Oh what a lovely afternoon

First one up in my garden

 

Today started with black skies, thunder and rain.  By noon it had cleared and now, late afternoon, it is 23C.  Paul has pulled the BBQ from the garage, given it a test run, and I have steaks marinating in the kitchen.  

I don't expect we will keep this warm weather so the shorts won't be coming out of the back of the closet quite yet and the electric blanket will stay on the bed, but what a nice introduction to what is to come.

Leg and hip are feeling much better.  Hopefully I will get back to the gym by Wednesday.   

In the wind

One leg pulled up for warmth, feathers getting ruffled by the cold wind this hawk stayed put on the telephone wires at the back of our yard long enough for Paul to try some photos through the window. The colour is a bit off but close enough. We think he could be a Sharp-shinned Hawk. link
...........
We got hit with our first major winter storm last night and this morning. Paul has been out with the snow blower, Stephen has made an emergency run for more gas for it and only got stuck once ( his car has the winter tires, Paul and I just hunker down at home when the weather gets bad ) and the snowplow has just gone down the street and buried in the end of our driveway.

So far I've managed to hide indoors. My contribution was to head out to the stores on Monday to restock the fridge and cupboards.

Spring can arrive anytime now, please.

What's new with me

The rabbit didn't get the red lilies this year. I'm thrilled with the deep rich colour.

This is blooming at the same time. Some day I might remember what it is. This is a closeup of one of the flowers on a tall stock.

Thanks to all the rain we've been having the driveway repaving set for last week started this morning. They got the old asphalt removed and a new base down before it started raining, again! It will be completed when we have a dry day.

......

Fell off my bicycle on Sunday. I have a few bruises the bike is fine. I've come to realize that I have to make up my mind fast rather than dithering over the wisdom of tackling a steep grade. At least my dignity is intact, Paul was the only one who watch saw me fall. I apparently it was not graceful.

I'm on a quest for the perfect pair of travelling pants. They need to be lightweight to pack, comfy to wear while hiking, sitting on the bus and they have to have a little style so I don't look totally geeky in restaurants.
So far I fear that pants like this do not exist....at least for me.
I did try one pair with a very dropped waist but I'm a little past the droopy bottom fit.
It doesn't help that I have an aversion to paying over $40.00 and have a preference for clearance racks.

18.7C puts

spring in my step
bought them yesterday

lets me see green things
I started clearing some of the garden beds

melts even the most stubborn snow

sort of looks like Australia

and means a light jacket can be worn
for working on garage door springs

Febru-dreary

Blah season is currently in full swing. There is just something about this short month that sucks all the ambition and delight out of me and just about everyone I talk to these days.

The spring bulbs helped but there was always the little voice in the back of my head reminding me I had months to go to see the real thing outside, then add in the almost daily reminder that sun shine is in short supply and the cold temperatures that aren't about to give up quite yet.

Next month will March us closer to spring. Here's hoping anyway. *sigh*

H is for heat

Local crops are coming in so it was fresh Ontario potatoes, carrots, green beans, broccoli and corn in my shopping cart today.

The black eyed susans are out filling the garden along the fence now that the daisies are done.

And at 32C/90F plus, my summer savory is wilting ( along with me ) in the heat.

.....

Nattily attired older gentleman standing at the end of an aisle in the store was peering this way and that. He saw me and announced he was looking for his wife. I replied ... stand perfectly still and if she wants to find you she will. I don't know if he realized I was only half joking.


I have sheets and bathmats out hanging on the line. I wonder if the temperature outside matches the temperature in my drier when it's tumbling?

Midway through August and now we get the heat. Maybe it will help the tomatoes. I picked four today and they all had some type of rot at the bottom. I think we've had too much rain and not enough sunshine so far this summer.

It couldn't be helped. I had to play in the mud. I ended up covered in it.
I felt about 8 years old.

One of our neighbours is redoing their side property and needed plants. I was desperate to move four crowded, over grown hostas from my garden. Perfect timing.
They helped dig and happily filled their corner.
I ended up with a new planting bed and a nice white wine as a thank you.

With the area cleared I set about splitting coneflowers/echinacea and day lilies refusing to give up even when the rain started to fall.
Gardeners are determined and tough.


I would have run for the house if the forecast thunderstorm had arrived.

It's Raining it's pouring

At least there have been periods of dry between the downpours so I haven't felt the need to build an ark but I am starting to worry about getting the lawnmower through the grass when it dries.

I'm not convinced that a double rainbow makes up for all the water, but it's a start.


both photos taken from inside

Wednesday Wonders

THE PRETTY: My neighbour's rosebush

THE ANNOYING: The piles left by us shoveling our sidewalks and the plows clearing the roads. It's getting harder to see around corners.

THE INTERESTING: My son says my new slippers are too pink, too plaid and too sparkly. All the reason I picked them.

Dear Santa

Can I have one of these please.
Take that you miserable snow bank


I'm currently cooking my squash for Christmas dinner. Tomorrow I'll make more cookies and some Rice Krispie squares.

My new turkey roasting pan is out and washed.

I'll haul out the good china and wash it tomorrow while Paul gets to check and clean the silver. It's nice to use them even if it's only once a year.

Gifts are almost all wrapped.

I think I will slide into the 24th quite nicely thank you very much.

Please, no

Considering it's not officially winter, I'm really not thrilled with what the weatherman threw our way today.

Oh sure we heard the winter storm warning last night and yes, we knew there would be more than a dusting but really was THIS necessary.

I had been expecting my sister and two of my nieces for a nice pre-Christmas tea this afternoon. I was going to hand over the presents for under their tree. The presents I rushed and wrapped yesterday. I was even going to serve my homemade shortbread. I will be giving you the recipe eventually.

Oh well we have a few more days to get together before the 25th and with any luck the second wave of snow won't happen. HA I laugh



The first photo is of Paul. He waited til the worse was over than headed out. Some of the drifts where past his knees. I stayed inside because my boots are short and someone had to take pictures.

It's amazing how well my camera works through the front window.

The second photo is our neighbour Don . He had gone out before the major portion of the storm hit and found he couldn't get his van all the back into his driveway and that was after a long slow drive home. Thankfully he has a blower too.




That just leaves photo #3. This is our neighbour Dave. He doesn't have a snow blower. Not to worry, Paul went over and cleared his front sidewalk and helped clear his driveway.

Now I will make at nice warm dinner and serve it with a hearty helping of Irish to warm Paul up.