Wednesday evening a winter weather advisory was issued for our area from 6am Thursday until 6am Friday. Whoo-hoo! The first official storm of the season was finally on its way! Not only was it going to be cold and windy, they were predicting 5-6 inches of snow for our area.
The snow started to fall sometime after midnight, in the wee hours of the morning. By the time people were up and on their way to work, it was really coming down, and fell steadily throughout the day.
I had to take a break midday Thursday and step outside to get a few pictures at work, knowing I would get home far too late to get any snow pics that night.
I love that there was a gust of wind just as I snapped this pic, so you can see it swirling off the corner of the building. Kind of makes you shiver, doesn't it?
At least the trees no longer look drab and boring, sugar-coated in fresh new snow.
Offocial snow total for our area was 5.4 inches -- more than doubling our snow total thus far. The biggest snowfall we'd had prior to this was around 2 inches. We had flurries this morning and into early afternoon, and there is a chance for more flurries or light snow Saturday. Cold temps persist at least through next week. Looks like my winter boots are finally going to get a bit of use this year!
This photo is from one of my favorite experiences. I went walking up at the Arboretum in early July, just before sunset and on a whim decided to wander down to Greene Prairie. Boy was I glad I did! This young doe and a young buck (I think they are the twin fawns I kept seeing last year) were both grazing in the meadow and came within a few yards of me.
January. Nothing chases away the winter blues like fresh fruit.
February. I happened to have my camera close at hand while watching a welcome home celebration for the Green Bay Packers after they won the Super Bowl, when they zoomed in on this poster held up by a fan. Here's to keeping that trophey at home this year!
Mid-March in the Arboretum, about a week after a spring blizzard that left several inches of snow in its wake. As you can see, it was melting fast!
April. Spring buds in the Arboretum.
May. Teal Pond Boardwalk, UW Arboretum.
June. I snapped these gorgeous tulips at the Farmer's Market early in the month.
July. These cuties shared a nest outside the door at work (there's actually a fourth baby hiding at back of nest). While Mama did not dive-bomb those coming or going, she sure did scold.
August. Butterflies in Bloom exhibit at Olbrich Gardens. You can see more photos from this event here.
September, and the bees were extra busy.
October. The Bittersweet was holding on during a gorgeous Indian Summer mid to late October.
November. Nothing like an Autumn walk in the Arboretum—leaves crunching under foot, a pungeant smell in the air... And yes, it was still this green in November. Pathetic!
December. There has been a dearth of snow round these parts, so I am afraid I cannot offer the usual snow-covered vistas normally typical this time of year. We have only had a bit over four inches of snow this season—about fifteen inches below normal. The poor plants are becoming confused—and they aren't the only ones! 
