Friday, February 26, 2016

Brief Winter Reprieve at the Ditch

So, earlier this week I decided to check out the ditch. It couldn't have been a nicer day. The sun was out and so were the ducks!


I've never seen so many -- they were even on the large pond, which isn't a spot they normally hang out. When I moved onto the smaller ponds, they were there, too. And so were people!


I had a wonderful chat with this blind gentleman who was identifying the mallards by their calls.


And of course there were runners and dogs...


And beautiful views. You rarely see it like this in February.


Most of the time it is a little more white -- like my neighbor's yard the following day!


The snow hadn't even stopped when I took this photo...


...or when my neighbor Frank was blowing out the driveway.


If anyone is happy about this it's Ms. Lizzie -- she's loving the feeding frenzy!


Me? I'll put myself in the "I wish we were back earlier in the week" camp!

PS -- Since I wrote this draft, we got 12" on snow in that storm, so says the weather guy and it's supposed to all melt over the next week! Weirdest winter ever -- El Nino, thank you!

24 comments:

Joanne Huffman said...

It's been a very odd weather winter. Your photos capture it perfectly.

21 Wits said...

This reminds me of Minnesota so much! Beautiful get out and enjoy life and nature one day and the next total blizzard! You've shared lovely photos of it all!

Lisa from Lisa's Yarns said...

It's been a weird winter here as well. We really only had 1 significant snow fall of 12". Besides that the snow has been light and it hasn't been nearly as cold as it normally is. Last weekend was a really nice weekend and this upcoming one will be as well!

When I went for a run on Presidents' Day I saw some ducks on the creek that I run by and it made me think of you!

Tina Fariss Barbour said...

The ditch looks like a great place to enjoy being out in nature. Why is it called a ditch?

We've had a weird winter here too. One big snowfall. Tornadoes in the state this week--one in the next county over.

Roses, Lace and Brocante said...

Two very different aspects of your Winter Jeanie! I'll take the pond day - interesting photos .
Shane x

Joyful said...

Oh wow, Jeannie! That is a lot of snow. I'm so glad you had a walk and a wonderful day the day before. Those are the things that help us through the long Winters. Hugs. xx

Barb said...

Isn't it strange when it's springlike one day and snowing the next. We've been having warmer temps for a couple weeks, but the forecasters say we'll be back to winter in March. I've skied the past 2 days with Grandchildren - they complained they were "hot!"

Mae Travels said...

Winter is getting old for me. One per year? Too many. But that said, I like your snow photos a lot!

best... mae at maefood.blogspot.com

Marilyn Miller said...

Your photos of the ditch are lovely. Also fun to see your missy Lizzie at the window. How they do love watching the birds at the feeders.

Debbie-Dabble Blog and A Debbie-Dabble Christmas said...

Beautiful photos!! Thanks so muchf or stopping by!!

Hugs,
Deb

Victoria Zigler said...

The day at the ditch sounds great... Seems as though the ducks thought so too. Personally though, I wouldn't mind that snow too... Wish you could send me some!

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

WELL...today, we are getting 50+ temps with sunshine, but tomorrow? SNOW they say! We are in the same boat my friend. Enjoy what you can!

The French Hutch said...

I always enjoy your walks to the ponds, you come away with awesome pics. Love the shadows and the ducks. The snow pics are fun for me, we've had zip this year other tha a few flurries. I see Ms. Lizzie enjoys bird watching! Even for us the weather has been strange, not enough colder temps. Spring is tickling us already…………….Happy Saturday.

Tammie Lee said...

thank you for sharing your wintry world.
a foot is a lot of snow and a lot to melt all in a week.

Mary@mydogsmygardenandmary said...

Beautiful photo's. We are still waiting for El Nino. All I heard for months is El Nino, El Nino and then nothing. Everyone battened down the hatches, covered outdoor furniture as we were going to have all this rain. Well that is a joke, I hope that we still get it in March and April, but I just don't know.

Kitty likes looking at the birds.

Have a wonderful week and hopefully all your snow has melted.

Mary

shoreacres said...

Because of a combination of weather and needing to keep my rear in my writing chair over the past three weeks, I've not been out. But I was out yesterday, and found a few new wildflowers. It's still a little early, but I swore I wasn't going to miss spring this year, and it's in the process of showing up.

I was surprised at first by your snow, but then I remembered we still are in February, even if barely, and March snows in Iowa never were a surprise. Personally, I liked spring snows, because we always knew they weren't going to be around forever. Twelve inches in March is far better than twelve inches in January!

Vivian Swift said...

Love the picture of Miss Lizzy watching Kitty TV. We've only had one big snow this year on Long Island and I hope that's the first and last of it. Today it's going to 60 degrees and all Top Cat and I have to do is figure out which part of the Long Island Sound shoreline we want to walk this afternoon before we come home to make our Sunday evening soup -- we're doing Moroccan Lentil!

Roses, Lace and Brocante said...

Jennie Im intrigued by the name of that area 'the ditch'!
We call the Tasman sea that separates New Zealand and Australia 'the ditch'!
The blind man has developed his hearing sense to tell him about life on the pond, nice that you stopped and chatted.
My mother was very deaf in her latter years as well as being blind, she always said she would rather be blind than deaf as she was a music lover - it was her life.
Oh my goodness that's a lot of snow!

Kitty said...

Weather in Mich doesn't hold a candle for weirdness to Texas. We are alternating between freezing it 5am and 75 to 80 at 4p. Reminds me of the time I worked in downtown Dallas and watched gals wear fur coats to work and carry them home after work. So I guess some of this is "normal" except that it has been going on all "winter"! As usual, I love your photos and comments. Love to you and Rick.

Angelsdoor * Penny said...

Dear Jeanie,
Your photos are breathtaking! It is so hard to believe that there is such weather going on when I am sitting in 80 degrees over here...
Crazy weather is right!
blessings,
Penny

Lynne said...

I am late in my reading . . .
Bet your snow has vanished . . .
Another trip "to the Dutch" might be perfect!

Bella Rum said...

I think we are all ready for spring. We can feel it here. We've had a few days in the sixties. Not bad for February, but it does seem early. I'll take it, though.

~*~Patty S said...

Oh 12" is nothing to sneeze at and it looked like a wet snow too.
We went from spring temps to really cold and windy again but no white stuff ... yet.
Love the ditch whenever you take us there Jeanie!
oxo

Sally Wessely said...

It must be spring. One day we are out walking in light jackets; the next we are huddled inside in warm jackets watching it snow outside. Lovely photos.

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