Hi All:
I want to say that I am sick, sick, sick of winter. Here it is, just a few days away from April and guess what? It's snowing out. The ground is covered AGAIN. We have piles of snow that are all dirty and black from earlier snows that have been plowed into piles. Yuck. Michigan has been a joke lately. We can get a bunch of snow in the southern lower peninsula and "up north" gets none. And vice versa.
We had a couple of days a few weeks ago where the temp went to about 50 and I almost had major Spring Fever. It didn't last. That's all, just wanted to crab about it. (Better than hollering about the price of gas--can't do much about either.)
I will post when summer, or spring, is in the air. We may not have a spring and it just might go from winter to summer. That has happened before too. Lucy ;D
Lucy do you mind if I rant along with you. It started out today with temps in high 50's. The sun was out and the birds were singing their little hearts out. I went to the store and came out to find the temps had dropped about 15 degrees and it was raining. :-\
Then I came home and found my frog that has lived in my garden for years lying dead by the flagpole. I'm pretty sure it was the victim of our local Tomcat. "Frankie" frog was my constant companion when I was out pulling weeds. He sat a ways off and watched any insects my weeding would stir up. ;D I guess he thought I was a dinner bell and he was ready to eat.
I shall miss him this summer. No........I'm not angry at the Tomcat, it's the natural of the beasties. I just wish he had picked on the field mice in the barn or our garage.
Here's hoping the sun shines steady soon. Not hot, just pleasantly warm.
Hugs, Pooh
Pooh, This is a really stupid question but where in the heck do the frogs live in the winter? I never thought about this before.
I have to say that we have had a long winter also, but we have had very little snow. We live in MN and have lots of storms forecast but they seem to split and go south and north of us. One friend in Waterloo has had 60 inches of snow this winter.
Pooh, Our snow finally melted and tonight the sun came out for a while and I looked at bare fields and I could almost feel spring---but not quite.
Lucy, I got an email from a Michigan friend who live close to your area and she mentioned all the snow they have had this winter. They are farmers so they are thankful as they had drought and a really bad crop last summer. Take care all. Spring is a coming--just a matter of when. I remember years ago when the boys were younger and my hubby took them fishing on Memorial Day and had to come home because it snowed. Yuck! Irish ;D
Me too. I'm close by in Ontario. Enough already with the snow and cold. At least once in a while the sun has come out but the snow sits here...all over my gardens. Pooh so sorry about your garden buddy, I hope a new one comes along. I had one last year in my big planter pot that sits by my pool. He was in the pot all snuggled down he would peek out when I watered the plants. The pot is about 18 inches off the ground so how he got there is more than I know. He must have been a tiny baby in the soil of the flowers when I planted them.
I miss the spring and the gardens so much it hurts, literally! And it's supposed to snow again today! :( My birthday is the 4th and it sure would be a nice gift to see the spring.....hear that Lord? ;D Sandra
Happy Birthday in advance Sandra!! And I hope for all of us that you do get Spring for your Birthday!!
Pooh~~I'm sorry about your frog friend. I know how I enjoy stepping out of the door and usually go right to the inground small fountain where the frogs love to hang out. They are so cute!
I do not have any bare bits of ground here. It is spitting snow. Yesterday was sunny and 50 degrees. I wish I was lounging in the hammock in the warmth of summer.
Hope all of you are having a good day~~~Shari
Pooh - Sorry to hear about your frog :'(
Sending so Southern California warmth and sunshine to all of you... well today its only in the mid 60s, but a few days ago it was in the mid 80s!
Take care!
-Lauren
Happy Birthday Sandra.
Lucy, how are you doing today? I was telling my son last night about your rant on the snow, snow, snow and he ask where you lived. I said "You should be real familiar with where Lucy lives". He said "OMG Michigan". I had to laugh at him because he knew immediately. He was stationed at the air base in Marquette for about 8 yrs. When he moved in there he had to get a snowplow to clear 4 ft. of snow off the area his trailer was to be set. This was the 21st of April. He said there are 4 seasons in Michigan - Winter, Winter, Spring/Summer (all of maybe 3 or 4 wks. tops) and Winter.
He has nothing but great respect for all the people of Michigan. He calls Marquette, "The Polar Capitol of the USA".
Take care gal, Spring is coming, HONEST!
Scottie, I don't know where he was during the winter, unless he was in his Toad House (please note, hubby says "frankie" was toad not a frog.) I had a large clay pot that cracked and I chipped it down to a half lengthwise and laid it in the garden with mulch covering all but the opening where the top of the pot was. Much like little cave. Whenever I tipped it up, there he was all snug, so I guess that's where he spent his winters.
Our weather man is promising us 70 degrees for the weekend. I sure hope he's right, so much to be done outside, what with the horrendous winds of the past few weeks. Time to gather the neighbors things that are caught in the bushes and return them. :D
Thanks Shari and Word, I will miss him but I'm sure something else will take his place before summer. Just hope it isn't a snake. Ewww
Happy Spring everyone,
Hugs, Pooh
((((Lucy)))) I know how bad it has been up there this winter. Hopefully it won't last much longer and spring will be just around the corner. :)
Still don't miss it,
quig
Sorry about your friend toad(or Frog), Pooh. Winter has been long and hard in Ohio this year too. But, since I grew up in Rochester, NY - it wasn't that bad to me! LOL
Happy Birthday Sandra!
Our snow totals for the winter are from 96 inches to 134 inches within about a 40 mile radius of our home. This winter has set records in some of the cities. We are used to this in Mich, but this winter stands out in recent times. Next week has weather forecasts of about 40 high, some rain, lows at night in the 20's. I'm not putting away the flannel gowns yet.
One Memorial Day, years ago when our kids were little, my sister and I plus our families got together at a park for a picnic. Well, we ended up with everyone in winter coats and we built a bonfire to keep warm. We had roasted marshmallows and hot dogs among other things. My sister just bought a house in Fla where they will live 6 months and back here 6 months starting this coming winter. Lucy
Today was a wonderfully beautiful day in Michigan. At least my part. You can have about 12 different kinds of weather going on at once in the whole state. This has been a long, hard winter for us, and many in the north, east and midwest.
It wouldn't be unusual to see snow again before it's over.
But, today was SUNNY and 64 degrees. Tomorrow will be the same. It will rain most of next week and be about high of 50. Two days of sun gives us a little wind in our sails. I hope some others are enjoying good weather. Lucy
Lucy, Today was 66 here and sunny and very nice---except for the wind which was blowing like crazy. We get such terrible wind that blows in from the Dakotas. It was blowing in rain up North and snowstorm warning was out for around Duluth.
We are soooo dry here and need a good series of nice gentle spring rains. I am amazed at the amount of snow you have had in Michigan. It never snowed that much when we lived there. It has always snowed a lot in MN and the past 10 years we have had some pretty wimpy winters here. This winter was colder than it has been in a long time and this was still wimpy. I remember 1974 when we had 35 below just about every night in February. After a while you get so used to it that it doesn't bother you that much. But when the wind blows and the wind chills hit 80-90 below --- that is when it is really cold. Hope all is well with you. Irish ;D
We had another wonderful day on Sunday! It will be chilly in the morning and likely rain most of the week. Things are actually starting to "green up" just a little and I saw some pods (of something) popping up around the garage. I think I can stand a few weeks of rain off and on now that I've experienced a flash of spring. Even cleaned out both cars (on the inside only) and hubby and I went for a walk in a nearby park. Lucy
My yard is solid full of snow and the 4 mile road is solid full of mud...calling for showers and possible snow flurries this weekend. All of this together equals= GOING CRAZY !
Today (Friday) was a good, mild day among the week of much rain. It rained only briefly today and we caught a few rays of the sun. No winter coat needed. We are due for more rain and rather chilly temps, but a few days with a whiff of spring does give me a big lift. The ground is still frozen, there are piles of black snow in parking lots and when it keeps raining, things go into flood stage for some people near the river. (Not me.) There was a tornado 3 nights ago that touched down about 5 miles from us, that blew barns and trees down Hurry up, spring.
Just another weather report from Minnesota. It has rained in southern Mn since yesterday and is in mid 30's and overcast and humid. The sump pump is running a lot and water is standing in the yards. We really needed the rain in this part of the state.
Our son lives 100 miles north and has had snow since yesterday but only about 4-5 inches. It is really wild and wooly in Duluth with 19 foot waves on Lake Superior and 60 mile an hour winds plus snow. My hubby is to go up fishing the end of June about 50 miles south of Canadian border. He just talked to someone who said that the lake they fish on up there has 3 feet of ice on it and they don't expect it to be open for opener. The first day of fishing season is usually around the 12th of May or so.
I havae a hard time beliving all this global warming when it gets like this. The pollution is another story though. I know that the air is really yukky down here cause on these cloudy days the heavy air holds in all the pollution and my sinuses just go crazy. Anybody else have that problem???? Irish ;D
Oh Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy, Frankie is alive! :D :D I was out in the yard a bit ago and happened to pull some trash from one our bushes. There was Frankie's little house, so as I usually do, I tipped it up and there was not only Frankie, but another frog (or toad) with him. This one is smaller so I can only surmise it's Mrs. Frankie. ;D
Oh I am so pleased to know that the cat didn't get him. It was evidently a poor toad from across the road at the farm below us.
Look's like I might need to add on to Frankie's clay pot abode. ;D
Happy Spring everyone,
Pooh
I am glad Frankie is o.k. Today took a turn for the worse, weatherwise, as we knew it would. Rain is forecast for several days in a row. It is also cold. Not a nice warm spring rain, but a chilling to the bone rain.
You see, we are getting those rain clouds after they leave Minnesota. Due east. If global "warming" is true, it ain't hitting Michigan. At least not this spring. lol. ......I'm still happy because I know summer is close. However, if it rains every day.......well, maybe it will be one of the cold summers in the midwest. We'll have to wait and find out. Be sure and protect Frankie from the cold. Lucy
P.S. Coming home from a late event tonight, it was SNOWING. ::)
Oh, the wonders of Spring Pooh!! :D
I have a large basket full of stuffed animal frogs here that the kids love to play with. We have weddings, river trips on a raft, game shows,dances, plays,ocean adventures, etc.
There are big frogs, small frogs, dark green frogs, light green frogs, boy frogs, girl frogs, princess frogs,and even a super hero frog.! And then there is FRED, the very first of the collection. We have a ball.
So glad Frankie is home safe and sound. You must have been so happy!
Take care~~Shari~~
Weather isn't good here either. We've had a very green winter, but now it is supposed to be spring, with lillys and tulips and daffodils in the garden. But what do we have? Snow!!! >:(
I try to be positive through it all, but it is hard when the body feels like someone has fired a gun with hail through every single muscle and joint.
I've tried to write some articles on the net today, to keep my mind off the weather and such, but I think my computer hates me. I constantly loose what I just typed. (http://www.aldri-alene.com/forum/style_emoticons/Vanlige/mad.gif)
I'm not friend with my computer today. (http://www.aldri-alene.com/forum/style_emoticons/Vanlige/fornaerma.gif)
I just have to go to bed, and hope it will all feel better tomorrow. Sigh. (http://www.aldri-alene.com/forum/style_emoticons/Vanlige/vente.gif)
Gentle hugs from Rania, ready to jump to bed. (http://www.aldri-alene.com/forum/style_emoticons/Vanlige/6.gif)
Pooh, Maybe you can put some paint or fingernail polish on the back of your toads so you know which ones really belong to you. lol Something non-toxic doncha think!!!!
Glad to hear that your little buddies are still alive and kicking. Get ready for some wooly weather. Irish ;D
Rania,
I love your little pictures, especially the one of the person bopping the computer on the top with the bat. Don't you just wish sometimes!!! Mine makes me talk to myself my husband says.
Weather here was georgeous!!! Just georgeous!!!! Tomorrow night we get frost and cold weather again. Bahhhhhhhhh!!!!!! Texas!!!
Billye
I felt those pictures reflected my feelings, so I put them in here. Glad you liked it Billye!! :) I will try not to put in too many of those who move inthe future, because of dizzyness and other health related issues we have. It is not so good for the eyes (and not to forget the head) to look at them.
I'm back complaining about winter again. Blah. I was ready to change the tires on my car, but then the white stuff came. again!!! Snow Grrrr!!!! It is melting right away, but I'm a bit scared if it comes in the evening, because then it might be cold and slippery because of temperature or wind. So I have to keep the winter tires on for some more days to come and I hate it.
The weather is constantly changing. One day it is hot and sunny, the next it is snowing and with an ice cold wind from the north. Daffodils have grown and are about to bloom, I just did not notice before now because it had been cold and awful weather for a long time. The deer has eaten my tulips right down to the ground, but snowbells are still blooming.
Well time to go to bed. I'm up because I cannot sleep because of the pain in my body. Always like that in the spring.
Take care, see you.
Rania :)
Rania, Sorry that you are having so much pain. I know you said it happens in the spring, but you sound like spring has not really come yet. The weather doesn't settle down and is not as good as it was when I was a kid.
Today in Minnesota it was 64 degrees and the winds were like 30-60 miles per hour. It just howls when it is like that. Can make a person really on edge. I always told my hubby I could never live further West or closer to the flat plains where the wind is even worst. I knew a gal from Tracy, MN who said that when the wind blows out there her dishes in her newer, very sturdy house would rattle.
Tomorrow I go to the doctor for recheck on the toe nail I had removed and it is to be windy again. Hope that you have a better night and that your weather gets better. I hope those darn deer enjoyed your flowers. The rabbits are really bad in our area. They just breed and the babies will be all over the flower garden. I want my hubby to buy me a pellet gun but I think he is afraid I will hurt myself. lol Irish ;D
We are expecting those same winds here tomorrow, Irish. No fishing for the hubby. Lucy
Minnesota has a climate and a nature that is quite similar to where I live Irish! Two centuries ago, a lot of people emigrated from here and went to USA, and quite a lot settled in Minnesota and the surroundings. I also remember weather being different nopw from when I was a child. Something has definately changed. I'm happy Al Gore were among the Nobel prize winners because he (and others too) really understand how dangerous the global warming is. The glaciers has melted dramatically over the 30 years. The maps I used in school are totally wrong now.
I'm sorry about your toe. I hope it works out well. Nail removal is painful, but hopefully you have less pain now than before the removal. I hope the weather will behave and that it will not be very windy. We just watched the episode with the tornado on "Desperate housewives" on TV last night. It is dramatic how much damage wind and espescially tornados can make.
I'm sorry to hear about the rabbits. Yes they multiply right in front of you, and they eat whatever there is. We doesn't have that problem here, but we see rabbits sometimes. Deer and elk/moose is the main problem here right now. They hav arrived from heaven know where from the deep forrests, and they come to the roads in the evening when the dark comes. And sometimes they decide to run over the road too just in front of a car. Many of them are killed. The deer are kind of small, but the elks are dangerous because of their long legs. Not a good thing to get one of those in front of the car. Sedans often have then in the car, and the driver usually get badly injured or even killed.
Sounds like you really need that pellet gun! We have an airport closed up north, because a lot of birds, and then I mean lot of them, hasjust arrived from south, and they are keeping themselves on a runway at the airpost. It is no use to use a gun, because the gun make them fly, and in 10 seconds they're back again. It isn't safe for planes to land, because they get into the engine. So it has to be closed this week, and maybe some days next week.
It's time for a nap again. The fatigue is horrible. I'm kind of proud that I managed to write this long post. I'm usually not able to do anything else than read these days. I wish I could post more. The board I'm a moderator on, is thankfully being repaired. The server has some errors and it takes time to fix it. I'm a bit happy about that! (Shhhh......!)
Bad thing to say really, but it would be hard for me to be a moderator the last days.
See you around here,
God's Blessings,
Rania :)
Irish,
We have the same problem in Indiana with the rabbits. I caught 15 rabbits in my live trap last year and have already caught 4 this spring. Between them and the cats that are allowed to roam free they tear up my vegetable and flower gardens.
If you get a pellet gun, make sure it is powerful. It almost takes a .22 gun to kill a rabbit. It's suppose to get to 70 degrees today! I'm ready!!!
God's blessings,
Mark....
Good Morning Rania, I hope you are feeling better today. Please take it easy and stay well.
My daugther is having problems with the squirrels digging up her vegetable plants. She said if they eat them, she wouldn't be as upset, but they just dig them up and drag them away. Rabbits you can fence out, but the squirrels will get in no matter what you do.
Those elk and deer are also a menace to those that ride motorcycles to. My hubby had one jump down in front him about 10 yrs ago and he had the thing almost in his lap. Thank goodness, he wasn't hurt badly, but it sure didn't do his motorcycle any good.
I hope the weather over there comes right with the season and you get those tires changed. Maybe you could get A to do it. ;D
Hang in there, there be better days coming.
Hugs, Pooh
The "varmint" problems seem universal, just slightly different species in various places. Locally it's squirrels, and last year Hubby declared war on them...we live trap and turn them loose way down the road, but it's possible to trap and release 3 or 4 a day all summer. The ranger says if you don't take them at least 5 KM away, they come right back, so it meant a lot of lovely country drives LOL. I don't garden any more, so I have no problems that way, and I do sort of enjoy watching them, they are so busy! But if they get into your attic or basement, they can do considerable damage, so we evict them promptly.
The biggest problem on our highways is moose! Much like your elk, Rania, they tower over a car, so if they are hit, they topple over and land on the roof of the car, crushing it...not good for the passengers. Hubby's niece and her boyfriend were killed about 15 years ago in a moose collision, and there is constant work along side our roads to fence them out, with one way gates to allow them back into the forest if they happen to get onto the road somehow.
I love in a rural area, and have to drive a little over 30 KM on the highway whenever I venture to the city. When I was working, I had several close calls with deer, and actually hit one (the insurance company says he ran into me!). Just a medium size deer, and a big old car, and it did a lot of $$$ damage! Luckily for me, I was alone, and wasn't hurt, but the poor deer wasn't very lucky at all. I've also come close to hitting foxes, bears, feral cats, and a multitude of rabbits. I've had all of the above, including the deer and moose, wander through my back yard. Don't get me wrong, I love nature, but I prefer to watch from afar! And I never again want to relive the adventure of having an ermine (white weasel) in my kitchen!
I do hope you are feeling better Rania, the fact that the forum you moderate is "down" is a great chance for you to get some rest (coincidence, or is "someone" looking after you).
It sure sounds like spring is coming because the animals are moving. The skunks in this area came out and about close to 1 month ago and so many are dead and flat lol on the road. Also, we have a lot of racoon around here and they love to get into a dogs food in the dish. My son shot a lot years ago as they would hang around in the trees close to their house waiting for the dog to go away so they could eat. Racoons in this area are frequently rapid.
I have a place in the road about 2 miles from our house by a cemetery. It is on the way to town and the cemetery is on a hill with lots of maple trees and evergreen trees. The deer cross here. My oldest son's friend has hit a deer 3 times there in the last 20 years. I always worry about it as people are killed so easily.
Linda, I had an experience I will never forget on the way to work in the dark many years ago. I was on a narrow country road that wasn't traveled that much. There is a stream there and several bridges on the road. Kind of an old short cut road and area. It was a little foggy and I was going about 40 mph or so and all of a sudden 2 very small deer twins crossed the road in front of me.
I hit the brakes and one deer went across the road and the other one stayed on the right side of my car. I kid you not I had slowed to about 20 and I held that steering wheel and almost closed my eyes cause I thought for sure I would hit them. I went between them and when I got to work you could see the lines in the dirt on the car where the hair of the deer had scraped on both sides of the car. It was like a dream. That will never happen to me again I know that for sure.
My sister says that she can buy a large bottle of cougar urine( I think that is the kind) from a trapping and hunting outfit. She says it is about 5 $ which is a lot cheaper than the commercial remedies. Cougars are a natural predator of the rabbits and I guess it works well. May have to try that. Irish ;D
P.S. Linda, I had a muskrat in the house for about 3 days one time. Yuck, these wild creatures that can get in the house make me really want to throw away all my carpet etc.
I was reading this thread earlier today, when I decided to get out in our beautiful weather of NW Ark. I totally forgot Frankie was a frog.
I read the happy happy joy joy Frankie is a live, part, and thought we have had a resurrection. I was very happy to hear the news. Happy ever after frog story.
Pooh, if you find a prince in your garden in your garden let us know. LOL
I've had my motorcycle out for a quick spin. And have layed on my front deck hammock for awhile with my husband so life is good in my world.
My husband is very bumbed because we were fixing to take a long ride on our bikes. We got on our hands and knees inspecting his back tire and discovered his tread was worn to the core. He can't get it changed until next week sometime. This makes him very sad. And I won't ride mine when he is sad at his.
Our weather is magnificent the next few days.
Irish your deer story was incredible! Here is my baby deer story;
A couple years ago when the news was covering the 12 miners trapped in a mine , I believe in Tennessee. I began to pray for them and got very attached to this news story, as I waited word of their recovery and rescue. News (CNN Anderson Cooper)was released that they had recovered all 12. Everyone was very happy and I went to bed rejoicing. The next morning I woke and on my way out the door ,very cheerfully said to my husband "12 miners A LIVE". He looked at me sad and told me the bad news. They were dead and the news was mistaken.
I got in may car and began my drive to work , down an older hwy to a neighboring community. As I was driving I progressed to a very sad state of mind till I was crying and weeping for the miners and their families. Suddenly a group of deers were crossing the road and I slowed down quickly, But not quick enough. A little baby deer went right under my car. For the first time in my life I killed a deer and a baby one at that. I was already crying.
I called my work, where every one is like family. I was crying to the point I did not make much sense. The miners are all dead and and I killed a baby deer I tried to explain. I was on my way to work but I was not going to be in good shape emotionally when I got there. My Dentist whom I assist at my work a wonderful boss met me at the door, trying to console me.
A couple of years have past and just recently. I said to my boss who lives off the very road where there were deer seen frequently; "I have not seen deer on that hwy since."
He said," I thought we were never gonna mention that day again." Then he laughed and said he believed all the deer got together and talked it over. And they are staying out of my sight.
I'm glad we are all able to laugh in due time.
And now I am embarrassed because that was very long.
kimbo
kimbo, That was indeed a sad day for you and all the families that lost a loved one. It was not a good day for the deer that ended up under your car either. Those things happen and it was better that it was the deer than you. Sounds like you have a great boss. Irish ;D
Thanks Irish,
I hope your toe checked out well. Thats a very sensitive area. I had my big toe fester on me a couple years ago and it still does not look normal. Can your toe nail grow back, I wonder?
Your wind speeds would frustrate me. We live in the Ozark hills, valley's and curves; this breaks winds down a lot.
I wonder if an under ground voltage wire would stun those rabbits away. Like the kind they use to keep dogs in the yard, only keep the rabbits out. But then again if they got through they might be happily fenced in.
kimbo
Out here in Northern Calif its been cold the past few days, even frost on the windsheilds. Last week it was 75 to 80 degrees.
The county I live in has had a couple of wildfires already, people doing their "spring burning" but it is already so dry here.
Kimbo: The Ozarks are so beautiful, I was able to travel to Missouri for a family reunion in Shell Knob, Mo. When we got to Blue Eye, Ark I knew we went too far!! We called it the scenic route.
Take Care
Debora
The thermometer read 81 here today~~~There is mud in my driveway and lots of snow in the yard~~~~WHAT? There is something wrong with this picture. Should I hibernate a bit longer?
~~~Shari~~
Suddenly all snow is gone and a lot of flowers are in full bloom all over the place. Where did they come from? They weren't here last week! An ice cold wind from north is making it cold outside. It was about 53 F, but the wind was so cold that it blew right through you. So I still need my winter coat, because of the wind. I saw a girl wearing t-shirt and shorts last Friday, and I was in my thick jacket freezing !!! I think she was pretty brave!
Bedtime my time zone long ago.....good night.... :)
Rania
It's been the same here in Seattle - 82 degrees one day and then snow two days later. We have had a week or so of sun alternating with freezing slushy stuff. At least the plants look a little less unhappy today. My sweet peas were cowering on the ground as if they had been beaten.
Genko
Near the Great Lakes, we've had several days of 75ish weather with LOTS of sun. Still do not count snow/frost out of the question. We do enjoy the few days we've had so far. It gives one HOPE for spring/summer. Being that it's almost May, it might be a short summer. I'll take what I can get. It's funny reading about 80 one day and snow the next. IPerhaps we are not as unique as we think (our region). Seems to be all over. Lucy
Quote from: Debora on April 20, 2008, 09:15:25 PM
Out here in Northern Calif its been cold the past few days, even frost on the windsheilds. Last week it was 75 to 80 degrees.
The county I live in has had a couple of wildfires already, people doing their "spring burning" but it is already so dry here.
Kimbo: The Ozarks are so beautiful, I was able to travel to Missouri for a family reunion in Shell Knob, Mo. When we got to Blue Eye, Ark I knew we went too far!! We called it the scenic route.
Take Care
Debora
Debora, We have same very em barresing Hill billy names for towns in our regions. Were not far from Shell Knob, and it is beautiful, our Dog woods are in bloom now.
Lucy, Hate to tell you cause we have had a couple of nicer days, 77 yesterday and 60 today. Friday and Saturday it is cooling off and rain is expected with possible snow in the northern regions. Will this winter ever end????
Kimbo, I envy you the flowers that you have in your area. I liked Michigan so well because it had such great spring blooming bushes and trees plus the gorgeous sugar maples in the fall. The 4 seasons are great except we seem to skip spring and fall a lot of time in our area. Irish ;D
I left home on Tuesday with so much snow still in the yard. I returned today and almost all of the snow is gone and my pink and yellow showy lillies are about5 to 6 inches high!!
I see buds beginning on the big rosebush and the irises are poking up through the bit of snow that was left.
There is hope! ~~Shari~~
I hear we might get a whiff of snow next Monday. I just got my sandals out and painted my toenails a bright pink. I don't wear sandals much because my feet are always cold. Have not packed the winter stuff away yet. Maybe I should.
Lucy
This weather we have had here has really made it tough on alot of people with arthritis. I went to my rhuemy last Wednesday and told me I'm still in a flare, I think this is now my "normal". She also said many patients of hers have been calling in telling her they are in pain. It will be nice for the weather to finally stay at one level of normal temps.
Reno, Nev has had many little earthquakes lately, so it wouldn't surprise me if we have a few shakers around here (we call them foot massages for cows).
Debora
Cute Debora!!
I have more aches and pains in the spring..with all of the rain storms etc. the atmospheric pressure is changing alot and sets the pain of fibromyalgia off. I hope this year is easier.
Enjoy the beauty of spring all!!
~~Shari~~
This weather is getting to be a serious issue in our area. WE are an agricultural area with thousands of farming acres. The sun has shone very little the past month and it has been cool, rainy and snowy. Today was really cold in the high 30's low 40's with a cold wind.
It is to rain again, maybe snow again on Wed and Thurs. The farmers are really getting concerned. The soil temperature has not gotten up to the point where seeds will germinate. If it rains too much and is cold when seeds are planted they rot in the ground---if you can get into the fields through the mud to even plant the seeds.
Last year we had a late spring and the farmers ended up planting the crops in about a 3-4 week period of time in May and into June. We had pretty good weather though and much warmer so they could get into the fields. When the farmers have to rush it is worrisome as that is when there are more accidents and deaths when using and fixing machinery.
Whatever happened to a normal spring ---or for that matter the 4 seasons that we had when I was a kid????Irish ;D
We had a beautiful weekend, but it's been raining since Sunday night. Did I say raining? It's been POURING and storming with thunder and lightening and the temps dropped like a rock. Hubby got up this morning and it was 63 in the house. Needless to say, the heat was turned on again.
Irish I know what you mean about the farmers trying to get their crops planted. I saw the big tow truck go up the road this afternoon and I heard on the emergency scanner that they had a tractor over turned up the road from us. They didn't say who it was, but I'm holding my breath for news. I doubt it happened in the fields, more likely up near the barn. I pray no one was hurt. Machinery can be fixed.
It just doesn't let up does it. If it isn't cold and wet, it's hot and dry. A nice happy medium would be nice for a while.
Here's hoping there be better days a comin', we sure deserve them.
Take care everyone and enjoy the good days when you can.
Hugs, Pooh
Irish, we have had the same issues here in Washington state with the very cold temperatures and late snow mixed in with better days. It has greatly impacted the fruit crops from the eastern part of the state. Some orchards are estimating 30% crop loss. While it makes for interesting conversation in Seattle, it may cause some farmers to go under and contributes to the current sense of food shortages here and there in the world.
Genko
I woke up this morning to an inch of SNOW on my car!! Spring - NOT!! Of course it melted by 11 a.m. and the rest of the day was nice.
Mu hubby listened to our trusty weatherman on KARE 11 Mpls. Jonathan Yuhas is his name and he has been a weather nut since he was a kid. Has kept notebooks of statistics, measurements, you name it. He really knows a lot about weather and can tell you what happened 30 years ago cause he wrote it down!!!
Anyway, he said today that the jet stream is in such a position that it may be another 10 days before we get a change in the weather. We are to have rain, cold and possibly snow the end of the week. We havae been running out furnace since the first of November and the money it is costing is awful. I think we will have to cut down on our grocery buying to save money for heat. I don't think we will starve but I will just have to be really frugal.
I am sure that we must have had springs like this before, but what makes me uneasy is listening to these people talking about oil and food shortages. I know that things aren't good, but the more they talk the more people panic and do the hoarding and then it is worse than ever. Half the food stuffs we buy we can get along without. The reason I know this is because when we got married we didn't have all these things. Remember how much smaller the grocery stores were back then. I like Aldi's because it reminds me of back when we got married. Anyway, what will be will be and we will make it through cause that is what tough people do---and we are sjoggies and we are tough. Right Gang!!!Irish ;D
There is a glimmer of hope though. Did you hear that they are getting rid of a lot of the plastic baby bottles and bringing back the glass ones? Also, I have read that cloth diapers are making a comeback. People can't afford the disposable ones anymore plus the cost of disposing of them is getting higher. Also, I have heard that some of the milk companies are going back to glass milk bottles. I always thought milk tasted better out of the glass bottles.
I won't mention what the weather's been in Southern California the last few days. But I hope some it goes all of your ways... then maybe I won't have to run the AC all day.
Hang in there!
-Lauren
Oh me, Oh my. Tonight in lower Michigan, we are expecting a low of 25. Farmers are going to lose 90% of many crops if this is the case. Cherries, apples, grapes are big around here. I'll bet many will be awake all night and trying to do what they can to save their crops. Lucy
Lucy, We'll keep our fingers crossed that the Michigan fruit crops aren't hit too hard. Washington state has lost about 30% of its fruit to severe cold weather this spring.
Irish, the other thing that is different about how we eat is the plates are bigger now than they used to be. My sister and I are using our grandmother's old china and it is much smaller than what is in the stores now. The dinner plates then look like lunch plates now. And we can get milk in glass bottles here.
Genko
I'm finally starting to feel justified in my stubborn ways!
I'm the "hippy" who held up the check out lines by unpacking and filling her own cloth bags, the one in the bulk food store tying things up by weighing her own glass containers before filling them, the oddball who nursed her babies until they could use a sippy cup, and put them in cloth diapers, the weirdo who took her thermos cup to the drivethru for tea rather than take their disposable cup, and the cheapie who drank tap water when the whole world had a plastic bottle!
Even my hubby, who goes along with it only because he loves me, thinks I'm a bit "off".
We had lovely spring weather until yesterday, when it was dreary and drizzly all day...but last night was an incredible show of nature...winds and rain, distant thunder and a temperature drop of about 10 *C. This morning it's fresh and clean, warming up, and a light breeze to dry things out. Best news is that, although our area has been on flood watch for a week, the rain last night didn't cause any serious increase in the water levels.
Good morning folks,
Hope everyone has a great day today. I just wanted to give you all an update from the other night when we had our down pour. As we were pulling up the drive toward the garage I saw something moving on the drive. I told my hubby to stop and I got out to see what it was. There on the macadam were 2 tiny toads maybe 2 inches long total. I took the tip of my cane and nudged them over in the grass.
So I guess the "Frankie" lineage will go on. :D ;D Ahh, Spring IS in the air! A little chilly, but none the less IN the air.
Hugs, Pooh
Way To Go Frankie!! Congratulation on your off spring!! LOL
Oh, the sun shone today but the breeze came up and is cool. Here comes the cold night again. We have had hard frost here.
Lucy, the people in Michigan and the other states that have all those fruit trees and fruit crops are really going to be hurting. Seems like the weather does this every so often and those fruit farmers north and south end up losing their crops.
Linda, I like your attitude. I have my frugal moments that others would scoff at if they knew. I can use up leftovers and figure out how to make due. We used to burn wood with supplement of oil but ended up getting a LP furnace and giving up the wood cause I couldn't take the ashes or the odor. Bet it was from the Sjogrens. I really miss the warm wood heat. I would put my bread to rise on the top of our wood stove upstairs.
I am one of those women that loves being home on a cold winter day making homemade soup. I really have a fit when I have to pay so much a pound to get a soup bone. I now buy roasts on sale and cut them up with an electric knife into steaks, stir fry meat and beef scraps. I pressure cook the meat for the soup and it gets so tender. We used to raise and butcher all our own meat but we are not in good enough shape to do that anymore and I miss it. It was work, but the meat was so much better than the store bought stuff. Irish ;D
Oh Irish, I'm with you. I do so miss the canning and preserves I use to do every year. It was so much nicer to go down cellar and pick a couple jars off the shelves and open them for dinner and dessert. Somehow the color of the green beans and the tomatoes were so brillant they looked fake. But the taste was like nothing store bought in a tin can.
Farm raised beef and pork always tasted better than the meat from the grocery store. And farm raised chickens and eggs oh my what a treasure. And that heavenly aroma of bread baking was so wonderful. I still bake the bread, but now I use my bread machine. I don't bake it in the machine, but I let the machine do the mixing and kneading. My hands and arms can't handle it anymore.
I sure do miss the "good ole days". It was hard work, but so satisfying. Oh and the best thing in all the world is home churned ice cream with fresh strawberries or peaches right from the field and trees. Oh my, just to be able to travel back in time. I would go in a heart beat.
Take care all and remember the good times.
Hugs, Pooh
I absolutely so enjoy all you people and your great spirits. I so need to hear all this sweet dialog.
Unable to sleep tonight and in tears I thank you all. kim
Aww Kimbo don't cry. It makes us all sad when one of us cry. It'll be better tomorrow and things always look and feel better in the daylight.
Anything we can help you with? Would you like us to listen to whatever is making you sad? We will. That's what we all do best. ;D
Take care and let us know if we can help. ;)
Hugs, Pooh
Hi Kimbo
I hope you are feeling better. Sometimes it is good to cry, although painful for my eyes! :o
Take Care
Debora
I am better. I have had a round of fatigue and it seems to break down my spirit. Pooh your right every thing seems different in the morning. My mind has a tendency to spin out of control when I am too exhausted to control it. I wonder if I'll ever be able to sleep on my own. (no ambien or Klonzapian- what ever that stuff is that relaxes me) When I lay down to try to even relax my body feels like it is trembling inside like an engine is running inside of me. This is something I never had before until the past 5 or 6 months. No matter how tired I am I can not just fall a sleep. I have wondered if my sleeping juices dried up.
I don't like to complain because as I read everyone Else's stuff. Mine is not that big of issues yet.
When I got up the other nite and read these post on this thread, it really seemed to anchor me and calm me. Thank you so much for your concern. Deborah and Pooh.
It is very hard to work thru fatigue and sleep problems. My work is only 3 days a week. The Dentist I work for is extremely fast paced and I have always loved the fast pace, although when I am having as we say a flair up, It is exhausting. My husband is a Pastor of a growing church with an incredible amount of stresses, and lately it has been overwhelming. All the stress seems to enhance the flair ups!
I just love you all and how you minister to one another, your right here and I don't feel compelled to share this stuff with any one who may not understand.
HUGS kimbo
kimbo, The jitters and uneasiness you feel when you go to bed is one of the cardinal signs of anxiety. You need to talk about this with your doctor. Many times a lower dose of an antidepressant that works on the chemicals involved in chronic anxiety really does help. It would also help you with sleep at night and make your days better.
I do not take sleeping pills as they totally stone me and after you take them for a period of time they don't work as well. I have taken zoloft since 1992 and when I got ill enough to have to quit work I developed a restless leg/body thing that just wore me out turning so much in bed. My psychiatrist added another dose of zoloft at night to help me sleep and to take the edge off the restless legs. I did not want to add another pill to my mixture. Figured that more of what I was used to would do the trick and it did. I skip a dose at night off and on just to take a little less meds and to see how I am doing with the restless leg stuff. Hope you can find something that will help.
Be aware that there is a medication out there for anxiety called Buspar but I seem to remember that you can't take certain other anxiety or sleeping medications with it. This is also something to remember when talking with the doctor. Irish ;D
Irish, Thank you.
I failed to mention, I have been trying Lexypro for the past 6 wks and I haven't noticed it helping those jitters when I am trying to relax after a hard day.
I am frustrated because I really thought the Lexypro would solve the sleep problem, also. Besides relax me. I take a 10mg Inderal for hand tremors daily.
My family and every one I work with would not even guess me to be anxious or nervous even the DR I assist thinks I am very calm. This jittering thing is very new to me and I thought maybe it was a SJS thing. I do believe it makes my Paratid glands flare worse as I feel stress. My DR is a fast mover and I concentrate on moving fast and staying calm all day, at 52 I am no spring chicken. Thank you for any thoughts on this. I really want to feel some what normal again.
kimbo
Kim~~I am not on here very much lately and am sorry I was not here sooner to wish you a better day (and night).
I hope that today finds you a bit less stressed~~Thinking of you~`Shari
IT IS 40f right now.....chiiiillllllyyyyy !
Its supposed to be warm - in the high 70's/low eighties.
My voice is almost gone from allergies, I guess I better just keep my mouth shut and give my voice a rest.... like that will happen in my life time!!!! ;D
I'm now on salagen to help with saliva and WOW does it work! I had to talk to my daughter's teacher and kept slobbering so I explained that I finaly have saliva and don't know what to do with it!!
Debora
Oh Debara, Thats just funny! Not everyone can be happy about slobber. Ha HA
kimbo
kimbo
it took the teacher a minute to catch on, she knows I have sjogrens but doesn't understand it all! I enjoy it while its happening, when it wears off then I am as dry as a desert!
God Bless You
Deb