Countdown to Spring - A Late Start

For those who still read my blog, you know I normally start this series on Groundhog's Day.  I did watch Punxsutawney Phil on 2/2, but was kind of busy shoveling out from the 18" of snow that fell on 2/1.  By the way, just because it's a light and fluffy snow doesn't make it any easier to clear off a second floor deck and walkway.  I am fortunate in that my neighbors came over to help clear the ridge of snow left by the plow and the area around my car, bless them.  I'm getting too old to be dealing with this stuff, yet love New York too much to consider relocating.

So, the groundhog did see his shadow on February 2, which means six more weeks of winter.  Was I surprised?  Not in the least.  Despite not wanting to deal in cold temperatures, snow, sleet and freezing rain, I know it's part of the process toward a normal spring.  The lack of normalcy of this past year due to the pandemic has given me an appreciation for normal seasonal weather and transitions.

Still, as I look out on falling snow again, which will be happening every other day for the next week, it makes me wonder about warmer climes and snow-free places, if only for a short while.

Only 41 days until Spring.

Countdown to Spring - Okay, So I'm Late

I normally watch Punxsutawney Phil on live feed getting dragged out what is likely not his den on Groundhog's Day to predict what the next 45 or so days will bring with regard to weather.  I was a little late trying to get on the official website  on February 2nd and therefore didn't get to watch live as Phil predicted an early spring.

I have on more than one occasion called Phil a "stupid woodchuck".  I'll do it when he predicts a continuation of winter-like conditions and has been right, and also when he's predicted early spring-like conditions and been wrong.  There's just no making me happy in February when all I want are warmer temperatures and nothing coming out of the sky that's frozen or freezes on contact with my deck, walkway, car, roads – well, you get the idea.  By this time, I'm tired of shoveling snow – even more so with the bum shoulder I'm nursing that really doesn't like the action of lift the snow/chuck the snow out of the way.  I'm tired of having to bundle up to go to my car and scrape the frost off and/or sit there with it to let it warm up before heading to work.  I've gotten tired of cats that won't even venture outside until the temperature's above freezing (they have a cat door - there is no excuse).  I am tired of houseplants that shed in the winter, get luxurious when put outside in warm weather, then return to shedding within a week of being inside.  I like it when Mother Nature waters them and I don't have to, too.  I wistfully peruse seed catalogs, thinking about how beautiful all of it will look on the deck and balcony of my apartment, knowing full well that you can't really grow much of anything on a deck under a tree canopy that only allows full sunlight for maybe two hours a day and a balcony that can't handle a full blown sun-loving garden.

Yes, indeed, by February, my spring fever is more than apparent.  So when Phil predicts an early spring and it doesn't happen, I want to call for his removal as a meteorological prognosticator.  But except for a few days of chilliness and a day or so of mixed precipitation that disappeared within a day each time, Phil has been on the money this year.  Temperatures in the 40s and 50s, rain instead of snow.  I can take it.  Yes, I know there's a downside to having early warm temperatures, including early and increased insect populations, an increase in allergies, etc.  But this year, I just don't care. 

So, I sincerely hope it stays nice right up until spring and beyond.  Let Punxsutawney Phil be right in his prediction right up until March 19th and beyond.  After all, I hear woodchuck stew is kind of fatty and gamey.

Only 25 days until Spring.

Countdown to Spring - Yet, Still, But Not Really

It's sometimes been a little hard to remember we're almost at the end of April.  We've had below freezing temperatures for most of this month's nights.  We've had snow, sleet and freezing rain multiple times. Granted, it doesn't stay around long and, as I type this, there is no evidence of that crappy stuff to be seen. 

There is clear evidence that spring has arrived out there.  Grass is greening up.  Leaves are starting to unfold on trees and bushes.  That pussy willow I mentioned in the earlier posts has gone to pollen.  Daffodils, hyacinth, forsythia, etc. are all out there and in various stages of bloom.  Most, if not all, of the migrating birds have returned.  The robins that I wasn't seeing arrived about a week after my last post and I've been seeing them in droves.

Days and nights are (slowly, very slowly) warming up, and the need to crank the heat up inside has faded to the point where I don't fear looking at the electricity bill anymore.  People are starting to shed their winter apparel for lighter articles of clothing.  Kids now regularly play outside, and it's wonderful to see the park not far from me in use again.  Also not far from me is a marina, and boats are being brought in by car or being unwrapped and taken out of storage, and they'll all soon be hitting the water.  It won't matter that it's still at best in the 40s, 50s and 60s.  They'll be out there like the rest of the spring arrivals, defying the elements and enjoying the moment.

This winter has been like the houseguest that doesn't know when to leave.  While it's not unheard of to still have this kind of chillier and more than a bit snowier/icier than usual kind of weather in April in New York, the winter solstice has worn out its welcome and needs to disappear until December like a good little season now.  I'm going to put away my snow shovel and my ice melt as a symbolic gesture and general hint.  Hopefully, Mother Nature will agree it's time for spring to be in control and not make me haul them out again until after December 21st.

Happy Earth Day, everyone.  Go out and honor and respect the planet 24/7/365.

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

Countdown to Spring - What, Again?

Just when I'm starting to become less achy from shoveling Thursday's storm, here comes another one for Sunday.

Now, depending on which forecast you read, we're getting either 3-6 inches of snow or 5-10, both with a possible glaze of freezing rain and sleet in the mix. Personally, I like my forecast of 1-2 inches of snow with no ice. Mind you, my weather prediction isn't based on maps or studying weather patterns or even a gut instinct.

Just pure wishful thinking.

Only 37 days until Spring.

Countdown to Spring - They're Scarin' Me

I was starting my coffee at 5:30 this morning and heard what I thought was one of the local garbage trucks making its way up the street.  I looked out the window and saw that it was one of the town's snowplows coming up the hill, turning around and heading back down.  We didn't have any precipitation last night.  The roads were dry and the temperature had stayed above freezing.  So, why were they making the rounds?

Tomorrow, we're under a winter weather advisory for expected snow, sleet and freezing rain in the morning.  It's supposed to turn to all rain by late morning, although the last time that was supposed to happen, we got about 2" of pure sleet, no snow or rain involved. No fun to drive on and even less fun to shovel (it's like 6" of wet snow in my book).

It should all be gone by Wednesday, as it's supposed to be in the 50s that day. But, the fact that they're coming around the day before to look for trouble spots in the sort of wee hours of the morning makes me wonder and I shouldn't wonder. Guess I'll be keeping an eye on the forecast - eww.

Only 42 days until Spring.

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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