First Signs of Spring

Please, do not remind me of how many times it could snow or get icy between now and spring. I know! It won't stop me from celebrating the first stirrings of the garden. Look carefully at the following photos and you'll see the little tips of daffodils.



This bulb has a number of little green bits coming out of it:



We will reach 60 degrees today! Rejoice!

Phase I Done

The first phase of the winter storm has finished. We could get out of the driveway if we wanted to skid down the ice, but we'd never get back up the gentle slope. Everything is covered with ice and it is quite beautiful. Not all that many people in the area are without power.

Everything has been closed down today. Even though we live on a quiet street that doesn't see a lot of traffic, I find it very strange to see absolutely no traffic or people out.

I haven't taken any of my own photos, so the following have been shamelessly lifted from the newspaper:

Yes, it is cold today:



These trees are not in my garden, but they are a faithful representation of how my garden looks:





The second phase of the winter storm is due to hit in a few hours. It is meant to be worse than last night's ice, so I imagine that we'll all be house-bound tomorrow, as well. I hope to make it outside before the next wave of ice arrives, to take my own photos.

Winter Weather

Last week, the kids and I went sledding. It was fun. After a brief search of my memories, I recalled that I haven't been sledding down a hill since 1981.

In the days that followed, the snow got mushy under the direct rays of the sun. But, winter is not over, yet.

Tonight, we're facing a winter storm. An ice storm! We're told to prepare for "extensive and prolonged power outages." That's not fun. Farther north, closer to the Great Lakes, they'll be getting lots of snow. I'd prefer snow to ice!

That's all to report, at the moment.

Winter!

It's finally here. Cold. And a bit of snow. It's sticking to the mulch in the garden and a bit in the grass. Not much else. There are some people anxiously awaiting enough snow to use some sleds I bought a few weeks ago. . . . but this snow won't do.

I had a brief, but unpleasant, experience with "bridges freeze faster than the road" phenomenon. I started to fishtail -- but without having done anything to deserve it. You know how sometimes you have scary moments behind the wheel, but you know you could have been driving more cautiously than you were? This was not the case. Luckily, the car in the next lane over was a number of yards behind me, so he was able to slow down before he met the bridge.

Stay warm, family and friends!

Springtime & Clare

It rained all last weekend. These photos were taken the weekend before, at the Transfiguration Center, which is lovely in all seasons, but most particularly in spring.

Does anything smell better than a lilac? This bush has very deep purple flowers.



I was testing out the "up close" feature on the camera. Yes, some daffodils do still survive.



Here's Clare, relaxing for all of 23 seconds in a gazebo.



Clare, poking her finger in a fountain.



Clare's reflection, in the pond. I wish I'd centered it more, so that her reflection showed up in a more artistic way.