Scottish?

 So a “skiff” of snow is a light flurry or cover of snow, but you can also have “skiffs,” light showers, of rain, or even a “skiff” of light wind. ... The noun “skiff” is drawn from the Scots verb “to skiff,” meaning “to move lightly and quickly, barely touching the surface”   

     Because I remembered my mother commenting on a "skiff of snow" I thought it might be Norwegian. Nope...it turns out to be Scottish. Maybe the Scots got it from the Vikings. 😁 Well, no matter the origin of the word, we got a skiff of snow today. It's light, fluffy as a feather and most noticeable on the little pond across the road where it adds interest to the ice.

     October brought us 12" (?) of snow but other than a few drifts in the fence lines that snow is long gone. This lack of snow brings back memories of a snow free winter in North Dakota. Without snow cover for insulation many underground pipes froze. Bergstroms got water from Pearsons via a pipe buried six feet deep. The pipe froze that winter. Bergstroms left a tap open and the pipe finally thawed on the 28th of June so the water flowed again. While we lack snow cover we've not had the cold temperatures that would drive the frost deep into the ground...yet, at least. The night before last the temperature was 5 degrees Fahrenheit which is coldest yet this fall. We'll see if the old saw "When the days begin to lengthen, the cold begins to strengthen" holds true this year. We're just a week away from the first day of winter.

     The fact that I write an entire blog about this is indicative of the quiet life I lead. I've been trying to read a biography of Alexander Hamilton but I'm wearied by all the squabbles and nasty infighting. Jefferson, Madison and Monroe, nor Adams, come off very well in this telling. But, I am comfortable, content and grateful for much, not least my current situation. 

Takk for alt,

Al