Left Behind

Normally, when my husband leaves for work in the morning, Sugar pays little attention.  It's just the usual routine.  But today, he put on his hunting clothes and got out his hunting pack.  He took the day off and was going 'wheeling'.  Sugar knows what the hunting pack is all about.  She was following him all around the house this morning, panting, in a high state of excitement.  Then...this happened.

He left.  Without her.

Just about the saddest pup in the world this morning.  

Don't worry, Sugar.  I'll take you up to the ranch after E. gets home from school :)

Gonna be a great weekend - high temps in the 60's - yeah!!!

Marie

It's Coming!

Spring is coming!   No really, it is coming for sure this time, I know it.  We had another dumping of snow last Sunday, but we're being promised temps in the 60's over the next weekend.

I thought it was ironic to see an icicle forming on the branch right next to the new buds on this maple tree.  I took this photo early this morning while waiting for the bus with E.

We have a rooster pheasant who has declared our yard as his territory this spring. I like how you can see where his long tail feather drags in the snow wherever his tracks show up.

Just thought I would throw this one in.  Everyone loves pictures of deer.  There are a few that tend to wander into our back yard occasionally.  They have little fear of us, so I can usually get a few photos of them before they leave.  Last year E. was able to walk up to within 6 feet of a couple of them.

I'm seeing lots of birds that should be here at this time of year, but may be going hungry because of the unusual weather.  If they're insect eaters, they have to struggle for a while.   We also have swans, geese, and ducks here waiting for open water.

And there is a lot of talk about the fishing opener.  That's a big deal here in Minnesota.  Fishing Opener is a serious holiday here and generates a lot of revenue for resort owners, bait shops, etc.  Not to mention all of the fishermen/women who make reservations months ahead of time for that weekend.  So the DNR will not likely change the date of the Opener.  If the ice isn't off the lakes it makes it tough to go fishing.  And the ice is usually not safe for ice fishing anymore at that point either.  So, it will be interesting, to say the least.   It's not actually the first time this has happened.  It also happened in 1950.

What's happening where you are this Spring?  Is it a normal Spring, or are you seeing things that you haven't seen in past years?  Do you keep track of events on a calendar?

Have a great day!

Marie

Lookin' at the Bright Side

 I don't know what's happening in your part of the world, but as you can see, Mother Nature has forgotten to look at the calendar here in our neck of the woods :)

I decided I may as well make the best of it and appreciate the beauty.  

 The swings have not seen any action in a long time :(

When I look at this pine tree, it seems to me as if it also feels a bit depressed.

Just like the look of these saplings against the fence.

E. wanted me to take a photo of this bird house before she left for school - she likes the way it looks.  I think she has an eye for a good photo.

I made this my cover photo for my facebook page this morning. I like the perspective.

My garden has an eery, dramatic look to it.  By this afternoon, it will just be drab and brown again.

Beautiful.

This marsh willow looks like it has been whipped around in a wind storm.  Normally, the branches are upright. 

Another photo E. requested.  This weeping willow is her favorite tree.  You can see it has 2 large trunks that are almost horizontal, making tree climbing a snap!  If I can't find her, she'll be hiding out in this tree ;)

Enjoy your day wherever you are, no matter what the weather!

Marie

Early Dismissal

"Good morning", I whispered, as I gently touched E.'s arm - the same way I wake her up every morning.  She is not a morning person and I try to ease her into wakefulness each morning.  

"Nooo!" she says into pillow quietly.  "I was hoping for a snow day".

No such luck.  The sky is light and there is no sign of any precipitation whatsoever.

An hour later we walk up to the bus stop and still, no snow. 

Two minutes later, it's as if somebody has flipped a switch, and we have an instant snowstorm.  The ground is almost instantly white.  "Maybe you'll have an early dismissal today", I say, jokingly.

"What's that?", E. asks.  There has never been an early closing here, so she doesn't know what I'm talking about, so I explain.  

"I was just kidding, that won't happen", I tell her.

21/2 hours later, I have a robocall on my cell phone notifying me of an early dismissal.  

E. is going to be SO HAPPY!!! :)

This is my deck after only 2 hours of snow.  How much have you gotten so far?

I'm off to make fudge :)

Marie

Deny, Deny, Deny!

The yard is almost void of snow.

We've got robins, sandhill cranes, swans, killdeers, mourning doves, geese.

The puddles are still liquid when E. and I go out to the bus in the morning.

When we went to the ranch this past weekend to prune the apple trees, they had buds on them, and sap running.

And now we're expecting 8-12 inches of snow over the next 24 hours???

It's almost too much to bear :(

So E. and I have devised a plan.  You've heard of it - it's called Denial!

We brought some sunshine into the house.

We got the ingredients for comfort food, and some reading material.

So, we'll close the blinds, ignore the weather, and I believe we're set :)

This weather front looks as though it covers a good portion of the upper Midwest.  How do you plan on sitting out the storm?  That is, if it affects you?  If it doesn't affect you, send a little sympathy my way, lol!

Marie

Sick Day - Maybe

Thinking about taking a sick day today.  Why would anyone write a post about taking a sick day?  If you're a mom - you know.


Today I woke up early with a wicked sore throat and my head feels like a balloon that's been blown up just a wee bit too far.  And staying in bed with my trusty laptop, tea with honey, and a good book sounds pretty good to me.

Once in a while, there comes that dreaded day when my husband will turn off his alarm and not get up.

"Um, what?"

Outer calm, inner panic.

"Do you have a fever, are you throwing up?"

"No, I have a cold.  I'm going to stay home and rest."

YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING!  (This is inside my head).  YOU'RE NOT SICK ENOUGH TO STAY HOME - I DON'T GET TO TAKE A DAY OFF WHEN I HAVE A COLD - GET REAL!

On the outside, I just say ok, and roll out of bed, close the bedroom door and let him sleep for a few hours more.  I resign myself to spending the day working around the big baby in the living room who has the tv on all day turned up really loud and leaves kleenex all over the floor and wants to eat every 2 hours.  Is this how it is in your house???

Why do we not take a sick day for ourselves when we need it?  I know I'm not the only one who just keeps on keeping on - I find it nearly impossible to just take a day off and stay in bed.

I think I'll give it a try today for a change.

I'll let you know how it goes :)