Polar Vortex!

Greetings from the Polar Vortex. Chances are if you live most places in the US, you are in it, too. 

 

We are in the midst of a deep freeze here -- definitely not my favorite kind of weather but when you live in Michigan, you have to experience this now and then. But this is pretty extreme! When I was a kid, I don't remember them ever closing school because it was too cold. Even snow days were rare and it seemed we had more then than now. 

It's a Little Brisk Out There...

Here in Michigan we have coasted along the early winter weeks wondering where winter was. (I, for one, wasn't complaining.) True, the skies were gray, there was plenty of drizzle, and it wasn't great weather for something like a picnic, but the temps were adequate (high for the month) and I didn't mind not having to battle snow or ice if headed out.

Then we got our share of the deep freeze.

A Message from the King and More From Real Life

No, not that King.

Wikimedia Commons

Or this one.

Wikipedia

You may recall my holiday baking hit a snafu when I found alien matter in my King Arthur flour. 

And Now It's February

Here's something you don't often see in my world at this time of year. That's sunshine, morning sun, coming into the backyard. Never mind that it's one degree below zero. It's sun. I'll take it!

Early March at the Ditch

In an earlier post I mentioned a lovely, early March walk to the Ditch. It was 60 degrees, sunny and perfect. The water still looked pretty cold. There's still a lot of ice, but it's breaking up and the weather was certainly helping. 

Winter Life

By the time we get to the middle of February, winter gets old. Pretty, but old.

Calendar by Kate McNenly

I've been enjoying my newest neighborhood critter, Bunny FooFoo. Well, probably he won't stay Bunny FooFoo for long -- he seems far too masculine for that! 

So, We Got a Little Snow

We've been gliding through winter here in Michigan pretty easily, with very little snow and cold but not excruciating temperatures. 

That was then. This is now. 

 

A Blue and White Season: Winter at the Ditch

We've had our first real snow (not all that deep -- only about four or five inches) but it was enough to look pretty at the ditch.

Pretty cold, that is!

The Longest Month

 It's only 28 days. Why does it always seem like twice that?

 Our January was terribly mild as Januarys go. February may be the month of love, but when it comes to snow, it is not being so kind.

I really can't complain when I consider my friends in the East with well over a foot of snow. And I have to admit, it's very pretty. And watching the wildlife is rather amusing! 

I should name this one "Pretzel" because he can contort himself into any shape!

The snow is so lovely when it falls -- I enjoy watching it come down in the back yard because really, I don't have to do anything with that.

The driveway is a different matter. My snow guys came after about two or three inches. I just got in from pushing the inch or more that fell after they were finished. Not bad but heavy and I can already feel my back seizing up! After I took this pic, I made a path to fill the feeders. My tweets are hungry!

The ditch looks rather pretty. A bit brutal, but pretty. Areas of water don't seem fully frozen so if there are ducks still hanging there (and I think there are -- I've seen them flying overhead) -- they have water. 

I saw a lovely deer, too, but didn't have my camera. I hustled home to get it but when I returned it was gone. I'm not sure where they are going for food but I could have sworn I saw deer tracks in my yard.

Don't you love the contrast of these ditch weeds and the snow? It's so stark, yet lovely.

Once winter comes, no one shovels or plows the path. But it looks tamped down enough that hearty walkers might enjoy a jaunt or two around the ponds.

I'll pass.

I was headed home from an appointment and happened to pass by this cheerful house.

I haven't met the people who live here. But I'm pretty sure I like them!

In the pet peeve department, the other day I got this enormous box from Amazon. The legal-sized envelope gives you a sense of scale.

This is what was inside. Most of it would have fit in a padded envelope. Maybe all of it, in one or two.

I have so many boxes in my garage I could start my own shipping company. I really think Amazon should design a smaller sized box for deliveries such as this. 

Meanwhile, my computer has been very slow of late and making odd noises when turning on or accessing one of the other drives or a video. "Not Responding" (which is what I should have named Lizzie) is a common sight. Needless to say, there may well be new hardware in my future.

 Meanwhile, I leave you with a bit of blue. 

These days you grab onto it when you can!

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Travel Break: Winter Memories

Every now and then for one reason or another I go back into my family photos. What starts as a quick look for something specific usually ends up as a long visit, recalling some special times.

I've been going through photos, trying to find the right ones to illustrate the book I'm writing about our family history. A photo -- even one taken before my time -- can lead to many thoughts.

One such thought is that I didn't always hate winter.

In fact, I appear to rather have enjoyed it.

So did the dog!

 And while we may complain about heavy winters and more snow, we really did have just as much as we did in the way-back machine.

Sometimes they even had more. And our ancestors were tougher, too. No snow blowers or tractors to help plow. And they shoveled in skirts and bare legs.

I remember when dad got his riding lawn mower with a plow blade. It was a very big deal for him!

Although some remain purists.

Purists who find photos like this a necessary evil of knowing me.

I will not deny that winter is beautiful, whether it is here at the Ditch...

...or farther afield, like the stark, desolate beauty of the Shaker Village in Hancock, Massachusetts...

...or by a water mill in Sudbury, Massachusetts...

...or on the path in western Michigan where Rick was a leader in founding the Kal-Haven Trail.

It's a spot he loves and one I hope to find again. Not in winter.

Winter, of course, comes with its warnings.

And one would be wise to take heed.

I think I stopped loving winter once I started falling down more -- and it was a longer way to the ground. It seems we fall much harder now -- and don't recover nearly so well. This is our Little Big Guy before he was even one and he seems to be loving it! (He's going to be two very soon and I suspect he'll love the snow even more, in his puffy snowsuit and able to run and play!)

To be honest, the fact that roads in our area aren't the best plowed doesn't endear me to the season, either. (Although at least the snow fills the potholes, at least temporarily!)

I'm longing for a good walk around the Ditch, and while it would be pretty like this...

...I think I'll wait a bit until it looks a little more like this!

And that should only be a few more months!

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Snow Day

Winter returned with a vengeance here in mid-Michigan. Over three days and several snowfalls we got about 14 inches of snow.

And it really looked beautiful till you drove around in it!

My journey to physical therapy took me by the Michigan State campus so I made a quick stop at the children's garden.

I think these look like Coneheads!

And no one wants to sit in the Butterfly chair today.

Is this a student who froze or a sculpture? Ah yes, I think I know the answer.

White sheep or tan sheep?

No one was taking a leisurely rest on the benches today.

And whoever was riding this? Bad idea.

All lovely. But it wears thin!

The snow was high on this tree at the physical therapy parking lot.

And even higher at Kroger!

I thought I'd take a quick spin by the Ditch just to show you what it's like in the winter. It's hard to believe that white space on the far side of the fence is water. Or rather, ice.

Pretty white!

No one was sitting on this bench either!

Right now the only ones who can get along the unplowed paths are skiers or snowshoe fans. Cross country skier Rick, on the other hand, is in seventh heaven. Meanwhile, I'm hoping my neighbor got his truck dug out.

 It's a very good time to paint! (By the time this posts, we're supposed to have rain and 40 degrees. I don't understand winter anymore.) And thanks for all the nice comments on my Valentine post! Yes, I'll keep him!

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