Welcome to JOYFUL REFLECTIONS. Also welcome to JULY!!!! Our Lilies are blooming now... So gorgeous!!! Here is one of my many favorites! Meet DIZZY.

Monday, November 3, 2014

Freaky Snow Storm in Tennessee on November 1, 2014

A Snowy Pumpkin in our Yard
I don't usually show pictures of such a tiny snow---but our entire area had a crazy snow storm  beginning on October 31 and ending November 1.... Here on the Cumberland Plateau,  the rains began on Halloween --and the temperatures got colder and colder as the day progressed.  I felt sorry for any Trick or Treaters who might have been outside that night.  The snow began after dark and we woke up on Saturday morning to find 1/2 inch of wet snow at our home...

As most of you know,  I am one who LOVES snow (even tiny ones) and hubby (who was raised in Indiana) would prefer NEVER to see snow again.    SO---when we get a small one,  he is happy not to have to scrape the driveway!!!!  I am happy when the snow is a 'wet' one and clings to everything... SO---we were 'both' Happy Campers on Saturday!!!!

The crazy thing is the DATE... Our area has rarely had snow this early in the season.  AND---the Smoky Mountains  (Mt. LeConte) had 22 inches of snow (probably the most ever on Nov. 1st)... I heard on TV that there are snow drifts WAIST deep in spots in the mountains...   AND---due to trees falling,  some of the campgrounds in the Smokies had to be closed.  And to think:  All of our area had temperatures in the 70's earlier this week!!!!   We will be talking about this storm in Tennessee for a LONG time!

Today I'll share some of my snow pictures taken early in the morning on Nov. 1st.... We will say goodbye to our blooms I'm sure ---and will have to wait 'til Spring for some blooms in our yard (except for the Pansies --which can make it through this kind of weather)!!!!! 


Almost the end of our Canna Lilies for this year!



Snow on one of our Azalea Bushes



Another Azalea



A DayLily



Poor little Vinca  (Our Vincas won't make it through the weekend.)



Chicago Peace Rose --(should be named Snowy Peace)



Two of our shrubs:  Jasmine (really a Glossy Abelia) and an Azalea



IRIS ---see all of the buds???  We have had quite a few Re-blooming Irises to bloom this month.



Another Iris  with buds---wonder if these will bloom now?



Burning Bush covered with snow



Another photo of the Burning Bush (which definitely was not 'burning' on this date)



One of our Container Roses --full of snow!



Our big Rhododendron in the backyard (near the Bird Kitchen)
SO---that is our 'freaky' snow on November 1,  2014.... The snow did last all day since the temperatures stayed right about freezing most of the day.  AND--that night,  the temperature went down to 25 degrees Fahrenheit!!!!

I don't know what Winter has in store for us this year --but a lady who studies nature's signs always writes an article in our local newspaper each year giving her forecast... AND--she is usually always correct with her predictions.

This is what she said about our area this Winter:
-NINE snows with 3 of them being heavy (She counts the August early-morning fogs to come up with that number.)
-Our mast crop (nuts and acorns) is HEAVY this year --denoting a hard winter.
-Our tree foliage is particularly thick --denoting a hard winter. 
-Hornets' nests are right on the ground --denoting a hard winter.
-Spring Flowering Bushes blooming in Fall denote a hard winter.  Here at our home,  our Azalea bloomed this Fall--for the first time in FALL.
-An all-black Woolly Worm denotes a hard winter (and we have seen one in our yard).
-Trees that hold their leaves longer are another sign of a hard winter.
-When opening a persimmon seed,  we are seeing a SPOON design (which says that we'll be shoveling snow all winter).  George hates this one!


There are more signs ---but you get the idea!!!!  We are in for another humdinger of a FRIGID Winter here on the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee...

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Welcome to November.... Our November 1st came in like a lion this year...   Since this is a new month,  I also have a  blog post on My Photo Blog.  Click HERE  to see a new header and another Fall photo from our yard.

Also--don't miss seeing the new quotes I have this month on my sidebar.  AND---do you like my header?  I took that photo after we got the leaves OUT of the front yard... BUT--we'll have to do it again SEVERAL more times until all of the leaves are down!!

Hugs,