Countdown to Spring - The Big and Little Cats of March

There's a saying that March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb,  The latter part of that saying remains to be seen, but this month definitely came in roaring. March 1st was ushered in by some gusty winds, and there have been several days, today included, where it's been kicking dust and debris around at 30-40 miles per hour out there.  My deck and walkway have been littered with tree branches, what I refer to as Mother Nature doing her final housekeeping of the winter season by clearing away the dead branches so that the ones still with life in them have room to grow.

My winter housebound cats (their choice to stay in and keep their feet, faces and fur warm and dry) don't like going out when it's windy.  But last week, when the temperatures got into the 50s and 60s during the day, they were outside sucking up the light and heat of the sun anytime the wind died down.  They've also discovered that at around 8:00 AM (now 9:00 AM thanks to Daylight Saving Time that started today), the sun comes streaming in the balcony door and they can get their solar "fix" for at least an hour before it goes away and returns on the other side of the house around 11:00 AM.  So, while the big cat of winter may roar all it wants, the little cats seek out signs of it going away and of better days that are coming.  They're as tired of the darkness and chill as we are.

Only 6 days until spring.

Countdown to Spring - Priorities

Well, it's official.  I'm off from work on Tuesday.  Almost all the school districts in my area have closed in anticipation of our snowstorm tomorrow.  That wasn't a surprise.  What was a bit of a pleasant shock was the county executive closing county offices and ordering all non-emergency staff to stay home, with other local government offices following suit.  This is a rare decision, to be sure.  But, then, this storm event is worth the caution.

This is a classic nor'easter, creating blizzard conditions, snow totals of at least – AT LEAST – 12 inches, and winds 10-20 mph with gusts as high as 40 as the storm makes its way up the eastern seaboard.  Usually when these storms occur, northern and western parts of New York get spared significant snowfall.  Not this time.  They may not get the 12+ totals, but they'll still come close to having one foot of snow on the ground when it's all said and done.  Even places that don't normally see significant snow at all – Washington, DC, for example – will be digging out with the rest of us on Wednesday.  Yup, it's a biggie.

I'm as prepared as I'm going to be for this.  My kerosene heater and little generator are ready.  I put the plastic on the south side of my porch again.  It got blown off by the power killer cold front that passed through two Saturdays ago.  I put it back up to minimize the amount of shoveling I'd have to do of my porch just to open the front door.

I have adequate food, water, flashlights and batteries.  I also have chocolate, popcorn and videos.  Priorities.

I've covered as much of the patches of crocus and snowdrops as I could with containers weighted down just in case a gust of wind works to remove them.  I realize they've managed to survive torrential rain, high winds, single digit temperatures and deer invasion without help from me.  But a foot of snow is a bit much to endure and I'm not just talking the flowers survival, either.  I'm sure I'm going to need to see something other than white ground out there in the days ahead.

Again, priorities.

See y'all on the other side of this end-of-winter beastie.

Only 7 days until Spring.

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: 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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