When I got home this evening just before 5 PM, I looked at the temperature and it was 54°F. It reached the high 50s today. Granted it wasn’t as balmy, pleasant and very wrong temperature-wise as the 75°F we hit last Wednesday, but it was welcomed nonetheless. Tomorrow will also be in the 50s, then we’ll drop back into the 40s for Friday, when we’re predicted to have snow again. Sort of like last Friday. It’s a bit of a roller coaster, but I’m kind of liking the ride, especially when the snow melts away so quickly.
The migratory birds are starting to show up. Some are expected now, but some are early. Sadly, my first robin sighting was a dead one on my walk home this evening. It was likely struck by a car. However, I was told that there are flocks of them in the area, alive and well, which makes me happy. Lots of territorial singing by the birds now. It’s one the signs of spring that I always enjoy, especially at first light in the morning. A quick note on that – loving the slowly lengthening daylight hours.
Trees and bushes are definitely getting ready to send out leaves to greet the day. But except for my favorite pussy willow, which has slowed a little in putting on its fur coats, I’m still just seeing buds. Bigger than before, of course, but still just buds. End of February would be way to early for anything like leaves and blooms in anything but greenhouses here in New York, crocuses and snowdrops aside. Too many unpleasant snow and ice surprises can happen right into early April.
However, as a final note, I feel the need to say one thing. I know it’s premature to do this, given that there’s still three weeks until Spring.
But, HEY, (Punxsutawney) PHIL, YOU WERE WRONG!
Only 20 days until Spring.
Wednesday, February 28, 2018
Wednesday, February 21, 2018
Countdown to Spring – This is More Like It
After a week of staring at the walls and ceiling of my apartment and feeling like a barking seal with an energy crisis living at the equator (translation – coughing, fatigue and fever), I am finally past it and am looking forward to the next few days or gorgeous and, may I add, warm weather. Warm, as in 60s, possibly even 70. Yeah, I know, I know, it’s too early, it’s not going to last. Whatever. It beats -7°F, doesn’t it?
Our little clipper storm Saturday into Sunday which was supposed to bring 1-3” of snow brought us about 4” locally. It wasn’t supposed to start until 9 PM, but by 7 PM when I looked out, we already had an inch of snow on the ground, dashing my hopes of a dusting that I could easily sweep away. Sunday morning, out came the shovel and in about three trips, I had cleared my deck and walkway and then my parking space out to the road. I didn’t do a great job because it was already sunny and above freezing. Let solar heating be your friend. It was, too. By the end of the day, all shoveled areas were down to bare ground.
It’s been in the 40s during the day the last few days and most of the snow is gone. Yesterday, it was in the 60s. It hadn’t melted all the way yet, but it was an 9:1 mix of bare ground to snow instead of 50:50. By the end of today, well, I won’t even care if it’s not gone. I’m just going to enjoy those warm southwest breezes.
I did manage a little walking at the end of flu/flu-like things. Looking up at trees, I am seeing more and more buds at the tips of all the branches. The pussy willow I walk by to go to the post office is really starting to come to life, with catkins (really, that's what they're called) now starting to peek out from just about every branch. I have a running permission from the owner to clip a few branches every year. That'll be coming up soon.
On a sad note, a critter – likely a squirrel – squeezed through the holes of the milk-crate type container that I had protecting my planter with crocuses in it, moved the leaf mulch and had a late winter snack of crocus root and sprout salad on at least half of them. I suspect squirrel because of the debris pattern they left outside the container and yet still left the container in place. Ladies and Gentlemen, a round of applause for Houdini the Squirrel!
Only 27 days until Spring.
Our little clipper storm Saturday into Sunday which was supposed to bring 1-3” of snow brought us about 4” locally. It wasn’t supposed to start until 9 PM, but by 7 PM when I looked out, we already had an inch of snow on the ground, dashing my hopes of a dusting that I could easily sweep away. Sunday morning, out came the shovel and in about three trips, I had cleared my deck and walkway and then my parking space out to the road. I didn’t do a great job because it was already sunny and above freezing. Let solar heating be your friend. It was, too. By the end of the day, all shoveled areas were down to bare ground.
It’s been in the 40s during the day the last few days and most of the snow is gone. Yesterday, it was in the 60s. It hadn’t melted all the way yet, but it was an 9:1 mix of bare ground to snow instead of 50:50. By the end of today, well, I won’t even care if it’s not gone. I’m just going to enjoy those warm southwest breezes.
I did manage a little walking at the end of flu/flu-like things. Looking up at trees, I am seeing more and more buds at the tips of all the branches. The pussy willow I walk by to go to the post office is really starting to come to life, with catkins (really, that's what they're called) now starting to peek out from just about every branch. I have a running permission from the owner to clip a few branches every year. That'll be coming up soon.
On a sad note, a critter – likely a squirrel – squeezed through the holes of the milk-crate type container that I had protecting my planter with crocuses in it, moved the leaf mulch and had a late winter snack of crocus root and sprout salad on at least half of them. I suspect squirrel because of the debris pattern they left outside the container and yet still left the container in place. Ladies and Gentlemen, a round of applause for Houdini the Squirrel!
Only 27 days until Spring.
Wednesday, February 14, 2018
Countdown to Spring – Melt, Baby, Melt
So, let’s see. As I was writing last week’s entry, the snow was just starting to come down. When it got to about 3-4”, I went outside and shoveled my deck and walkway. Oh, look, it’s light and fluffy. Not too bad. About two more inches fell, then the temperature went up and it went from light and fluffy to sogged and glazed over snow. What had been an easy job of clearing it away turned into a cardio workout at the end of it all.
I normally appreciate the prettiness of ice coating all the tree branches, especially at night. But at this stage of winter, it was enjoyed for maybe five minutes, then I just wanted it to go with the snow.
Over this past weekend, a lot of that wintery precipitation disappeared with above-freezing temperatures and a whole lot of rain. There’s still snow out there, but enough of it’s gone now that it’s about a 50:50 mix of white to greens and browns.
The forecast for my area for today and tomorrow is near to above 50°F, followed by a return to 30s, then 40s, then 50s, then 30s again. It’s a little uneven, temperature-wise, blamed on anything you chose to blame it on in the moment. But with temperatures remaining above freezing during the day at least, and no forecast for any precipitation but rain showers for the next ten days, maybe all these wet, white crystalline structures hanging around will go bye-bye and we’ll head into March with bare ground.
Then, it’ll likely snow again. That’s winter for you.
In a final note, I am on the downside of what may have been either the flu or a flu-like illness. Sore throat, body aches, chills, fatigue, and a decent chunk of fever on top of sneezes, sniffles and barking like a seal. Definitely not a cold. I normally don’t get sick during the winter, but this year was an exception. Just another reason for not liking this winter season anymore, eh?
Only 34 days until Spring
I normally appreciate the prettiness of ice coating all the tree branches, especially at night. But at this stage of winter, it was enjoyed for maybe five minutes, then I just wanted it to go with the snow.
Over this past weekend, a lot of that wintery precipitation disappeared with above-freezing temperatures and a whole lot of rain. There’s still snow out there, but enough of it’s gone now that it’s about a 50:50 mix of white to greens and browns.
The forecast for my area for today and tomorrow is near to above 50°F, followed by a return to 30s, then 40s, then 50s, then 30s again. It’s a little uneven, temperature-wise, blamed on anything you chose to blame it on in the moment. But with temperatures remaining above freezing during the day at least, and no forecast for any precipitation but rain showers for the next ten days, maybe all these wet, white crystalline structures hanging around will go bye-bye and we’ll head into March with bare ground.
Then, it’ll likely snow again. That’s winter for you.
In a final note, I am on the downside of what may have been either the flu or a flu-like illness. Sore throat, body aches, chills, fatigue, and a decent chunk of fever on top of sneezes, sniffles and barking like a seal. Definitely not a cold. I normally don’t get sick during the winter, but this year was an exception. Just another reason for not liking this winter season anymore, eh?
Only 34 days until Spring
Tuesday, February 13, 2018
On Going Into Work Sick
I am presently home from work due to what is either the flu or a flu-like illness. Am I going to go out of my way to find out which one it is? Seriously? It doesn’t matter.
What matters, at least to me, is that I broke one of my own cardinal rules yesterday. I went into work with a fever. I knew I was running a slight fever the night before and deliberately did not check my temperature in the morning because I knew we were short-staffed. By the time I got home yesterday, my slight fever of 99.4°F had turned into 100.8°F. I felt miserable and was starting to sound pleasant on the phone. No, really. When my voice initially gets affected by some upper respiratory tract thing, it takes on this really nice quality that I can’t recreate when I’m feeling better.
I digress. I’m here to discuss going in to work sick because, well, gee, they’re already down staff and they need you there. Plus you don’t get paid if you’re not there. No, no one said that to me except me. Sometimes, the little voice at the back of my brain is not speaking from a place of logic and reason.
What you’re doing when you go in sick is subject those around you to what you have. Colds and flus are passed in the air and in contact with things you are in contact with (phones, equipment, etc.). People can sluice down every square inch of the place with disinfectant during and after your sick person is there and it still will not prevent it from potentially being passed to other workers and even the general public.
Because I recognized the risk of infection in even my earliest days of employment, I never, ever went into work with a temperature above 98.6°F. Yes, people grumbled when they were inconvenienced by my absence, but they got over it. I also encouraged similar behavior in my fellow employees. Was I listened to? Of course not. I can’t tell you how many times people came in sick anyway.
No one, I repeat, NO ONE is indispensable. If you take a day off, if you take a vacation, what do you think happens when you’re not there? Answer, things continue. People take up the slack and things continue. Depending on the size of the business, yes, your normal contribution will likely be missed, but they’ll make do without you. Any place that crumbles when people are absent needs an overhaul.
This flu season has been particularly brutal. Those who say it’s because the flu shot was ineffectual aren’t seeing the real issue. We need to work to prevent the spread. Certainly, handwashing and proper cleaning/disinfecting play a huge part. But, another important part of that is setting some ground rules with regard to coming to work under less than perfect health conditions. Whether those rules are made by the employer or by self, they need to be adhered to.
I forgot that yesterday. That will not happen again.
What matters, at least to me, is that I broke one of my own cardinal rules yesterday. I went into work with a fever. I knew I was running a slight fever the night before and deliberately did not check my temperature in the morning because I knew we were short-staffed. By the time I got home yesterday, my slight fever of 99.4°F had turned into 100.8°F. I felt miserable and was starting to sound pleasant on the phone. No, really. When my voice initially gets affected by some upper respiratory tract thing, it takes on this really nice quality that I can’t recreate when I’m feeling better.
I digress. I’m here to discuss going in to work sick because, well, gee, they’re already down staff and they need you there. Plus you don’t get paid if you’re not there. No, no one said that to me except me. Sometimes, the little voice at the back of my brain is not speaking from a place of logic and reason.
What you’re doing when you go in sick is subject those around you to what you have. Colds and flus are passed in the air and in contact with things you are in contact with (phones, equipment, etc.). People can sluice down every square inch of the place with disinfectant during and after your sick person is there and it still will not prevent it from potentially being passed to other workers and even the general public.
Because I recognized the risk of infection in even my earliest days of employment, I never, ever went into work with a temperature above 98.6°F. Yes, people grumbled when they were inconvenienced by my absence, but they got over it. I also encouraged similar behavior in my fellow employees. Was I listened to? Of course not. I can’t tell you how many times people came in sick anyway.
No one, I repeat, NO ONE is indispensable. If you take a day off, if you take a vacation, what do you think happens when you’re not there? Answer, things continue. People take up the slack and things continue. Depending on the size of the business, yes, your normal contribution will likely be missed, but they’ll make do without you. Any place that crumbles when people are absent needs an overhaul.
This flu season has been particularly brutal. Those who say it’s because the flu shot was ineffectual aren’t seeing the real issue. We need to work to prevent the spread. Certainly, handwashing and proper cleaning/disinfecting play a huge part. But, another important part of that is setting some ground rules with regard to coming to work under less than perfect health conditions. Whether those rules are made by the employer or by self, they need to be adhered to.
I forgot that yesterday. That will not happen again.
Wednesday, February 07, 2018
Countdown to Spring – The Weekly Version
Yes, it’s true. Mercifully, I am going to a once a week posting on this topic. Just in case you might have thought I was showing mercy only to the readers, it’s also a kindness for me as well. The daily writing of things related to counting down to spring is a discipline that was always difficult and is more so this year with changes in schedule, etc. Perhaps for 2019, I’ll go back to the daily posts from Groundhog’s Day to the actual first day of spring. We’ll see.
Speaking of Groundhog’s Day, dear old Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow on February 2nd. Stupid woodchuck. Doesn’t Phil realize we need the hope of an early spring this year? I know it really hasn’t been any longer, colder, or snowier than what is considered normal for my area, but it sure felt/feels like it.
There are signs of hope that better weather days are ahead. The daylight hours are getting longer, the sun coming a little sooner over the horizon and disappearing for the day just a bit later. Warmer? Well, no, not really, and we won’t even discuss that polar cold snap that quadrupled my electricity/heating bill last month. However, if you’re a weather nerd like I am, you’ve noticed a long-range forecasting trend of warming up just a little faster than it was doing back in late December and a decent chunk of January. It’s not staying obscenely cold for as long is what I’m saying.
Seed catalogs are arriving. I don’t get as many as I used to because I don’t order that much anymore. Many of the seed companies post their catalog online for the less frequent customers like myself to peruse. But, there’s just something about that paper catalog, slowly turning pages and sighing heavily over pictures of fruits, vegetables and flowers which never, ever look that great in your garden that does a winter-weary heart good. It also fuels my spring fever. Not sure if that’s a good or bad thing.
I walk quite a bit more than I used to in years past. As a result, I’m seeing the changes in trees and bushes that start this time of year. There’s slow-growing evidence of life returning even now. One of the first I noticed was the pussy willow I walk by every day to go to the post office. I thought I was seeing things at first. Nope – little fuzzy buds have emerged on the branches. No, we’re not talking pussy willows coming into bloom – okay, fur – anytime in the next 2-3 weeks. It’s just that there’s a reawakening going on and it’s pretty much on schedule.
So, whether you want to believe the ground hog/woodchuck/whistling pig/ whatever you call them or not, spring is coming and will be here on March 20th at 12:15 PM EDT. It may not necessarily look or feel like it on the day. Many times, it’s exactly like the winter season left behind the day before. But, eventually, it always happens.
Of course, that doesn’t mean we have to be patient about it.
Only 41 days until Spring.
Speaking of Groundhog’s Day, dear old Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow on February 2nd. Stupid woodchuck. Doesn’t Phil realize we need the hope of an early spring this year? I know it really hasn’t been any longer, colder, or snowier than what is considered normal for my area, but it sure felt/feels like it.
There are signs of hope that better weather days are ahead. The daylight hours are getting longer, the sun coming a little sooner over the horizon and disappearing for the day just a bit later. Warmer? Well, no, not really, and we won’t even discuss that polar cold snap that quadrupled my electricity/heating bill last month. However, if you’re a weather nerd like I am, you’ve noticed a long-range forecasting trend of warming up just a little faster than it was doing back in late December and a decent chunk of January. It’s not staying obscenely cold for as long is what I’m saying.
Seed catalogs are arriving. I don’t get as many as I used to because I don’t order that much anymore. Many of the seed companies post their catalog online for the less frequent customers like myself to peruse. But, there’s just something about that paper catalog, slowly turning pages and sighing heavily over pictures of fruits, vegetables and flowers which never, ever look that great in your garden that does a winter-weary heart good. It also fuels my spring fever. Not sure if that’s a good or bad thing.
I walk quite a bit more than I used to in years past. As a result, I’m seeing the changes in trees and bushes that start this time of year. There’s slow-growing evidence of life returning even now. One of the first I noticed was the pussy willow I walk by every day to go to the post office. I thought I was seeing things at first. Nope – little fuzzy buds have emerged on the branches. No, we’re not talking pussy willows coming into bloom – okay, fur – anytime in the next 2-3 weeks. It’s just that there’s a reawakening going on and it’s pretty much on schedule.
So, whether you want to believe the ground hog/woodchuck/whistling pig/ whatever you call them or not, spring is coming and will be here on March 20th at 12:15 PM EDT. It may not necessarily look or feel like it on the day. Many times, it’s exactly like the winter season left behind the day before. But, eventually, it always happens.
Of course, that doesn’t mean we have to be patient about it.
Only 41 days until Spring.
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