All Hail!

 Politics is getting so contentious and we haven't even really started the election. I am already overcome with election fatigue and we are still no where near an election. One is really scared to say anything for fear of being trolled by idiots. Friends are so vociferous that scrolling through Facebook is a chore. There is really only one candidate I could wholeheartedly support and that candidate is drag queen in Alabama named Ambrosia Starling.  Her platform is simply  --  Have Good Manners.

Since no one else is running on the "Have Good Manners" platform, there will be lots of weather and pets in the coming months!

And last night -- we had an ice storm. OK, technically it wan not an ice storm, just hail, but still. At one point I thought we would lose a window.

The container kitchen garden was decimated. Most of the little plants are beaten and broken.  I got in about 2 p.m. this afternoon and saw something on the side of the house.  I though something had blown into the yard.  When I walked over to see it, it was a pile of ice. 

It was so strange, I actually stepped on it to see if it was ice. (That is why my footprint is there.) 

Let's hope the weather and politics quiets down a bit. In the meantime...Have Good Manners.

Beachfront Property

The view from the front door.

I know nothing is more boring than the weather.  While about 98% of the time, living in the country is great, there are those other times. Many of them are in the winter. Aside from being cold and white, much of the day is devoted to the weather.

The last week is a case in point. We had snow. We had to make sure we had gas for the generator in case the power went off. We had big, fluffy wet snow...but the power stayed on. Until it went off. The generator keeps the pump working, it keeps the refrigerator running, it keeps the Internet and television on, but not the heat.

Power returned and we were warm again. But the temp dropped into single digits so we had to worry about the water freezing. Once it freezes, there is no getting it back on until a thaw. This week there was a seven day stretch of below freezing weather. So water dripped like some sort of Chinese water torture. We kept the water going, until the cold water in the kitchen froze. We opened the faucet and hoped that the bright sun would hit it just right and free up the water.

The sun worked. It freed up the water while I was vacuuming. Not only was the water line frozen, but the drain was frozen. When the vacuum turned off, one could hear the water pouring into the floor. After sopping up water, towel were left outside to freeze solid.

In an attempt to keep the water running, we opened the faucets more, but a plunge in the temperature froze all the water. Yesterday, the temperature went up, but it took a full 24 hours of spring like weather to get water back to the house.

The spring like weather melted the snow, then it rained. Now the property is flooded.

It will be 24 hours before the water subsides. So we are spending another day trapped inside. A lot of time is spent under the SAD light. Even if one does not have seasonal affect disorder, the dark and cold and wet will eventually get to you.

So, we haven't been posting, because hey, if you don't have something interesting to say, why post.  But spring is around the corner.

Snownado -- The Aftermath

We survived the 20 inches we got in the hollow. Surprisingly, we did not lose electricity during the 36 hours of snow and we tend to lose electricity every time it rains. Let's keep that up for the oncoming thaw. 

To everyone who worried about us and helped us out be making sure our generator worked and checking in every few hours -- thank you.

To those people who complain that everyone got snow and they are tired of watching everyone post snow photo -- here is your chance to lament even more.

And finally...

Snownado

We don't know where this came from, but we do love it.  After Snowmaggedon and Snowpocalypse we have dubbed this Snownado.

Be careful out there. 

If you are somewhere warm -- run outside barefoot for us!

Has Spring Sprung?

Lovely flowers form the yard.  Today I found my most skittish cat, Treat, noshing on something in the floor.  I found one of the flowers, carefully removed from the vase and about to become a snack.  I caught him in time and the flowers were set on a high shelf.  Treat got a different treat. 

Yes, I think it might just be Spring.

This Needs To Stop

Yes, it is just, as the say on the weather report, a dusting, but come on!  When we first posted about the daffodils coming up, my BFF Beverly informed me they were crocus.  If they were squash, we would have recognized them.

We are expecting another "dusting" Thursday night.  Sunday is Easter.  Let's get this over with!

Winter's Broken Record

I know. You are tired of these pictures, but not as tired as we are!  It is not like we are alone.

Several people posted this weather map as a joke on Facebook.  The problem is, it doesn't seem to be a joke.  Two weeks ago we had "the last snow" of the winter.  Last week we had a "freaky spring snow" and this morning we had "the last snow of winter" or perhaps the next to the last snow of spring" since we awaiting more snow this afternoon.

Yes, Spring is trying to break through, Bless its little heart!

Tomorrow the car is going into the shop to have the windshield replaced.  A couple of tiny dings became an issue during the last few weeks when the temperature was 65 during the day and -10 at night.  That was our most dramatic shift in temperature, but in has not been unusual for a 30 to 50 degree shift during a 24 hour period.  I called 6 places before I could find a windshield repair that could take my car before MAY!  

We Don't Get Out Much

Yes, it is now March.  This is the sixth month that we have had snow.  Even the chickens are stir crazy.  They can no longer stay inside, even if there is a blizzard outside.

I am not that crazy.

But eventually as Annie says, The sun will come out...

and the weatherman says this is our LAST snow.  He better be right.

The Trouble with Photographing Snow

Today's snow looks like...

 

Valentine's Day snow. Yesterday's snow looks a lot like the Thursday snow.

 

Thursday's snow looks like Monday's snow.

This week's snow looks like last week 's snow.

 

Last week's snow looks like last month's snow.

 

 

And snow it goes...

 

Six More Weeks

 

If I find Punxsutawney Phil, he's one dead groundhog!

 

Gigantic Snow Flakes

 

It started to sleet, the. Snow this afternoon. I stepped out to take photos and found the flash captured these big flakes.

 

They were so white against the gray skies that they look like lights.

I can't remember such big flakes. You could practically lift them off your shirt.

 

Oh, The Weather Outside is...

We have no earthly idea about the weather. For three days we worked in the garden, transplanting berries, planting new berries, cleaning and cutivating. It was nearly 70! We found a nice bunch of late season carrots.

The carrots were safely on the counter. Upon my return, Trick had climbed on the counter and distributed carrots to her buddies. She is the first to find snacks and loves to share. The cats had snarfed the carrot tops and were playing ping pong with the fat round carrots.

As evening arrived, Trick took took some selfies and had nap.

It rained all night and we awoke to water, water, everywhere. Supposed to rain all night, again. We are safe and sound and hoping the temperature stays above freezing.

 

Our First Snow

 

Spring Makes A Valiant Attempt

Yes, yes, almost...

Yeah...Spring... sort of.

Baby It's Cold Outside

 

According to Trick, it is quite cold INSIDE!