Winter Wonderland

Blizzard Predictions 2012

2011-12-29T18:13:00.000-06:00

Blizzard predictions 2012 are based on many factors and conditions. How much snow if any you will see depends on your location and how different conditions interact with one another. A subtle shift in a cold front or the timing of the arrival of moisture can dramatically change how much snowfall a region receives. This is just one of the challenges meteorologists face when trying to come up with an accurate snowforecast model. As an example last year some states in the western part of the country that were forecast to have average to below average snowfall and precipitation had near record amounts. The snowforecast for the upcoming 2011-2012 winter season calls for above average snow fall and below average temperatures for parts of the country. Below average sea surface temperatures could once again produce a La Nina effect that could spell trouble for certain parts of the country. The jet stream which is so important in determining weather conditions suggests a colder and snowier forecast for the upper Midwest and the Great Lakes region. One of the cities mentioned most often that could experience a rough and unrelenting winter is Chicago. The upper most parts of the Eastern seaboard can also expect a blustery winter although a repeat of last winter is not expected. Florida as well as the Four Corners region are expected to see a mild winter. Unfortunately mild temperatures will also coincide with below average precipitation which is something the drought plagued south especially states such as Texas do not need.States including Georgia,Arkansas,Kentucky and Tennessee have a better chance for moisture although significant ice storms could plague the region at times. Out west California is forecast to have a normal winter. Further north the states of Washington and Oregon could be dominated by a fair amount of winter storms. Predicting an accurate snowforecast months in advance is difficult to do. So many factors come into play that even the best forecast models are inaccurate at times. Advances in weather science reveal more clues to the complexity of the weather and the different factors that influence it. While meteorologists have made great strides in understanding weather patterns and predicting weather events there is still much to be learned. Each of us is impacted by the weather on a daily basis. The best way to stay safe and informed about approaching weather conditions is to listen to local forecasts. When traveling it is also a good idea to check on the weather conditions at travel destinations. If threatening weather is forecast be prepared and know what to do. Before traveling be especially informed and use common sense when venturing out into inclement weather.The blizzard prediction 2012 forecast for this year is calling for a milder winter for most of the country except the northern U.S. However as mentioned the weather can change quickly so stay informed. Free weather apps are available and provide all the information you need to stay safe and informed.

Sunrise simulation wake up light

2011-11-04T23:19:00.000-05:00

Here is article that explains how a sunrise simulation wake up light helps you awake refreshed and ready for your day.

A Natural Light Alarm Clock Will Help You Wake Refreshed:

So you've had a good night's sleep and now when you wake up in the morning you want it to be as stress free as possible. What you don't want is to be jolted out of bed by a noisy unsympathetic alarm clock ringing loudly in your ears and nagging at you to get out of bed. Instead how about finding a nice natural way to wake you up properly refreshed with a smile on your face?

Impossible, you say. Well not actually. You see you can get such a thing as a natural light alarm clock that will wake you gently as light gradually shines in your room giving the effect of dawn. It is the way the animal kingdom wakes up naturally and the way that man too used to wake before modern hectic life took over. So technology has now gone full circle and allows us to revert back to this more normal way of awakening.

A natural light alarm clock is a dawn simulator that can be set to make it appear just like sunrise in your bedroom as the light gradually increases in intensity. For reassurance, you can also have an additional fail-safe sound alarm with it too for backup. In some cases that could be set to make the natural sounds of wildlife, bird song or the early morning forest. Or alternatively you could wake to the radio or music of your choice.

There is no doubt that by waking up in a natural manner your day will start off better. You will be calmer and in a better stress-free frame of mind to take the day, and all it might throw at you, in your stride.

The other good thing about natural alarm clocks is that many can be set up to get you off to sleep in a good natural way too. You will find that a gradual sunset mode gives your body the signal to wind down and helps you to fall asleep peacefully.

Thus with a natural light alarm clock, your body's natural circadian rhythms that regulate your normal sleeping and waking patterns can be set so you sleep soundly and wake refreshed. Now that has got to be good thing for your mental and physical health.

You can find out more about a natural alarm clock light here. There are lots of great tips to relieve stress naturally here.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Martha_Dickinson

Snowy Forecast

2011-11-03T18:20:00.000-05:00

The National Weather Service's long term weather forecast winter 2012 is calling for a snowy forecast for much of the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes region of the United States. Cooler then normal ocean surface temperatures mean El Nina will once again influence weather across the country. The Eastern seaboard should still experience significant snow and cold but not at the levels of last year. This is unwelcome news to the milllions of households the use heating oil to keep warm. Prices are expected to rise as higher demand kicks in during the winter months.It is important to listen to your local forecasts and heed them when the weather starts to turn bad. Some of the weather apps available are just amazing.

Toro Snow Blower

2010-02-16T19:00:00.000-06:00

Looking for a Snowblower - Consider a Toro Snow Blower

When most people think about snow throwers, they think toro snow blowers. Thats not surprising, since Toro has been making snow blowers (or snowthrowers as they are also commonly known as), since 1951 when they introduced it. Before that, there was a lot of sore backs and probably more swearing.

Toro is renowned for its lightweight electric and gas snowthrowers (available in single or double stage snowblowers). The Toro Snow Commander is perfect for areas with a reasonable amount of snow, and for those who suffer through deep, heavy snowfalls or have a large area to take care of, 6-13hp four cycle snow blowers will meet the challenge.

Depending on how much snow (both area and depth), Toro has several snow throwers that will make clearing snow so much easier!

Toro Two Stage Power Max

Toro Super Single Stage Snow Commander

Toro Single Stage Power Curve

Toro Electric Power Curve / Power Shovel Plus

Some of the features that many of the toro snow blowers have:

Power Propel System: Pulling back on the bail will pivot the snowblower forward, which will help propel you through the snow.

Power Curve Drum Auger: Exclusive to Toro, the Power Curve System helps you clear snow thanks to its high capacity funnel. With the widest clearing width in its class at 24" and a 15" high auger housing, you'll save time and effort.

Warranty - Depending on the model of your Toro snow blower, you'll enjoy a 2-5 year warranty.

With over 50 years as a snow blower innovator, Toro should be on your list of snow throwers to take a look at more closely. With almost 10 models to choose from, you'll find one that meets your needs.

Looking for info on Toro Snow Blowers? You'll find lots of information on all types of snow blowers at http://www.dontshovel.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_J_Smith

What is a Lacavore?

2009-03-16T15:58:00.008-05:00

To answer the question of this blog post. A lacavore is someone who eats food that is grown locally. They can just buy produce locally and consume it thus keeping money in the local community or they can go one step further and produce it themselves. I read an interesting statistic in out local paper that according to the Department of Agriculture the fastest growing type of farm is a very small farm in which most of the inhabitants receive their monetary support in some sort of off the farm job. I like the idea of being a lacavore. Want I don't grow myself I can buy locally. I am tired of supporting a large company shipping my food thousands of miles. Maybe they started out with the best of intentions but to me something feels like it is wrong and I want to do my part to fix the problem.

I guess an explanation is due about this whole blog. I just love winter and so I created this blog Winter Wonderland. As with everything is life nature has her seasons and we are rapidly approaching spring. I really don't want to wait till next winter to post to this blog so I guess I will just keep going. I know it is going to be kind of strange posting to a blog entitled Winter Wonderland in the middle of summer. But I guess that is my privilege and if nobody wants to read it so be it. I just enjoy posting here.

When I first started posting to this blog back in November somebody suggested that I put a little piece of code on this blog to let me know if anybody had visited. Actually I have been quite surprised in checking the other day that I have close to 1000 visitors to this blog. If you look on this blog near the top you will see something that says "Visitors-Thank You" with a number beneath it. This is the number of people that have visited my blog since I began writing. I think it show that I have had right around 980 visitors since I started this blog. I just checked and my first blog entry was made in December 20, 2008 and this marks the 10th blog entry I have made. If my math is correct that means I am receiving about 10 visitors a day. Everybody wants to be recognized I don't care what they say. It's just part of human nature so I want to thank everyone who has checked out my blog for whatever reason. It's nice to be noticed.

Anyway back to my original thought about being a lacovore check out this blog by a lady who seems to know what she is talking about when it comes to gardening. Here is her blog The Helpful Gardener

Seasonal Affective Disorder

2009-01-25T16:33:00.003-06:00

Symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder: (SAD)

What are the symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder? People who are affected by Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) might suffer some of the following symptoms. The severity of these symptoms will vary from person to person. Also these symptoms can mimic other underlying causes so it is best to get a professional diagnosis to determine what is going on with you. Here are some of some of the symptoms people who suffer from SAD might experience:

Very little energy or more fatigue than normal: If you find during the summer months you are full of energy but as soon as winter rolls around you find your energy is slipping or you just don't feel like doing anything you might be suffering from SAD. I would also include with this the inability to concentrate. A diminished interest in sex might also categorize someone who is suffering from SAD.

Your mood seems to worsen: You are normally a happy person or at least easy to get along with. During the winter months if you find yourself becoming more irritable, sad or unusually quiet you might be experiencing the affects of SAD.

Craving certain foods: If you seem to crave certain foods such as pasta during the winter month you might be suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder. Weight gain might also be another symptom.

There are other symptoms that can be present in someone who is experiencing Seasonal Affective Disorder. And remember the symptoms listed above can also be the result of other conditions so schedule an appointment with you doctor if you think something is wrong.

Treatments for Seasonal Affective Disorder: SAD

Fortunately there are some things you can do to alleviate the symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder. Finding what works for you might involve some trial and error and it is best to work with your doctor or health care provider during this process.

Light Therapy: Using a specially made light for a certain amount of time (usually 30 minutes) has proved to be beneficial for some people. This seems to work best if done in the morning and it is important to not stare at the light directly.

Natural Therapies: Some suggest that the use of natural products such as St John's wort can be used to successfully combat the affects of SAD.
Once again it is best to take counsel with your doctor or health care provider before beginning any treatment:

Antidepressants: Your Doctor might prescribe antidepressants such as sertraline or fluoxetine to treat your Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Whatever degree to which you suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder much more is now understood about the condition and there are ways to help relieve some of the symptoms. You do not have to dread the thought of each up coming winter. Rather tackle your SAD head on and enjoy winter, one of the four seasons of every year.

Free Winter Backgrounds For Your Computer

2009-01-21T13:29:00.003-06:00

I get tired of looking at the same background images on my computer and change them frequently. My computer like most did not come with much of a selection of images so I put in the search phrase "free winter backgrounds for your computer" and came up with thousands of possibilities. However in doing some checking around I came across a site called Freeze that had some of the best free animated backgrounds for a computer i had ever seen. When you get to the site click on the link that says "See Entire Animated WallPaper Collection" It's amazing.

A Few More Thoughts On Snow Blowers

2009-01-19T16:50:00.007-06:00

Snow blowers or as they are sometimes called snow throwers come in different makes and models and are available in both gas and electric models. I wanted to give you a quick run down of what I consider to be some to be some of the best makes and models of snow blowers out there. Remember this is only my opinion and you might completely disagree with my findings.

ELECTRIC SNOW BLOWER: In my opinion the best electric snow blowers out there is the Toro 1800 Power Curve. It is a single stage model that will clear a path about 18 inches wide. it will cost you about $300 and keep in mind it won't handle a foot of snow. Remember it is also electric so if the thought of dragging a cord around does not appeal to year you might want to consider something else.

GAS SNOW BLOWER: In the single stage model I would highly recommend the Toro CCR 2450GTS. It is a single stage gas model that sell for around $500. It will clear about 20
inches of snow at a pass. If you are used to getting snow fall amounts of 6 inches or less at a time this snow blower will work well for you. Toro has a good reputation for standing behind their product and offer a warranty on all their snow blowers.

2 STAGE GAS SNOW BLOWER: If you want a middle of the road 2 stage gas snow blower you might want to consider the Craftsman 88999. While not the most powerful 2 stage model out there it will handle the winter snow falls most people experience. It will clear a path almost 30 inches wide. Be prepared to pay around a $1000 for this model.

A more powerful 2 stage gas snow blower is the Toro Power Max 828 LXE and along with the extra power comes a hefty price tag. The Toro 828 will set you back about $1800. It's powered driven wheels are great for hilly drives and it is the only model that will work well if you are trying to clear snow off of a gravel surface. It also features all the little extra's such as a head light and electric start. I believe it also comes with a two year warranty.

Snowy Owl

2009-01-16T10:10:00.007-06:00

I think I have been hearing a snowy owl on my nightly walks. I always try to take a walk just as darkness starts to settle in. Sometimes during the winter months it is very cold when I take my walks but if it is not snowing I go walking every evening. Sometimes even when it is snowing I still go walking. I bundle up against the cold and try to walk at least a couple of miles. I live in the country with my nearest neighbor living a couple of miles from me. There is something so peaceful about taking a walk outside in the cold especially if there is a full moon. Sometimes the only sound I will hear is the sound of my boots as I am walking along the gravel road. I doubt if many people in this day and age experience utter silence in the out doors. I have heard that it is good to get in touch with nature and this is when I feel the closet to it. I think of those that have gone before me and that are now gone. I am not referring to the generation or two before me but to those humans who passed this way thousands of years ago. What were they like? I have often wondered this as I take my nightly walk. Surely they had concerns although I believe they would have been much different than mine. I doubted if they were concerned with paying a mortgage or if they were going to lose their job in the next round of layoffs. They probably did not wonder if their 401k would recover in time for them to retire with enough money to live on. I imagine their concerns where simpler but in some ways much more serious. Would they be able to find enough food to survive through the winter? Would their sick child make it through the cold night? While my concerns are very important to me and cause me much concern they seem somewhat trivial compared to my ancestors whose troubles seemed more basic in that they dealt with the very survival of life it self. I consider myself fortunate.

I mentioned earlier that I believed I had heard and seen a snowy owl in a row of trees as I would take my evening walk. I would hear him and then see a dark figure fly away in search of another tree in which to alight in. Last night I started my walk earlier than normal in hopes of getting a better glimpse of him. Sure enough he was perched in the same group of trees. He did not seem startled when I showed up early. He was pure white which I have since learned meant that he was a male. I stood quietly watching him. He returned my stare and then perhaps sensing something was different in the timing of our encounter slowly took off and headed away from. I watched him gracefully fly away and a thought accured to me. I wondered if my ancestors thousands of years ago would have had a similar encounter and if it gave them the comfort it gave me. I would like to think so.

Top Rated Snow Blowers

2009-01-09T00:25:00.011-06:00

Well I am sorry to say I haven't needed the services of a top rated snow blower so far this year. Here in the midwest where I live so far snow has been in short supply which really irritates me. Living in the midwest I would like to see some snow at least occasionally but so far we have had little of the white stuff. Oh sure I would start to complain if we get to much of it or if it would start to interfere with my winter driving but I do like snow and would like to see more of it. I never have jumped on the global warming bandwagon so I don't blame our lack of snow on that but we have been a little on the skimpy side as far as snow is concerned and would like to see a little more. We were not even blessed with a white Christmas although in following the news at all I realize if the only thing I have to complain about on Christmas day is the lack of snow than I must have it pretty good.

I am getting a little off topic here which is not unusual for me. I started this blog entry with the intent to talk about the top rated snow blowers and as far as I am concerned you can't beat the Craftsman 8899. If you Google "Craftsman 8899" you will find a ton of business's and people willing to sell you one for around $1000. The Craftsman 8899 will handle most residential jobs as well as some small commercial ones. Another good top rated snow blower I have heard of although I have no experience with is the Toro 828 LXE although in my opinion it is a little pricey at roughly $1600.

Toro does offer some less glamorous options when it comes to snow removal and might be in the price range of most people especially in these tough economic times. Toro has something they call a "power shovel" that will help you clear a sidewalk or small driveway if the snow is not to heavy. Toro 1800 18-Inch 12 Amp Electric Curve Snow Thrower #38025

You still have to do most of the work but with a price tag of around $300 it might just be what most people need.

It's about time to put this post to bed. I do enjoy blogging and hope you find something interesting in what I write. I know there are a number of blogs I follow that I sure do enjoy. I think my next blog entry will be about the owl I hear when ever I take my evening walk. I am pretty sure it is a snow owl but I need to do some checking.

If is's snow you want I hope you are getting your share of it and if you are getting more than your fair share of snow do a google search for "top rated snow blowers" and make your winter snow removal a little less taxing.

Winter Weather Predictions For 2009

2009-01-01T16:42:00.007-06:00

So what are the experts predicting as far as a winter weather predictions for the upcoming year. I don't know what they have predicted so far but what I have managed from the few times I have caught the weather the northern part of the United States got hammered with some pretty significant snow. I see where Las Vegas even received an unusually heavy amount of snow. Does it even snow there at all? I usually don't look to far ahead as far as the weather is concerned because I find many times the weather is just plain wrong or is far enough off on their predictions that it doesn't really matter what they are forecasting. I do try to pick up a copy of the Farmers Almanac although I usually do that more for the other interesting things I find in there than for their actual weather predictions.

So checking the National Weather Services long range forecast (December-February) they seem to believe that after a rough start to the winter season things should start to calm down and it should be a pretty normal year weather wise. So if you are used to snow and cold that is probably what you will get. That means for my area here in the Midwest we should see about a foot of snow if everything holds to it's normal pattern. I've lived long enough to know that with winter weather predictions and predictions about anything as far as that goes they can be very wrong.

The National Weather Service did make special mention of the fact that areas that have been drier than normal the last five years will probably not see any relief this winter in the form of above average precipitation. Makes you wonder sometimes about the things we take for granted here in the United States such as water, an abundance of food and electricity. I know some areas of the country are right now experiencing power outages. We went through that last year for about eight days. Fortunately for us we had purchased a generator years ago and used it for the first time during that period. Seemed like a waste of money at the time but it did turn out to be a life saver.

Oh well whatever winter weather predictions the expert have come out with I plan to make the most of this winter and enjoy it like I do any other season. So here's to cold temperatures and long evenings in doors. Without them we would no appreciate spring and all it has to offer. Some of my earlier post have mentioned things to do to help get through the winter months. Take advantage of them and enjoy yourself.

Winter Coloring Pages

2008-12-30T14:11:00.004-06:00

While I enjoy winter for the most part very much and look forward to the changing of the seasons the evening can get a little bit long in the evenings especially with little ones running around the house. Something I have discovered they enjoy doing is going online with me and finding sites that offer free winter coloring pages. they enjoy choosing the ones they would like to color and then I just print out as many as they want-with in reason of course-and off the go to color to their hearts content. My only cost is for the paper and the printer ink and as long as I don't let them go overboard and print out 20 pages it is some cheap entertainment for them and allows me a little quite time to myself. I usually let them print out 3 pages each at a time and if they finish those they are able to choose some other pictures they would like to color. They enjoy decorating their rooms with their finished works. they have even started making a scrap book to put all their "drawings" in.

Some of these sites that I found were really well thought out and offered a gold mine of different things for a family to do on long winter nights or when the weather did no cooperate during the day. I found games and puzzles that they could do online as well as all sorts of other activities. Their where even some sites that offered educational ideas that could keep your child in the learning mode. One site even provided a way to print out play money which you could use to teach your children to count with. I'm not a big fan of letting my little ones spend hours staring at a computer screen or the TV for that matter so I always try to encourage them to do activities where they are moving around and their minds are engaged. it doesn't always work that way as some times I get exhausted but more often then not we find something to do that I feel has been good for them.

Some of my favorite sites are Activity Village and Kaboose

So if your kids are bored and you are having a hard time finding something for them to do google winter coloring pages and in no time at all you will have them coloring away.

Winter WallPaper

2008-12-28T15:18:00.007-06:00

I enjoy placing different wallpaper scenes on my computer to enjoy during the day as I spend time on my computer. There are some beautiful winter wallpaper images or if you prefer pictures that you can place on your computer. As I said some of these winter wallpaper images are just beautiful and have become more and more advanced over the years. You can find some great looking images at the banner below. You can download these images for free. Yes they will try to get you to sign up for a yearly subscription service but you don't have to do that unless you really enjoy the wallpaper images they offer. This is a safe and trusted site so there is no worries about viruses or spy ware being placed on your computer. I have used them for years and change the wallpaper images with the different seasons of the year.
They have a beautiful 3D Snowy Cottage that will take your breath away. Gently falling snow with a snow covered bridge in the foreground and a quaint cottage in the background. The snow slowly accumulates and if you turn up the sound on your computer you can hear the wind gently whistling through the trees.
Another one of my favorites is the living snow globe. I have always enjoyed snow globes and having one as a winter wallpaper on my computer screen is a real treat. Sometimes I get lost in just watching the animated winter wallpaper scenes. The snow globe actually features skiers and snow boarders gliding over the snow covered hills with beautiful snow covered mountains in the background.
Your computer can almost seem to come to life with some of the animated winter wallpaper that some of these talented artist's have managed to created. Well worth checking out in my opinion.

Winter Wonderland

2008-12-20T10:24:00.003-06:00

Ah what a Winter Wonderland. Winter is officially here for those of us who live in the Norther Hemisphere. With the coming of winter we will be experiencing the shortest periods of daylight and the coldest temperatures of the year. Some regions will experience high rates of precipitation due to snow and blizzards. Ice fog caused by tiny ice crystals that hang in the air and only form during the coldest times of the year will also be a problem for some regions. Winter is when blizzards will form with all the associated headaches of travel delays and the dangers of frostbite to humans and animals a like. Many animals will adapt during the winter months by heading south to warmer and more hospitable surroundings or will change their body in some form to be more able to adapt to the colder climate. Other animals will deal with the coming of winter and colder and harsher weather by just curling up and going to sleep in what is referred to as hibernation.

Not everyone will experience winter at the same time. The tilt of the Earths axis has a dramatic affect on the weather of any region. As the earth moves through its orbit the amount of sunlight hitting each region of the earth is different and determines to a great degree what kind of weather that region will have. When it is winter in the Northern Hemisphere the Southern Hemisphere is experiencing more warmer temperatures. It does not matter what region you live in you will technically experience winter although in the southern Hemisphere will usually be much milder with little snow or ice except in the higher mountanous elevations.

If you are lucky enough to have some snowfall during the winter months there are many out door activities you can enjoy. Skiing, building a snowman, sledding or having a snowball fight are just a few of the out door activiites you can enjoy. If you are fortunate to live close enough where there is ice available either naturally made or in the form of an ice rink you can enjoy ice skating, ice fishing, ice hockey or a variety of other ice activities.

Many people do not look forward to winter and just try to get through it in the best way they know how. If you are one of these people there are many activities that can help you do just that. Winters long evenings give you a chance to catch up on reading all those books or watching those great movies that you never could seem to find the time for during the long summer days when you were busy with so many different activites. Winter gives you the chance to spend more time with family and friends visiting or playing board games. And what evening would be complete with a cup of hot chocolate. Here is a simple yet delicious recipe that you are sure to enjoy:
*20 ounces of scalded milk (don't burn yourself!)
*2 oz of unsweetened chocolate
*1/4 cup of sugar
* 2 tsp vanilla
*1/8 tsp salt
In a blender combine the above ingredients with 1/2 cup
of the milk. Blend until you have a smooth texture and then
add the rest of the milk and serve. It tastes great on a cold
winter night.

To some winter brings not a winter wonderland but a winter nightmare. Some people dread the start of winter with the colder temperature and shorter days. There will be less hours of sunlight not only due to the shorter days but there is often more cloud cover in the winter. This can affect people's moods in a negative way. this is sometimes referred to as the winter blues, holiday doldrums or the January blahs. This can affect some people in a very serious way. Seasonal Affective Disorder is the name given to this type of depression suffered by a certain part of the population. People who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD as it is commonly referred to will experience physical aches, depression, tiredness and the feeling of wanting to sleep more. Although researchers believe that some people are more genetically disposed to SAD many who experience Seasonal Affective Disorder do so because of the decreased amount of light they are exposed to due to cloud cover and the angle of the sun hitting the earth. Seasonal Affective Disorder is the price some of us must pay for living in a Winter Wonderland.