Yee ha - Winter is here! Question about water

[NHMountainMan]

OK. In defense of cold winters: Insect borne diseases are a big problem in New England. I'm sure you have your own insect issues in those warmer states. But I look forward to the first hard freeze of the winter. It kills the ticks that carry Lyme disease and other illnesses and it kills the mosquitoes that carry EEE (Eastern Equine Encephalitis) that has killed several people this year in Massachusetts alone and also the mosquitos that carry West Nile Virus. And nothing does a body as good, young and old alike, as some good old winter aerobics of shoveling snow and chopping ice. An added bonus, bears hibernate so I can finally fill my bird feeders to keep my feathered neighbors fat and happy. So Happy Winter to you @NHMountainMan, nothing better than a New England winter.

I missed the insect die off comments from earlier @Wee Farmer Sarah . Hard to believe that Mass is EEE central, and NH is the per capita Lyme central. Once the snow is gone, I don't go out with deep wood off, and I'll often wear gators to keep ticks from crawling up my pant legs. My wife's been on doxycycline at least once a year after finding a tick and bullseye rash - so far no symptoms. But my daughter had Lyme almost a decade ago, and has dealt with nerve issues and migraines ever since. Like you -- I'm glad once that first hard frost hit. But I also was an avid winter sports guy. Skiing Mt washington (tuckerman's) and did winter search and rescue back in the day. I just love the deep snow. I haven't outgrown it yet.

 

[aart]

ut I also was an avid winter sports guy.

Skiing certainly makes the winter joyous!
No more playing in the snow for me...all I do is shovel and throw it.

 

[Ted_Harrell]

I think the hot water freezes faster because the molecules are further apart. I can't remember exactly why...

 

[Folly's place]

I look at the snow, wade through it, and don't shovel it any more either. Skiing? No way!
Ticks don't die off during the winter, BTW, and some will wake up and attach themselves during a warm spell, even in February. Yuck!
Mary

 

[NHMountainMan]

I look at the snow, wade through it, and don't shovel it any more either. Skiing? No way!
Ticks don't die off during the winter, BTW, and some will wake up and attach themselves during a warm spell, even in February. Yuck!
Mary

True- those ticks don’t die easy- but they’re pretty inactive. Best to kill ‘em is several weeks below zero, without snow to insulate them... but if there are living mice around, there are still ticks.

 

[aart]

but if there are living mice around, there are still ticks.

....and rabbits, and deer, and......

 

[The Angry Hen]

....and rabbits, and deer, and......

Foxes! Every spot of the yard I've seen a fox visit, my dogs pick up the most ticks at. Just can't catch a break with those nasty pests.