Do I need to say more? The calendar says April 16th, but Mother Nature is still knocking on our door and this wicked six-month winter won’t go away.
I’ve done some sewing, but it hasn’t been fun. It’s been ‘fixing.’ I won’t bore you with details, but just let me say I took my quilt top and back to the longarm quilter only to bring both back home because I need to make some adjustments for it to work on the machine.
I did a little more outdoor cleanup last week before this latest cold spell landed, but the only gardening I’ve done lately is attend a presentation by Kerry Ann Mendez, Perennially Yours, and hear about flashy foliage perennials.
If that is something you are interested in, Kerry is hosting a webinar on that topic on Thursday, April 26th. The very best thing about a webinar is you can watch it whenever and wherever you want.
Have you been able to do any spring clean up or gardening yet?
But, I’m not folding my spring tent. In an act of defiance in the face of ice, snow and 28 degree temps, we went out for ice cream. It was so cold, we had to wrap napkins around the cup in order to hold it.
We sure showed Mother Nature what we think about ice and snow. π
I hesitate to say this, but we have finally had some sunshine!
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So glad someone is seeing sun and spring. Happy gardening to you, and I’ll hope to catch up before long. Maybe? π
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I had to shovel our steps, ramp and porch this morning, Judy π¦
We have been for ice cream several times since our local place opened. Take that MS Nature.
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That’s the spirit! When cold weather hits in the spring, there is only one thing to do—get ice cream. Freezing rain here, although not too bad. The driveway has been swept, most of the sticks have been picked up, and we raked part of the lawn on Friday. Considering how the weather has been, I think we’ve done pretty well. Surely, surely, Spring is ready to show her pretty face.
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I keep hoping that the birds will chirp, the sun will come out, and a nice soft breeze will blow. Instead we have a covering of ice on everything. What’s wrong with this picture? π
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Everything!
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I just cleared the ice from our deck. Now I think I’ll go out for ice cream…. π¦
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That’s right! Just take some gloves and keep the car running. π
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Mending will never be very enjoyable. When I used to sew, I would rather start from scratch with a pattern and fabric than attempt to “fix” something.
Not much spring cleanup going on here. Hell, no spring yet. On a day of sunshine it’s so windy you can’t rake. Heavy rain today, gloomy, cold. Sigh…..
I think ice cream will fix anything…..except maybe a cavity! Lol. You and Dennis should’ve worn winter gloves for your ice cream run. πππ
πΉGingerπΉ
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I actually reached in the pocket of my coat to see if I had any gloves. π It is sleeting here today with a coating of ice on everything. π¦
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No spring clean-up here yet, other than the Front Garden so the bulbs wouldn’t come up amid a mess of brown sticks and leaves. No mulching done, very little weeding except in the potager. Just waiting for warmer temperatures…and waiting….and waiting…..
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Is someone higher up trying to teach us patience? π
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Finer minds than mine know all about these things, but the last time the sun went this long without sunspots, people were skating on the Thames. The sun now looks like a blemish-free cue-ball.
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Well, that certainly gives us all something to ponder. π
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Still cold and snowy and blowing today here, but warmer temps are predicted to come later this week. I’ve cleaned up winter debris, but that’s all. It has to end eventually. π
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Who knew we’d ever have a six-month winter? The pharmaceutical companies will have to come up with a new antidepressant for gardeners. π
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π
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Same here with the misery. We had the ice storm you saw on tv. It wasn’t bad as projected, but still netted school closings everywhere today and missing Mass yesterday. (We oldsters are starting to worry about breaking our hips! :))
The only outdoor work we’ve done here in the past week is fill the bird and squirrel feeders!
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And, we’ll live longer worrying about those hips. We know of one person and one relative who are both dealing with hip damage from falls. So, you stay nice and toasty inside until the ice clears. We have sleet today, thin coating of ice on everything, and it is slippery out there. Where or where is spring so you can get those window boxes all planted up? π
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Summer is coming!!
I am excited for my germinating flowers. I cannot wait for the beautiful smells and the warm air.
-The Northern Garden
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As a native Californian, I grew up hearing about this strange season known as ‘winter’ that happens in Pennsylvania and Oklahoma. It sounds unpleasant. However, it is also what makes it possible to grow all sorts of bulbs and varieties of apples that require more chill than we get here.
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A minor setback π hehe. This IS getting to be a bit much. At least you missed the bulk of the winter, Judy.
I did get two work sessions in on the two decent days we had. This cool weather is letting me be leisurely about it. π
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I haven’t done any outdoor cleanup yet, Judy, as I’m hoping the leaves and all will help protect the plants for the continuing cold. We had some snow this morning, but because we’re a bit over freezing now, it’s melted. Every day I get more and more ready to welcome spring when it finally arrives…which may be after the next few days. We can but hope and pray. π
janet
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They are actually running the Boston Marathon today. In this pelting rain. A lot of the top runners from Ethiopia and Kenya dropped out. They don’t deal well with freezing rain.
We had SNOW on our deck yesterday. Fresh snow. But the day lilies keep on a’growing. Any day now. Any day. Please.
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Fight the power, dear Judy! Show winter/springter what’s what!
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The wintery weather must be widespread because our daughter in Toronto has just been through a big ice storm over the weekend. She said it was bitterly cold. Today is her birthday and snow is forecast, so it will be her first ever white birthday. She is a bit excited about that. She wasn’t so excited about the power outage for nearly 24 hours, which meant they had no heating. I hope this chilly blast moves on soon for everyone. It’s time spring came to your garden.
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Eating ice-cream seems like the perfect revenge for a snow storm… Or just freezing cold weather. I think you are all made of tough stuff to survive so many snow storms in one winter. Autumn has been delayed here in Canberra … But I’m hoping to plant some sweet peas today π
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Sweat peas are one of my absolute favorites because they come with childhood memories. π
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The winter has been stubborn. Weβre finally getting reasonable weather and hope that for you too. Are the crocuses from your cleanup? Weeds are winning here.
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I saw the crocuses in a walled garden of sorts at a fabric store I was visiting. There is absolutely nothing of color here at home except for a sea of brown.
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I applaud your act of defiance. Yesterday alternated between snow and sleet here. Gardening? Not a chance. I will try to take a lesson from those little crocuses, though, and hold to hope. Thanks for the word about Kerry Ann Mendez; as I work to make this place mine, she just might be a great resource! That is, if winter ever ends.
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I think you know I feel your pain! We are hearing about a warmup for this weekend. You, too? Hope so!
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It is suppose to warm up a little which will be wonderful, and if we get a little sun instead of this steady rain, that will also be welcome. Maybe we can salvage the end of April. π
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We had a lovely good rain yesterday with one really great clap of thunder. Thunder! Rare here. I do wish it more than the one clap though. The grass is so green, and the hills are still green and not yet turning their golden brown that just looks dry, dry, dry and icky by August.
I weeded a bit out front today. After rain the weeds just spring up huge! I’ll have to do a lot more out back. Perhaps tomorrow.
I hope Spring arrives soon for you. Until then you just keep right on showing Mother Nature how you feel. More ice cream! π
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When we lived in Alaska, we used to go to Hawaii this time of year for a much needed dose of sun and green. In this prolonged winter-into-spring, I was dreaming of Kauai. And then I saw the photos of the devastating flood there and was grateful that I was at least high and dry on my little hill. It seems to be a wild spring all over the world this year.
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Yes, whenever you are disappointed in your weather you don’t have to look too far to find another area of the country that is worse off. We have sun today but really cold temps. So, I’ll be grateful for the sun. π
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Stupid weather. I can’t believe it’s mid-April, temperatures are barely above freezing, and snow still covers everything …. including all the damn pine cones I never got around to cleaning up last week before the ice storm. Oh well, with the heavy winds we’ve had, there will just be more of them to clean up π€¨
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I thought of you and your pine cones when I was out on a couple of decent mornings picking up sticks with my pinchers so I didn’t have to bend over every time. π
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ooo – thanks for the reminder! I need to find ours!
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Haha! We’re going to have snow again tonight. I need to get out there and work in the yard, so I really do wish we’d get one drier, warmer weekend day.
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You keep the snow right outside your door because I know you like it. π I was thinking about you on Monday when I defied the weather and purchased some Wet and Forget. Of course, I won’t be able to use it until the temps warm up, but I’m ready. π
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Hah! I can’t wait! π Was lookin at the north side of my house yesterday and imagining it all clean without me!
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I eat ice cream year round, in true defiance of Nature.
I love the crisp photo of the crocuses, Judy! π
I do think my two favorite local spots are Ollie’s Fine Ice Cream Parlour and Dairy Point which is located at the point where two streets merge. (Delaware, Ohio)
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Our ice cream shops close in September and open in April so everyone is always anxious to get in line regardless of weather. π
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You can run, my snowbird friend, but you cannot hide from Mother Nature! She will find you in the end. π
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Now, that is a fact, friend. π
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