Spring?

It snowed today, but may be 79 degrees this week-end. That has gOt to be confusing to the birds! 

I Love/Hate Snow

This is what it looked like at 5:00 pm tonight as I left work. Soon, there were flakes falling that were so big they almost qualified as snowballs. Really! It was a very wet snow and now and then I big cluster of flakes would plop down near me as I cleaned it off my vehicle. 

It was slow going on the way home. I saw people sliding around and as I entered our neighborhood the fire truck was heading out to help someone, probably someone who couldn't stop when they wanted to. I hope everyone is ok. I was glad to know "my people" were all safely tucked in at home.

I hate how ice and snow can make it so difficult (and scary) to travel, but I have to admit, It makes everything look so fresh and pretty. It is a kind of beauty many people in this world will never see. I'm going to focus on the beauty for now, because tomorrow we get to throw winds into the mix!

How is the weather where you are?

It's Coming!

We have been having lots of snow and ice and WIND, always wind. Last night it was difficult even to get around town because of the ice and the emergency vehicles aiding those who slid into each other. But, there is hope. I saw it in my flower bed this week between snow storms.

Yes! Spring will come soon!

Bipolar Wyoming

This was our back yard about 6:30 this morning...

And this was our backyard this afternoon.

Notice the same little tree from the above photos is

also seen in this next photo.

Later in the afternoon, Cordelia asked that we have snacks out on our deck.

I asked what she was doing in this photo and she said she was putting

her hand as she would for the Pledge of Allegiance.

She may have the pledge a bit confused with prayer, 

but it was sweet anyway.

Flowers Under Snow

Sunday was a rough day to be a flower or a flowering tree in Wyoming.

 We are trying to be grateful for the moisture.

But really, our first snow was in September.

Will this winter ever end?

Pussy Willows and Pelicans

Yesterday was the day! It happens to me every Spring. I get all excited about digging in the ground and planting things. One of my favorite days of the year is when Maria and I take the girls and we go off to buy fresh plants.

It was a beautiful day to do it!  We were enjoying a warm, sunny day with the girls. It was so much fun to look at all the pretty trees, bushes and flowers. We were at an outdoor display and there were little birds flying around us and even a little bunny hiding under one of the displays. Elise and Cordelia were charming me as they shared their thoughts with me.

At one point, Maria called across a row of bushes, telling me to look up.  This is what I saw overhead. Actually, they seemed a lot closer and more clear in person, but this is the best I could do with my phone camera.

It was pelicans! They are not a common sight around here, but they do come through from time to time. I'd only ever seen a few at a time but this was an impressive flock. There were probably about twice as many as you can see in this photo. Yes, I did worry a bit about what could fall on us, but nothing bad happened and it was just such a cool sight!

When I got home, I had a lot of ground prep work to do so I didn't actually plant my new plants. I was already in bed when I looked up the weather on my Kindle and when I saw how cold it was going to be, I had to get up and go out on our deck to drag them all in. It was a good thing I did as today was quite chilly.

As you can see, it was no longer sunny and bright today, but I still wanted to take a photo of my favorite new bush. It is a pussy willow and I am delighted with it.

Isn't it cool!

I love the little flowers, or whatever they are called.

They make me think of asteroids or something.

But look at them from this view.

Actually, look past them.

Do you notice that our lawn is once again white?

Yes, that is snow.

Again.

It is melting quickly, though.

This afternoon, everything was dripping outside.

I enjoyed how all these drops lined up, waiting their turn to drip.

But inside our kitchen, on our counter, it looks like Spring.

Is it warm where you are yet?

Wyoming Winter 9/27/2013- ?

This photo was taken September 27, 2013.

It is certainly not the first time we've seen snow in September.

It is actually kind of fun to get that early snow; it is exciting anyway.

Of course, the week after this photo we got the 

snow that broke half the trees in our town.

That wasn't fun.

It was terribly sad.

This next photo was taken today, April 2, 2014

Snow is not nearly as exciting in April!

It is tiresome.

This afternoon it changed to bouncing sleet.

That was a little bit fun, but really,

we are all wondering when we'll finally

get to close the book on this one.

We're starting into our 7th month!

I didn't really mean to take my own photo when I was getting

my Kindle out to take the above photo.

It did kind of capture my feeling about the continuing snowy weather, didn't it?

So, Winter, it has been fun.

It has been memorable.

I don't want to be rude but someone needs to tell you,

YOU ARE WEARING OUT YOUR WELCOME!

It's time to rest in peace.

More Snow

We awoke to snow.

Yes, more snow.

I decided I needed to try to enjoy the beauty of it so before I even fixed breakfast I took my camera out for a little excursion in our yard. I am sorry I didn't work the camera as well as I wanted because it was that kind of snow where you could easily distinguish large, individual flakes.

I took a good look at this poor tree in our backyard. A year ago it was a lovely, well-formed tree. After that remarkable storm in October that broke so many trees around town, this poor teen-age tree will forever be misshapen. I am rather fond of it. I like that it still stands tall and proud with no apologies for its battle scars.

I looked around at some of the other trees that still bear the scars from that storm.

I've been looking again at all the branches around town that are wounded and dangling. I'm sure many of them won't leaf out and their destruction will become more apparent. Although we had our's professionally trimmed after the storm, we still have evidence of the brutality they all endured.

This evening, I took my camera out again. And again, I was disappointed in my photography skills.

I was trying to capture drops that had frozen on the tips of the blades of grass. Can you see them? They were all sparkly and looked like diamonds balancing there. I had not seen anything quite like that before.

OK, winter, nice show. Let's just call it your encore, ok? 

Move along now.

Snow Day Contentment

This week-end looked like this outside. I had two getting-stuck-in-the-snow adventures but I don't really want to talk about that. 

Instead, I want to tell you that I enjoyed spending some quality indoor time with fabric, needle and thread. That is one of my favorite things. I felt content.

I can't tell you what I was sewing as it is top secret and it isn't even my secret. I was just doing some finishing work on one of Maria's projects. Don't worry. After Christmas I bet I can get her to tell you more about it on her blog, Little Things are Big. As projects go, this one is pretty sweet! 

What are your favorite things to do on a snowy day?

Held By His Hand

I am watching big sloppy rain/snow drops/flakes come down right now. You know what I'm talking about, don't you.

It's more than just raining right now, but not quite solidly snow yet. It is, however, very wet outside. It is messy.

Life is messy!

Right now, our back yard kind of represents life. There is a lot of beauty there but there is a lot of mess as well. Sometimes the storms keep coming, even before you've healed from the last one... kind of like our poor tree in the background. It is rather scarred and battered right now, but it is still out there, still accepting moisture from the ground. Still reaching toward the sky.

This morning I am thinking about the messiness of life. We can make plans and aim for goals, but stuff comes up, storms come along that change everything. I know of a lot of friends and acquaintances going through some difficult times. Their lives maybe have taken some unexpected turns. Sometimes it is overwhelming. Maybe they are wondering if God is paying attention to their lives.

While thinking about the uncertainties we all face, both hopeful and worrisome, I stumbled upon a great verse this morning. I think I need to memorize it. I just felt like maybe some of my blog readers would find peace in this verse today as well.




Psalm 37:23-24  The LORD directs the steps of the
 godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. 
Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the 
LORD holds them by the hand.

Lucky Tree Trimming

When a heavy, wet snow comes along this early, 

it can cause some damage. 

The trees all still have their leaves so there is a lot 

of surface area on which the snow collects.

It gets too heavy, though.

Branches start breaking.

Driving home from work last night I saw fallen branches all over town.

I was nervous as to what I'd find at home.

As I approached, I could see that some things had happened.

There are branches hanging off our roof.

There were branches laying all over our yard.

This one is about 30 feet long and

when I tried to move it I did not

even make it budge.

Mike got out his saw and took care of it.

The fallen branches looked kind of sad.

Luckily, the ones on our roof were

small enough that I don't think there

was any damage.

A few hours after I got home Mike came in and asked if I'd seen

the one between the garage and the fence.

I had not.

This very large branch had fallen

right smack dab between our fence and our garage!

It was heavy enough it could have taken out our fence

or damaged our garage.

Luckily,

the only damage was a bent gutter.

I am grateful it wasn't worse. 

Our cars were not hit; no people were hurt...

and our trees were trimmed for free.

Good Morning Wyoming!

May Day? Are You sure?

Mike and I have been on vacation! Sneaky, aren't we? Not to worry. I took lots of photos and I am going to tell you more than you probably care to know about our trip.

Today, though, I have to play catch up so I will just tell you this much...yesterday we were in sunshine and temperatures in the 80's. We flew back to Denver, where we had left our vehicle last week, and the weather didn't exactly give is a warm reception!

Yesterday Bits

Yesterday started out quite cold and with lots of snow piled everywhere. We had so much snow, Walmart disappeared! Well, perhaps it is just a matter of perspective. Also, notice that the snow packed and icy road is all melted.

As the melting continued, it became a great day for icicles. 

All of these were gone a few hours after this photo was taken.

I enjoyed a lot of family time as we celebrated Maria's birthday.

Yes, I know you shouldn't cut the cake before the candles are blown out...

unless your dog happened to reach it and leave a nose mark in the corner.

That figures. Really, I just have bad cake luck.

And in this case, a bad dog!

I didn't even try to get the cake out of the pan. 

It is just better that way. If you don't know my cake decorating history,

please click here.

Cordelia was invited to help her Momma blow out candles.

It was a lovely day!

I Don't Mean to Be Rude...

Dear Winter,

I think you may have misunderstood me.

Yes, I am grateful for all the moisture you gave us recently.





But really...



You could step aside now.

Give Spring a chance. 

It's the honorable thing to do. You've had your turn.

You've done your job.

But you are getting to be a bit annoying.

What if I wanted to sit down on a nice bench and listen to the birds?

I don't mean to be rude but I'd like some gentle Spring rain now, instead of snow. 

Don't take it personally.

Your snow is beautiful.

I like rain, too, though.

I don't have to scrape it off my windows.

You are welcome to come back after next Fall... but don't rush it.

Your's truly,
Sue