtown. December 3, 2014.

The family has Christmas decorations up in the living room, Sauk Centre's garlands are in place over parts of Main and Sinclair Lewis Avenue: and I'm looking forward to a good night's sleep. See you next week.

Advent, 2014, Starts

Sunday, November 30, 2014. I see there's a Wind Chill Advisory for this area. I'm not surprised. A brisk northwest wind this morning let me know that winter is here as I went to church. It's more of the same tomorrow, only cooler.

Advent started today, some folks have Thanksgiving and Christmas yard decorations out, and the Knights of Columbus Nativity set gets lit up in a few days.

No photos this week. I've been been dealing with a 'nothing serious' bug: not enough to be worrisome, but quite sufficient to keep me inside except when really necessary. Next week should be better. That's the plan, anyway.

Yesterday's Post, Snow, Rain, and One Photo

Monday, November 24, 2014. These 'Sauk Centre Journal' entries generally get posted Sunday evening. I thought there was something I was forgetting last night: and I was right. Now, following the 'better late than never' principle, is yesterday's entry. Except not it's today. And by the time you see it, it may be tomorrow, or the day after.

Never mind. Here's the one photo I took last week:


Lake access between Sauk Centre's campground and lakeside park. November 19, 2014.

We had snow, or rain, depending on what time it was, yesterday. This morning it was definitely snow: not much, but enough to notice.

Farewell, Ungers; Hello Hillcrest Plaza

Sunday, November 16, 2014. Winter started this Monday, when about nine inches of snow fell. Since then, it's been below zero, Fahrenheit, several nights, and we've had a few 'cat track' snowfalls.


Snow, about 1:30 p.m. on Monday. November 10, 2014.


By Tuesday, we had about nine inches. November 11, 2014.

I was sorry to see a 'going out of business' sign in front of Unger's Furniture, downtown. That place has been a landmark here since the start of the 20th century. Looks like they couldn't pay off the estate taxes. (September 27, 2011)

I'll remember the 'good times,' including Unger's participation in the 2008 Sinclair Lewis Days parade. (July 19, 2008)


Ungers: a Sauk Centre fixture for 113 years, going out of business. November 12, 2014.


The Hillcrest Motel on south Main is now Hillcrest Plaza: rental office space. November 12, 2014.

Another change in town: the Hillcrest Motel on south Main is now Hillcrest Plaza, an office park.

Snow that Melts in the Spring, Tra-La: Springtime in Minnesota

Sunday, March 23, 2014. Minnesota's weather isn't boring. Here's what my webcam saw at about half past noon on Tuesday.


Snow, wind, school's closed. March 18, 2014.

Same scene, about 12:45 Thursday:


First day of spring: in Minnesota. March 20, 2014.

And again, a few minutes before 7:00 this evening:


The grass isn't exactly green yet: but it's visible. March 23, 2014.

Tuesday's winter storm left us with another eight inches of snow, and no school that day. It's been above freezing during the day, for the most part, since then: so yards are starting to look more like lawns and less like snowfields.


Tuesday's snow, during Wednesday's melt. March 19, 2014.


No concerts at the band shell this month. March 19, 2014.


The boat landing, north of downtown. Those are snowmobile tracks: and a patch of blue sky. March 19, 2014.


That sign describes what sort of plants folks see in that low spot: or will see, after spring gets through melting. March 19, 2014.

I'm looking forward to "spring" days that are the sort of "flowers that bloom in the spring tra-la" thing I've read about: by which time it will probably be early summer.

First Day of Spring: Sunshine and Snow

It's warmer than it looks: about 37° Fahrenheit. That's what my webcam (Small Town America: Central Minnesota) saw a few minutes ago.

The calendar says it's the first day of spring: but I'll be putting on a jacket to go outside for a while yet, anyway.

Related post:

• "Spring is Here: Minnesota Style"
  (March 16, 2014)

Weather's Warmer: Pipes Might Freeze

Sunday, March 9, 2014. We're letting water run from the kitchen faucet.


Some folks shovel, some folks use snowblowers, and then there's more snow. March 9, 2014.

It's not our idea. PUC, the Public Utilities Commission, spread the word that we should keep water running through the pipes.

"Let your water run to prevent frozen pipes!"
Sauk Centre Herald (March 4, 2014)

"Notice to all Sauk Centre Public Utilities Customers, ... encouraging all customers to let their water run the size of a pencil stream; you should continue to run this water until the ice is off the lake...."

Looks like we'll only be billed for our average water use this month. We're pretty careful about not wasting water, generally.

But if it's a choice between frozen pipes and running a little extra water, I'll run the water. We've had frozen pipes, and it's aggravating, to say the least.

That's all I've got for this week. We've been happily distracted with the first visit from the youngest member of #2 daughter and son-in-law's family, and ours:

• "Welcoming Our Granddaughter"
  Through One Dad's Eye (March 7, 2014)

The snow in town has an interesting glaze, from the above-freezing weather, but I'm not sure how well it will photograph.

Snow, Changes in the Church, Chilly Weather, More Snow, Ash Wednesday: and Still More Snow

Sunday, March 2, 2014. It's chilly this evening: -9.6 ° Fahrenheit. There's the usual wind chill advisory. This time it's not all that cold, and there's no blowing snow to speak of, so schools will probably open on time.

I've gotten a few robocalls from the public school, with 'two hours late' or 'no classes information. I've lost track of how many of which happened. This is a winter when I've been very glad to not have an 'outside' job.

The first photo is from last week: but it's about the same scene I've seen out the window this week, too: and the week before last. We don't have a shortage of snow, and I've said that before.


Some folks shovel, some folks use snowblowers, and then there's more snow. February 21, 2014.

Our Lady of Angels church carved out more space for folks with wheelchairs. Whoever did the carpentry on the two pews did a fine job. It looks like 'it's always been that way.' A few indentations on the carpet tell a different story.


More space for folks with wheelchairs at Our Lady of Angels church. March 1, 2014.

This Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, the kickoff event for Lent. I'm looking forward to that.


Snow, blue sky, sunshine. It's nice to be inside. March 2, 2014.

Like I said: we've got a lot of snow this winter.

Anonther Week, More Snow

Sunday, February 23, 2014. Going through some picture files, I found this sunset: from November 24, 2013.


A sunset from last year. November 24, 2013.

We've had another winter storm, and more snow. It's picturesque, but I won't mind seeing green grass again.


Snow sculpture. February 21, 2014.

This week's Sauk Centre Herald posted an article about Joe Frericks, John Metcalf and Joe Deters, who are retiring from the Sauk Centre Fire Department: "Hanging up their hats," Bryan Zollman, Sauk Centre Herald. (February 21, 2014)

That's all I've got for this week.