The last blast after the last last blast

It ain't over 'til it's over.

It's not unusual to have frigid windy snowy days in late March, it's just unusual to have so many of them with beautiful sunny springy days in between.

Perhaps it was too early to put the tropical print seat cushion back out on the chair. The wind blew it over, and Cyrus left his mark just so I would know it was his. 

Don on the Hill and I just sat out there last week and had a beer to celebrate the arrival of the beer-drinking, goat-cheese-and-crackers days of spring—mosquitoes and all!

No worries. IPAs are in the fridge waiting for the next warm spell. I am very sure it will be here soon.
 

Bird song

Just last week we had what could be our last blast of winter. Still more cold weather to take us through March for sure, and probably April, but the birds have started singing, and that means spring is on the way.

In addition to the usual winter visitors at the bird feeder: woodpeckers (downy, hairy, red-bellied) and nuthatches, chickadees, blue jays, cardinals, juncos—we are now getting sparrows, blackbirds, grackles, finches, and, just yesterday, the first lonely robin. Don't let me forget that darn squirrel (named Steve after our "friend" Steve dumped him here!)

This little guy looking through the fence>>> was playing with his big daddy Walter (on stage in the blurry background) until Woody and I walked by. I couldn't get the camera out fast enough to catch his bouncy dance across the yard to come visit.

March winds do blow

You will all be pleased to know, or at least I am, that in spite of the crazy wind and snow yesterday, Miss Tara of the TFJ managed to find her way back to beautiful Upstate New York. Just a little reminder from Mother Nature that it is not yet spring.

While I was out walking dogs the day before the snow, when we still had some snow, I saw some mysterious footprints. Melting snow sometimes makes footprints appear larger. Hard to get a good pic when Cyrus was making his own right on top.

The mysterious part is that there was a pattern of 4 little feet all together. And repeating every foot or so, another group of 4. They don't look like bunny prints, so what critter was doing that little dance out there? They are all covered up now. I'll never know.

Mean words and margaritas

I may have texted a few mean words to Miss Tara when leaving The Freeman's Journal on Tuesday night. There were only 3 of us left here in the cold to get the newspaper off to press while she was off vacationing in sunny California. Not only did she feel the need to let me hear the margaritas blending in the background, but she had the nerve to send me this photo at 8:45 p.m. as I was walking out to my car. >>>

We got a decent little snowstorm yesterday which covered up all of the recently uncovered grass. At least it made the house look really pretty! Today, the sun is out and the grass and mud are making a comeback. 

Just in time for Tara's return to the North Country, an even bigger March snow is expected on Saturday. Don't you go planning on staying there longer, Missy!  The 3 of us at TFJ need you back!

 

One year later

It was 1 year ago that the WoodMan was diagnosed with a tumor on his spleen and given, best guess, 6 months to live. We had the option of euthanizing him right then and there, or doing surgery (not recommended), or taking him home.

We chose the third (only) option.

Woody celebrated his extended life by napping on the sofa for a bit, and then talking a nice walk through the swampy yard on a gorgeous spring-like day. He is certainly not acting like a 13- or 14- year-old "sick" dog.

We took a moment to visit the goats through the fence, although only the kids were brave enough to meet him face-to-face.