I really don’t like uninvited guests. They drop in at the most inconvenient time, stay for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Roll out mid evening and just leave one incredible mess to clean up. Stella. Who invited her to spend Tuesday in New England? 🙂
Monday, there was bare ground, and yesterday we had one heck of an old-fashioned snowstorm. The snow started lightly falling around 8 a.m., with the whiteout rolling in around noon and going well into the evening. Almost everything was closed so there was no traffic, and today the roads are clear down to the pavement.
I did a little pushing of snow around the edges and cleaning the cars a couple of times. The removal during the height of the storm was done twice by younger members of the family. Today the seniors did the cleanup. Total as far as I could measure was right at 16″.
Several thousands lost power in town as well as across the state. But, Steve took the punishment, and we ended up only losing power for a couple of minutes. It was just long enough to have to reset the clocks. Picture a happy dance here. 🙂
I’m glad it’s over and hope that it is the last knock from Mother Nature with regard to snow. I can hope because I have lots of outdoor chores and projects including straightening that arbor.
Now, we are left to wonder about all the plants and trees that budded out during those warm spells and have now been through some brutal winter weather again. I don’t know where the fruit will come from this year, but I’m thinking it may not be local.
Saturday, two days before the official start of spring, is my Master Gardener Spring Symposium. Only one hitch – snow is currently in the forecast.
NewEnglandGardenAndThread 
Oh boy! You certainly got more than your fair share of cold, Judy. Stay warm and hope the spring remembers to arrive. 😃
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I’m glad to read that all is well and that Steve is still standing! I know you would have rather not had your uninvited guest but it sure looks beautiful!
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Yes, I readily admit, when it hangs on the fir trees like that it is lovely. 🙂
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A mess here in PA too. About 18 inches of snow. Sigh. Ready for spring.
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Oh no. I didn’t think of the budding fruit trees and the results of that. God help us all. Just glad you are safe.
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Glad all is well, and that Steve did his duty 🙂
It’s been flurried around these parts, came down real good for about an hour last night. I watched the kitten try to ‘get it’ through the window 😛 Seems only to stick to cars.
I shall go now and try to find out how one straightens one’s arbor…
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Ugh that is quite a lot to shovel.
I too wonder about our bushes, trees, fruit, etc.
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Let’s pray for our plants’ resilience. I hope your symposium Sat. isn’t cancelled and goes without a hitch.
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Glad your power wasn’t out long! It is like winter woke up and realized it hadn’t done its job and is rushing now to get it done before Spring!!
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Yay Steve!!
I’m sure there are a lot of plants wondering what just happened.
We didn’t get the snow forecasted, however I was talking to a colleague this morning from the west end of the city and they saw 15 inches of snow. We got somewhat more than a dusting.
… but the bitter cold winters are still here. Brrrr.
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I’m so happy to hear you and Steve faired very well!
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Yes, the winter weather is brutal, Judy. I wait for warm days as well.
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We got about 14″ here and it came down pretty heavy at times. It was enough to cause serious pile-ups on 3 highways. As you say, hopefully this was winter’s last hurrah *fingers crossed*
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Glad you are safe and only lost power for a few minutes! Hopefully some of the fruit will survive.
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It’s a pain in the butt, but how many times over the years have we done this same thing? We ought to be used to it by now, right? If it hadn’t been for all that delicious warm weather in February …
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If you live here or move here, you better have a shovel, right? 🙂
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We saw the snowstorm on the TV news. I can’t even imagine what that much snow must be like. Glad you all survived intact and Steve did his job.
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I guess you didn’t escape winter in the end! It’s always the way.
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We had a dusting of snow…just a skim….but it is gone except for some spots in the shade. And that will be gone with tomorrow. Like you, I am wondering about fruit.
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Michigan’s farmers are saying crops will be ok but maple syrup won’t.
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You are right about the maple syrup. The weather is sure not cooperating with all those hard working folks who try to bring some natural sweetness to our every day life. 🙂
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Yay Steve! You-da-man! I’m actually heading home today, Judy. I have a bunch of cleanup left to do tomorrow. We didn’t lose power, but we got hit about the same as you guys.
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Well, I am full of admiration for you all with this dreadful weather. And thank goodness for Steve. Maybe you should have stayed in S.Carolina a bit longer?
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As I alternate between ice and heat on my back from the shoveling, the same thought has occurred to me. 🙂
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Sixteen inches! Ugh! All those hours of white-out must have been nasty, and I’m very glad to hear that Steve toughed it out and you only had to reset your clocks. I can only imagine the happy dance, which I suspect is somewhat like my jig. You have my sympathy on the matter of the snow on the day of your Spring Symposium. May it not be so!
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That Stella really barged right in and took over, huh? It is still really blustery here–brrrr. So glad to hear your power stayed on–that really makes a ll the difference in weathering a storm!
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18 inches here in Maine and wet and heavy snow. Not fun shoveling! it will most likely be the really early blooming varieties of woody plants, the ones that require the least number of warm days to start swelling, that will get hit the hardest. Certainly some of the fruit trees and the flowering cherries…February being so warm and March being so cold. Time will tell. It will certainly depend on how far along the buds were before the cold weather hit again. Spring in the northeast ( in most recent years) has become unpredictable and somewhat unreliable. As we near the time we consider uncovering the nursery, the ups and downs of the weather can make it very difficult to know when it is safe to do so. Next week the greenhouse will be heated and ready for sowing seeds and propagating. Hopefully, we are done with the real bitter cold and we won’t have to heat an icebox!
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Here’s to a spring that starts right on time. 🙂
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Steve deserves a reward! Not sure what he’d like though, maybe a garland? We only had about 12 inches here, but ferocious winds. I am keeping my fingers crossed that our budding trees weren’t badly damaged.
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I planted some dark red day lilies at his base last year. I may have to amp up the landscaping to show my appreciation. 🙂
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That was quite a storm! So glad your power only went out for a short time. In central Maine, we got about 18 inches, too. Phew! No family to help. Just Ma & Pa to shovel and snow-blow. Nature’s gym 😉
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I do not mind being able to ‘push’ the snow. I have two shovels for pushing. Yesterday, there was a crust of ice on everything – no pushing. So, I shoveled which is the absolute worst thing for my back challenges. Now, I’m alternating between ice and heat hoping to move past it. I need to accept and remember I can’t ‘shovel’ any more only ‘push.’ 🙂
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Can’t like this! Hope your back feels better soon.
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A winter to remember Judy – beautiful photographs! Here is to a little warmth and nudge of Spring!
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Hope spring comes to visit soon.
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I hope Spring comes soon for you too Judy.
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It’s amazing that we don’t live too far apart yet Dover got a heck more snow than Exeter. Your measurement is right on. That same number was reported in the news for Dover. I hope that uninvited guest does not reappear!
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I’ve heard a lot of stories about this last hurrah of winter. Even my client was busy shoveling the snow in their yard.
Stay warm and safe!
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Hopefully this will be your last big storm before spring arrives but you never know. Remember two years ago when we had that much snow on the ground the first week of April? Actually we had record breaking cold this morning 39…not a bad morning temp if we were still living in New Hampshire but everyone here in Florida was mentioning it.
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I can only imagine you enjoying just a tiny chuckle when FL folks complain about the weather during the winter. 🙂 I know when we were in SC in a spring jacket, enjoying the weather we’d look around and see someone in a winter coat, scarf, gloves and hat. 🙂
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So true. 🙂
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A friend of ours works as a lineman and often gets sent out to other areas hard-hit by power outages. He was much relieved this time to be turned back home as there wasn’t enough outages in the East to warrant his being sent. Glad you made it ok😊
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Stella is certainly a thoughtless guest! Was she raised by wolves? While I suspect she won’t come again, there are always more like her.
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16 inches sure looks deep to me and I am sorry you had so much shoveling to do. I hope all the terrible snow is done for this season. HUGS>
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Wicked cold today, gray skies, but nothing white falling from the sky. For that, I am grateful. Enjoy your warmer temps. 🙂
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It looks beautiful but I fear I would go crazy with so much snow! I hope you get some warm, sunny weather soon.
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