Countdown to Spring: The Final Entry

Well, I could have taken my last walk of winter this morning, since it didn’t start to snow here until around 2 PM.  It's still lightly snowing as I type this, although it's hard to say how much we've actually gotten so far since most of it has melted on contact.  Let's say an inch for the sake of argument.  Roads are clear, no plow or sander required.  It's basically sticking to trees, plants and formerly bare earth.  It likely won’t be sticking around long, though, since the weekend temperatures are supposed to be in the 40s and 50s.

So, spring has finally and officially arrived and that brings this series to an end.  It was a mental and creative challenge to maintain daily entries and, in fact, I missed posting 6 out of the total 47 days.  It’s a discipline that as a hobbyist writer I have yet to master, but I gave it a good try.

I’d like to thank the handful of folks who stuck it out right to the end.  I don’t know whether you were there in support of me or out of curiosity as to what boring topic I’d write about next.  However, the fact that somebody showed up daily to read it actually helped me to continue my self-imposed writing quest.  Thank you.  It was much appreciated.


So, whether there are still remnants of winter in your neighborhood, or whether they’ve all disappeared and you’re starting to see lots of evidence that winter has left the building, even if there’s never any snow or cold where you live, spring has returned. 

Get out there and enjoy it.

Countdown to Spring: The Final Walk of Winter

With the passage from winter solstice to vernal equinox a little over a day away, it seemed only fitting that I take my last walk of winter today.  I would take it tomorrow, but our forecast calls for snow and my enjoyment of walking in falling snow disappeared on 3/1.

The first thing I noticed was that the inch of snow I noted yesterday was happily gone.  The percentage of bare ground showing continues to increase with each above-freezing day.  What was at best 5-10% of ground showing two weeks ago is now 60-70%.  There is a little green growth showing among the brown, but not that much in the way of new green growth.  Mostly perennial grasses, both lawn and weed varieties, that hold their green throughout the year, but look a little tired right now, like they're just waking up.  There are things like crocuses, snowdrops, even daffodils which are pushing up slowly as well to remind us that more colorful days are coming. 

Another reason for my walk today was to check on the pussy willow along my regular wander route.  I was given permission by the owner to clip a few branches once the little fuzzy “flowers” show themselves.  While there were buds ready to pop, the pussy willow will likely not be in bloom until after spring arrives.  Perhaps next week, though, I’ll be able to bring my clippers and harvest a fuzzy bouquet.

The forsythia bushes I walked by are also getting ready to blossom, the buds larger than even a week ago.  Other trees are also showing signs of returning from their winter sleep.

As I walked past our millbrook, its meandering path now almost free of ice, I noticed a large bird land in a nearby tree.  Even without binoculars, I could tell it was a turkey vulture.  They don’t stay locally year-round and their return is like the swallows' return to Capistrano, just not as pretty and therefore, perhaps not as welcome by folks not aware of the important role they play as scavengers. 

The robin I mentioned seeing in a previous post has not been seen since.  I suspect he’s still around, perhaps looking elsewhere for meals and springtime housing.  However, I’m sure it won’t be long before I start to see the small flocks of them all over the place.

As I returned home, the sun’s warmth felt wonderful.  The last two days were incredibly windy and not walker-friendly.  But the calmer winds and blue skies of today were much more inviting and I even slowed my pace to savor them.  Bushes and trees  with leaves getting ready to show themselves, bird singing songs not heard in a while, all this and more  examples of the many cycles of renewal that spring has to offer those of us who are more than ready for them. 

This last walk of winter, with its reminders of better days to come, was pure joy, and I look forward to tomorrow, even if it snows.

1 day until spring.

Countdown to Spring: It's Baaack

I woke this morning to the unexpected sight of an inch of new snow.  Just an inch.  Only an inch.  An inch that covers every bit of bare ground which had developed or was helped into existence.

Even more less than welcome news ‒ it looks like we're expecting snow on the first day of spring.  Again, not a lot, maybe an inch as of today's forecast.  It could be worse.

I realize that it's not going to be sticking around long, but it's still annoying even in its anticipated short lifespan.

-Sigh-

Only 2 days until spring.

Countdown to Spring: Nothing to Report Except ...

... my first robin sighting.

I'm usually about two weeks behind the rest of the local population.  But considering we were still pretty snowbound two weeks ago, I'm likely right in with the rest of the crowd in catching a glimpse of one of signs of spring that we all look for.

My robin looked a little forlorn in one fairly large area of bare ground in a nearby park, doing the walk-stop-listen-repeat food prowl in an area where the worms have likely not shown up yet, and goodness knows, there hasn't been much insect life yet, either.  That'll change, of course.  But right now, pickin's is mighty slim.  No wonder he was a solo act.

Only 4 days until spring.

Countdown to Spring: Bare Ground!

Between the above-freezing temperatures of the past week and the rain yesterday, places where snow wasn't heaped up by human hands or vehicles is down to 2-3", and in some places where the sun exposure has been all day, there are places which are – dare I say it without the sky bears hearing? – down to bare ground in ever expanding circles.  I doubt that all of it will be gone before this coming Friday, but a significant bit more will have disappeared by then.

And so, on the Ides of March, we are down to the final five days (actually 4 days and 2.5 hours as I type this - check for the most recent countdown time here) before this winter is history.  Can't wait.

Only 5 days until spring.

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Countdown to Spring: Ah, Rain

Shortly after sunrise, there was a pitter-patter on my roof.  It wasn't that flock of starlings mentioned in an earlier entry coming in to land and look for breakfast. It definitely wasn't snow or sleet, either.  It wasn't even the freezing rain they had forecast for the morning hours in my area.  It was just plain old rain.  You know, water that falls from the sky that isn't frozen?  That wonderful stuff.  The stuff that helps make the frozen stuff disappear.

Yeah, I know, it has its drawbacks in showing up this time of year, flooding from snowmelt and blocked waterways being one of the problems.  Still, I welcome it.
For the sight and sound
of raining coming down
means the signs of winter
will more quickly leave town

Only 6 more days until spring

Countdown to Spring: Friday the 13th and Who Cares?

For those with triskaidekaphobia, which is the fear of Friday and the 13th in combination in a given month, get over it.  Seriously.  How often has anything bad happened to you on the day that makes it so traumatically memorable to be feared in perpetuity?  Chances are better that the answer is never.

Snow and ice are melting and life which had been dormant or hibernating is returning for you to enjoy.  Birds are singing spring notes.  We're starting to see migrating birds return as well, although I haven't spotted my first robin yet.  The days are warmer, the sun is brighter.  Winter is still here, but will be officially gone in a week.

Don't waste time being afraid of this day and number together.  Embrace it.  Let spring fever, rather than fear, rule your day.

Only 7 more days until spring.

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Countdown to Spring: A Desperate Need for Green

While the temperatures have remaining above freezing and the snow has been melting along nicely, the progress toward bare ground has been, well, glacial. Places which have been plowed, shoveled or sanded are happily down to earth-toned surfaces.  But in my area, there is at least another 6-8" of snowmelt which must occur before life underneath it gets full benefit of sunlight again, more where its been heaped up to clear roads and pathways.

A few weeks back, I shoveled out the area where my crocuses are and they appreciated the effort.  The leaves are up about an 2" since I cleared snow away enough for the sun to do the rest.  I probably won't see the flowers for another 1-2 weeks, but it's still earlier than it would have been previously, since that's where I tossed snow to dig out my car and driveway.

But it was not enough.  I have snowdrops in my yard which were still covered by snow and I wanted them to have the same opportunity that the crocuses did.   Hard to landmark things when it's all uniformly white and I couldn't quite remember where they were, anyway. So, I cleared a circle 15 feet in diameter in the area that I vaguely remember them being in last year.  As with the crocus patch, I cleared to the point where the sun and warm air could finish the job easily.

Today, there is a patch of brown and green where I shoveled, some of the green being snowdrop leaves, so mission accomplished.  The snow was crusty and heavy and my muscles and joints didn't and still don't appreciate this job that wasn't actually necessary.

But, my psyche does.  I'm looking forward to flowers in bloom, likely right around the first day of spring, in both spots as a result of my efforts.  It would have been only somewhat longer had I allowed natural melting to occur.  But, I needed some things that don't remind me of this dreary winter season.  The extra ibuprofen required was worth it.

Only 8 more days until spring.

Countdown to Spring: Under the Weather

Sorry to the handful of people following this blog right now.  I was more under the weather than I thought I was originally.  But, I’m feeling better today and am back to bore you.

I woke this morning to what I call snow-eating fog.  Warm air over snow cover can create a very dense fog.  It was dense enough that at sunrise, I couldn’t see more than 100 yards.  I could actually hear the foghorn from the lighthouse that’s about three miles away and it rarely comes on.  I call it snow-eating fog because the warm air is still eating away at the snow cover even with the ground-level clouds in place (that’s all fog is, really).  The temperature never got below freezing last night, so the snow cover has continued to shrink in the darkness.

As I looked out this morning at ground level, I saw MORE GROUND.  There’s still more white than brown and green showing, but the melting is becoming more apparent.  The sun is beginning to make its way through, however,  and the fog has thinned out a bit.  The temperature is supposed to be sunny and in the low to mid 50s today.  This works.  It’s supposed to head back down into the 30s and 40s in a day or so, with 10s and 20s at night.  But, the colder temperatures won’t be around for too much longer.

So, we’re all under the weather now.  But the weather is better, so it’s not quite so bad.

Only 9 days until spring,

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Countdown to Spring: This is What I Wanted – I Think

It took a while today, with snow flurries, then sun, then flurries, then sun, then both, followed by clouds.  But the clouds parted and the day got sunny – and warmer.  Mid-40s beats single digits hands down.

But, one of the other downsides to March reared its head today and as a result, I wasn’t up to appreciating all the thawing great outdoors had to offer.  Allergies.  Yes, fellow sufferers, I can relate.  Because it’s kicking in now, with warmer temperatures and melting snow and ice rather than grass and trees apparent, it’s likely mold. 

I wasn’t prepared.  The swift histamine buildup didn’t just cause scratchy eyes and nasal snuffling, it also caused coughing, wheezing and body aches.  Since there’s no fever, it’s not the flu.  It might be a cold, but I have my doubts because of the wheezing.

I spent most of the day in bed looking out the window at the sunny day and melting snow.  Tomorrow, I will stock up on antihistamine and renew my inhaler prescription which doesn’t normally get used until May.  I refuse to let this keep me from enjoying the gorgeous weather coming up this week.

Only 12 days until spring.

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Countdown to Spring: Daylight Savings Time

There was a time not so long ago that this wouldn’t even have been a topic in this boring series of blog entries.  When I was growing up, Daylight Savings Time didn’t kick in until mid to late April.  Now, it’s showing up before spring even arrives.  They claim it is cost-efficient in terms of energy use based on statistical analysis of our fuel consumption over the years.  However, as we become more and more an alive, awake and kicking civilization 24/7/365, I wonder how much longer that savings will continue and ultimately how much longer the policy of moving the clocks ahead one hour in the spring and dropping them back in the fall is still a viable one.

For the time being, though, the policy remains in effect.  So, much as I was enjoying the dawn showing itself between 5:45 and 6:15, with sunrise shortly after that and sun over the horizon and warming the world shortly just before 7, tomorrow takes us back to darkness at 5:30, with sunrise at 7:19.  The temperature won’t be going up as soon as it was, either, and when you’re looking at single digits or less on the thermometer, you want the temperature outside to rise sooner, not later.

It isn’t just the concept of losing an hour’s sleep tomorrow.  That’s no big deal for me.  But, I’m a morning person by nature.  I wake without an alarm clock at 4 AM.  I enjoyed watching the sun slowly join me in the earlier morning hour.  It was part of the whole transition to spring and now, like the snow and ice, the morning darkness becomes one more aspect of winter that’s hanging on too long.  The later hour of sunset is nice, but not as nice as the earlier sunrise was.

Don’t forget to set your clocks forward either tonight or first thing tomorrow, unless you live in Arizona or Hawaii.

Only 13 days until spring.

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Countdown to Spring: Ice, Ice, Baby

With the warm up and chill back down, puddles freeze over and standing water becomes ice.  Also with the warm up, the icicles that have been hanging from everyone's homes are thawing, weakening and falling.  Both are a given this time of year.

I don't know which one's worse at the moment, the ice skating rink that is the area around my car due to runoff from the piles of snow that are melting, or the chunks of ice coming off the house and falling onto said newly made rink. Unfortunately, there isn't much to be done about either except wait for warmer weather which will put an end to both the snow and ice for the season.  Slowly, mind you, but ever so surely.

And hey, that starts tomorrow.

Only 14 days until spring.

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Countdown to Spring: The Good News and the Bad News

The good news is that whatever snow they were predicting for our area never appeared.  I only heard yesterday that we might get anywhere between three and eight inches of new snow today, depending on how the storm tracked.  My immediate response was, "What!?  Why did I bother to shovel?"  I was too tired for expletives to delete.

The bad news is that we're still going to have the predicted single digit temperatures tonight and possibly tomorrow night as well.  There's supposed to be a warm-up after that.  Hopefully that'll stay around up to and through March 20th.

You may say I'm a dreamer ...

Only 15 days until spring.

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Countdown to Spring: It’s the Most Heaviest Snow of the Year

The title needs to be sung to the tune “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”.  The irony of the choice should not be wasted,

I came, I saw, I shoveled.  I also took my time.  The snow was heavy.  The layer sleet and freezing rain that came down on top of that 4-5" didn’t help, either.  This stuff was the kind that you take a few shovelfuls of and then rest, take a few more and rest.  I’m not fan of ICU rooms.

Think of it as a Zen exercise, especially when you get to the super-heavy, super-sloppy plowed ridge(s) at the roadside.  Slow, deliberate movements, taking in the surroundings as you go.  No, not the more snow on top of snow scenario.  The buds on bushes and low-lying tree branches.  The hollowing of the snow at tree trunks from more direct sunlight and the sap starting to run.  The songs being sung by birds which are not all the same tunes you’ve been hearing all winter.  The signs are there and growing.  They may be hard to see unless you look for them, but they are there.

Now, excuse me while I go take some ibuprofen before my muscles and joints start to protest what I just did to them.

Only 16 days until spring.

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Countdown to Spring: The Downside to March Weather

The changeover to the warmer temperatures of March definitely has some positive effects, the biggest of which is seeing the snow slowly dwindle to pitiful spots of white that we won't miss when they're completely gone.  Okay, maybe they'll be missed by those who adore the winter sports and/or make at least part of their income from the season's existence.  But, I think most of us just want to see it gone.

Thing about March, though, is that it still clings to winter-like temperatures. They may not be near or below 0°F all that often during the month, but the temperature tends to hang out at points on the thermometer which make predicting snow or rain levels a little tricky.  There are more 20's, 30's and 40s, and a lot more mixed precipitation happening, too.  Ah, yes, that less than wonderful combination of snow, sleet and freezing rain which can be more dangerous than snow alone.  Bad roads, downed electrical and phone lines, etc. are some of the potential issues we don't look forward to this time of year.

That's what we're expecting in my location over the next 24 hours, followed by a warm-up into the mid to upper 40s, followed by a dip back into single digits again. It's like  the temperature's on a yo-yo and the string of that yo-yo has gotten longer, with the high and low points further apart than in earlier months, and it's what makes winter weather a bit more unpredictable now.

Yo, Mother Nature - quit playing with the yo-yo!

Only 17 days until spring.

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Countdown to Spring: Off to a “It’s Still Winter” Start

We received 4-5”  of new snow (I’m not measuring anymore, just estimating) . We were only supposed to get 1-3”.  Oh, well. 

It was light, powdery and easy to move, and most of the places I swept or shoveled are down to bare ground already.  It stayed above freezing all day, which was very welcomed and obviously helped in melting process.  Windy all day as well.  No, I didn’t fly either kite.  I’ve decided I’m a fair weather kite flyer.

March is definitely starting out like the proverbial lion.  Hopefully, it turns into a lamb sooner than 3/31.

Only 18 days until spring.

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Countdown to Spring: First Day Poetry

March’s Promise

I took a walk

The snow swirled around me

The wind chilled me

I looked up in tired question

Of when it would end

And I saw the sun

Shining through the falling snow

As though it was only

A pane of glass to pass through

Bright and resilient

It challenged winter’s grip

I smiled and welcomed this reminder

Of the season’s change

Being close at hand

Lauren Swartzmiller

© 03/01/2015

Only 19 days until spring.

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