Day 70 - 11th March 2013 - Blue Skies and Water, Bulbs pushing up through the Ground

Monday and the start of the work week again, unless you are in the school system, then it's March Break.  Temperature is -0.9 this morning, little nippy but suppose to be a nice day.  Can't decide whether to make bread, cinnamon rolls or just cookies today. No, I'm not making all three! Exercise class tonight.
Wind died down and the sun stayed out yesterday. Temperatures went to +13 at least. We stayed pretty close to the homestead, Larry working on a wood shed addition and I continued in the flower beds. Managed to get one more cleaned out really well and two more semi done. I see more springs of green coming up, can't wait to see flowers after the long winter. Truthfully the only month I really find long is February, which is the shortest month, I know. It's the month of less activity and usually the most bad weather if we are having any, and this year it seemed like every Friday or Sunday in February it was a snow storm. It was nice last evening to still see daylight at 7 pm.

Each day more and more ice is leaving. Today was perfect blue sky with blue water.

 More little green things sprouting through the ground.

 Had a few left over oranges which we sliced up and put out for the birds, chickadees and nuthatches weren't interested but I'm sure the morning gang will be.

 I went across to the other the lake after supper - still quite a bit of ice in that one.

 The sun was making her departure behind the trees.

 Shining across the ice.

Tulips and daffodils, I think.












Coffee time! Enjoy your day!

Day 69 - 10th March 2013 - Birds, Park, Dock Street and Ducks

Did you all remember to set your clocks ahead?? I didn't bother but will change them all throughout the day, although I knew when I looked at the clock this morning it was an hour later. Temperature is -0.6, a little nippy. Suppose to be another warm day, actually this week doesn't look too bad (I say that then they let me down again). I have no idea what's on for today - guess we will just let the day take us where it does.
So yesterday was groceries day and the reason for the rant! I have at least 12 recyclable grocery bags, so why do the clerks always try to squeeze all your groceries in to 3 bags??? Since I was on my own it was difficult to keep my eyes in two directions and unload the cart. When I say two directions I mean the price scanner [so I don't get ripped off] and the girl packing the bags. I get home, the milk on it's side is leaking, the bread is under cauliflower and broccoli and now looks like flat bread and so on. Since they are my bags and the store is not providing them what makes the difference how many they use??? Sorry, I'll probably take heat for this but it's usually the young ones, yes I know they need jobs and the only other one that was open [which is not unusual on Saturday morning] was the speedy 1-10 items and that had a grown up running the cash! My rant for the day. So the rest of the day went well, spent some time out in the yard - even though it was +7.6 that wind was chilly! Got one of my flower beds cleaned out so I could watch the tulips and daffodils springing up. Took a walk over to Lois' to see how much ice had left in their cove and imagine my surprise to see some of the ducks - a sure sign of SPRING in my mind. Had tea and a gab with Lois, home to Larry cooking burgers for supper. Life is good.

 After several days of only chickadees and nuthatches, the Evening Grosbeaks, Red Polls and Goldfinches arrived back yesterday morning.

 We drove over to the park after shopping. Looking at Dock Street.

 Still quite a bit of ice in the cove but enough water for the ducks to stop in and visit.

 Soon will be time for picnics at the Park.

They begin to take off.

And they are gone for another day!














Coffee time - Enjoy  your day!

Day 68 - 9th March 2013 - Breaking Ice, Old Trees and Young Trees

Saturday, temperature is -1.8 and the wind seems to have died out some. I see the "wind warning" has been removed from us and they are giving fine for today - cloudy, but what's new. Larry has some brush, branches and limbs that need to be cleaned up and burned, so hopefully this wind dies out soon. Would be great to have it done before the end of the month. It's the grocery day for me, have all the paper work finally for our income tax so will drop that off, then maybe some work around the yard if it's fine this afternoon.
Another windy, windy day on Friday! Finished running through the manuscript for the first time - will do some editing next week. It has some great information and she's done a lot of research so it shouldn't take much. Have to reformat the layout, etc. All is good with that I think. Got that minimal housework done. Lexi and I braved the wind but when we walked down to the lake in the morning it was almost like you were blinded by it.

 I like the look of the ice as it breaks up.

 A little more water and a little less ice each day!

 Lexi stops to get a drink on our walk.

 Larry's chestnut tree is looking spring like.

 This old apple tree on our property doesn't have good apples any more but is a perfect spot for birds

 Reflections of the trees in the cranberry ditch below.

 This is what I was aiming to get yesterday.

Frills of fungi.














Time to check through the flyers and make my grocery list. Enjoy your day!

Day 67 - 8th March 2013 - The Ice is Leaving

I'm guessing you have noticed a few changes this morning in the blog layout. I can thank a good friend who is an expert in the design business, and a good cook.  Thanks Darrell!  I won't leave the Lexi with snow photo up for ever, it will change soon to something a little more spring like. Friday, the wind is still blowing  and feels cold even though the temperature is +0.6. I'm not looking at the forecast anymore, it's never right! Today I'm back to reading, research and housework  - the 2 "r's" not 3! 

Thursday was +3 most of the day but felt so much colder and the wind was of hurricane strength I'm sure, grey and cloudy all day. It was a real let down in the weather department and meant that I was forced to work inside. I picked up the manuscript the Society is going to publish in a 2-3 months and began to read. Some really interesting stuff. A bit of editing is needed and I'm also going to add some photos. People love pictures, especially older ones. Called our printer today and he'll send me a quote in a few days. So I managed to accomplish a few things including walks with Lexi. A lot of the snow is gone in the woods and the lake is breaking up. Was a little worried walking through the path in the woods, having visions of one of us laying under a tree they way some were swaying back and forth but we managed. Exercise class last night  - my butt was still hurting from Monday night so I'm thinking by Saturday I"ll barely be able to move.

 I'm seeing big patches of water!

 The wind blows the water over the ice.

 This was a mistake - partly a reflection in the kitchen window, but I kind of like it. Looks like more fencing around the yard.

Soon I'll be taking photos of green only, no dried up leftovers.


















Last day of the work week. Enjoy your day!

Day 66 - 7th March 2013 - Gulls, Sunflowers and a Pigeon

Temperature is +0.7 this morning but felt a lot colder, windy outside - but what's new. Didn't sleep quite as well as I have been, so am sluggish moving. And a little slow getting things written and posted. Oh well, once the time changes this weekend I should move back in to my normal time zone - I hope. Since it doesn't look like it's going to be a really fabulous day outside, I'll probably fill my time with research, laundry and some other things that need to be cleaned up around here. Of course Lexi and I will be out and around the hood, checking to see if the ice is making any more headway breaking up. Once it starts it doesn't take long to float down to the river.
So it was pretty darn windy and cold yesterday in town - what happen to my Spring?? It was another tiring Wednesday and I was darn glad to get home at supper time. Brought a bag of stuff to work on at home over the next few days that I didn't get finished up.
Checking in with Grandmother's Journal today:
5th March 1974 - Very mild, very high winds in morning until supper time. Bob home working. Ruth some better today, Jimmie coming down with flu.
6th March - Beautiful day. I walked to work. Bob to M.C. Roads muddy. Home at noon. 
7th March - Ruth's birthday. Beautiful. I walked to work. Bob to M.C. took lunch and back at noon, roads rather muddy and slippery.
8th March - Beautiful morning. Windy all day. Bob took me to work. To M.C., Classy down to Elmer Atwoods. Took her to Oren Perry's. Nothing done at M.C. he planned to work on. Quiet in store, this past week, last week end good. Everyone down home had colds. Mum not feeling well. [Classy was one of my dogs and a runner - was nothing for her to escape her pen and go 10 miles or more down the road to the nearest house]

 Seagulls on the waterfront.

 I've watched these sunflowers all winter and they are still hanging on. They've weathered wind, rain and snow.

I am not a big fan of the pigeons - but this one was a different color.












Well time to finish off my coffee. Enjoy your day!

Day 65 - 6th March 2013 - Signs of Spring and Birds

It's Wednesday once again, temperature is +0.1, but feels nippy and I see a few snow flakes on the back deck. Off to town - errands, volunteer work, etc. Hope it's a relatively quiet day, have some things that I would really like to get cleared up.
Even though yesterday started off with snow flurries (apparently I was wrong in my choice of weather), it didn't take long to warm up and the sun tried to poke through, but it was mostly overcast. I did take a stroll around the flower beds and saw more green popping through the ground. Where there was nothing 2 days ago I see tulips and daffodils coming through today. Ah the sight of spring. No matter what we get for weather now, I know it's not long lived. The chickadees are beginning to sing their spring song too. I spent a good portion of the day going around in circles doing research or it felt that way. It's a family that will lead me down the garden path and all around, not sure if I'll get it sorted out or not, but will see how it goes. Nice pork loin for supper with potatoes and veggies.

Our sporadic visitor the Blue Jay.

 They spent most of their time at the other feeder today.

 Back and forth they go.

 The Nuthatches are usually upside down. We sometimes refer to them as the "Clown" birds.

 Spring is here - bulbs are sprouting through the ground - and by the looks of things I need to do some bed maintenance and clean up.

Coffee time. Enjoy your day!