Fresh Greens on a Snowy Day in Chicago

Up on the roof, Art's new snow gauge shows we're nearing 5 inches here in Chicago, good insulation for the beehive (at left in the picture) we hope. Shot this on the monitor down here in our toasty warm living space after shoveling those same 5 inches across the breadth of our generous sidewalk. 17 degrees F outside. The snow is beautiful.

On the second floor, the cool-weather greens are thriving in their SIPs, if slowly in the chill.

And down here: salad!

Chicago Snow Feb 2 Morning Walk

Thanks for the photos, Debbie. Looks like you had a solid two feet. 

Because of the wind, there's no way to measure out front, but the back door has a story to tell.

Shoveled toward the gas station to get a newspaper after heating coffee for a neighbor (several blocks away) without electricity. The morning snow was an entirely different quality than last night's, a virtual whiteout here.

You wouldn't want to be anywhere near a fire. I saw and heard a truck (gently) racing through a major intersection.

Beef stew for late lunch...

Chicago Snow Photoblogging--Feb 2, 2011 6 am

I got up at 6 am to make these pictures. The winds seemed to have died but the accumulation and drifting was significant. Click for bigger pix. Art thinks we have about 15 inches actual.

 I shoveled a path in this direction just now so I could walk to the corner for a newspaper. There is a LOT of snow coming down now.

Scroll down to compare and contrast to yesterday's views.

Chicago Snow Photoblogging--Feb 1-2, 2011 Midnight

The lighted drive, around midnight Feb 1, highlights the wicked wind--just wicked--whipping snow and (on right-hand wall) wracking the remnants of autumn's delicate-flowered clematis bridal bower, which apparently hangs on.

Chicago Snow Photoblogging--Feb 1, 2011 10 pm

It's all about the wind in this blizzard. Tom Skilling says gusts are up to 60 mph. The snow is icy, driven by the wind into pointillist points.

Plus, lightning and thunder.

That wild wind almost tore the door off the roof greenhouse. See it on the right, flapping upward? I shot these pictures off our downstairs indoor monitor.

Art went up the vertical ladder on the side of the building to brace the door and came down to report an entire panel had been blown out. He located it and braced it back on too.

I asked him what it was like: like getting sandblasted with ice, he said.

With tens of thousands without power tonight, though, we're grateful.

Chicago Snow Photoblogging--Feb 1, 2011 6 pm

Wind speeds are 40 mph, gusting to 50. It's hard to portray the horizontal force of this snow.

I shoveled in front (guess the sidewalk plows bailed) and it was covered again before I finished. The streets are the real nightmare. Plows can't keep up.

Chicago Snow Photoblogging--Feb 1, 2011 9 am

Just a couple inches overnight. 

Because we live on a commercial street, we are forced to pay extra taxes for the sidewalks to be plowed. I'd rather shovel, but there's no opting out.

Chicago Snow Photoblogging--Jan 31 2011, 9 pm

Just underway here in Wicker Park. Will it manifest the massive amounts the excitable weather people predict? If so, I'll be spending a lot of time on this currently dry sidewalk in days to come. 

Stay tuned...