A Winter Wonderland!

A Snow Covered Bush

We've had our second snow fall so far this winter and it's been quite a lot. We got about 4 to 5 inches from last night to this morning and it is very pretty when it is falling in the sky. The only bad thing about it is shoveling!

We have a long driveway and don't have a snowblower but my husband is thinking about getting one since we're not getting any younger. I went out and thought I'd get some exercise before he was up and started shoveling. The snow was wet and heavy so I came in after a while to take a break.

Our Back Yard

Then my husband got up and came outside and said he would finish it. It was still snowing and by the time I shoveled the cement part of our driveway there was another inch of snow on it.

We have a very long driveway and also sidewalks to shovel and it takes quite a while to do the job. I must have been outside over an hour and he was out there about the same after he took over and finished.

No Grass To Be Seen

After it quit snowing the temperatures went up a little and it is starting to melt already, which is great. Our daughter is driving 180 miles tomorrow to come home for Christmas and it's a worry when you always have to consider the weather in the winter time. It is supposed to be nice out tomorrow (at least no snow predicted) so that is a blessing.

Have a Merry Christmas everybody!

Here We Go Again!

It's already April the 4th and last night we had snow which made the roads icy and slick. Schools in our area had the day off today, which I'm sure the kids appreciated anyways. The only thing is that they will have to make up some of the snow days so the school year will last longer.

Lots of people who plow out driveways and stores had their snow-plowing equipment stored away for the year. Well, mother nature had something else in mind. I thought the snow was done for this season but here we go again. The men who work for the town had to plow the roads and salt them again. They probably thought that it was over for the year also. My husband had to get the shovel out once again and shovel the sidewalks off. 

My daffodils have buds on them but the snow covered them up....not completely but good enough. I wonder what the poor flowers think, haha. Tomorrow it's supposed to be nicer out but only in the low 40's so it won't be freezing temperatures but not that warm either.

Most people I talk to are longing for the warm spring days to come so they can go outdoors and do some yard work or just be outside. We did have a few warmer days this spring but it changes from one day to the next. I guess that's what spring is all about. We live in Michigan and that's what we expect. 

Here's a view around our house. The skies are nice and blue.....now all we need is some green grass and we'll be all set!

Strange But True

I can't believe this unseasonably warm weather here in Michigan. It's like spring and my sinuses aren't liking it at all! I'm one to get a sinus infection in the spring and fall but after it freezes I'm fine. I'm not one to get sick in December but did this year. A few days ago it snowed a few flurries but that was it. The temperatures have been warm enough to wear a light jacket. The last couple of days it's been gloomy and rainy. Not at all like Christmas time!

I took the short video above from inside the house through the window when it was snowing for a little while.  That's the extent of our snow so far this season. Afterwards, it melted and there were some deer in the wheat field dining on the green crop.

 You see winter wheat is planted in the fall. I'm not sure of the scientific facts, but it doesn't freeze from the cold weather and starts growing in the spring again, Anyways, this time of year it should be frozen and snow covered but it's nice and green.

How's the weather where you live?

Spring Popping Up

Spring Popping Up

The time is here! Spring has come and I'm very happy to see some signs outside. Every year these little flowers...crocuses... peek out from under the dead leaves of last Fall. 

It looks so nice now that all the snow is melted around our area. We did have a snow fall a couple of days ago, but at this time of the year it was all melted in a few hours.  I did see this tiny spot of snow in the leaves that hadn't melted as yet.

You can see that the blades of grass are just about ready to start greening up. We had a little rain today so that will probably help the process, I'm sure. The days are so much longer than in the midst of winter, when it gets dark at about 5:00pm.

I noticed that the buds are already on the trees and there are more animals and birds around. I've seen lots of robins already. Robins are the state bird and people always look for them as a sign of Spring. My mom said she saw a robin the other day and I told her I saw a lot of them already.

I really like the season of Spring, although my allergies don't like it much at all. When you think about it, the year is a quarter done already. That's how fast the time goes, day by day, month by month, into years.

Well, we don't want to rush it that fast, do we? Enjoy your Spring and take time to enjoy the beauty that our creator has made. 

Snow and Stew

Snow and Stew

Yesterday it snowed all day long and into the night. I could hear the wind howling through the windows and there was a winter weather advisory. Roads were drifting with snow and weathermen advised people to stay indoors.The schools were called off already last night so kids could sleep in and not have to get up early today to see if there was school.  This morning it was a "Winter Wonderland" (as we Michiganders are called).

It was a good day to stay inside, except somebody had to go outside in the freezing cold and shovel. We don't even have a snow-blower but my husband and sons did the job alright with a few shovels. With the three of them it only took about an hour or so, We got over 6 inches and probably a foot where it drifted.

Since I stayed in all day it was a good day to do a little cooking. I made homemade beef stew and it turned out really thick and delicious (if I do say so myself)! When I make something like a casserole, soup or stew it's nice to make enough to last a couple of days. That way I don't have to cook as often and get to do more fun stuff, like be on my computer, ha. 

Did it snow where you live or do you live in a nice warm place like California or Florida? I'd love to hear about it. I'm so ready for Spring and some green grass and flowers!

Long Icicles!

Long Icicles! 

Everybody knows this has been a brutal winter. The frigid temperatures and snow have been record making here in Michigan. It was up to 20 degrees today and the sun was shining so nice. At least it wasn't below zero and windy like it has been. There is so much snow piled up that when it gets windy it drifts across the road and is really icy.

Thought I would share some photos of icicles that were hanging from my mom's garage. They are some of the longest icicles that I've seen that I can remember, anyways. There were some more large icicles hanging from her house, and my son knocked them off and stuck them in the snow.

How is it where you live? Do you have a lot of snow and cold weather this winter?

Snowing Again!

Snowing Again!

This has been very cold and snowy this winter as you all know. Well, if you live in Michigan you definitely know what I mean. Yesterday was a nice day and the sun even came out!

I went to the city to get an allergy shot and then do some grocery shopping. The roads were nice and dry and not drifting or icy at all.

I knew we were supposed to get from four to seven inches of snow today so good thing I went yesterday. What a difference a day makes!

The weather forecasters were right once again. It's been snowing since this morning and it is still coming down right now.

I don't know about anybody else but I think I'm starting to get cabin fever. Spring can't come too soon for me. I can't wait to see some green grass, leaves on the trees, and some flowers!

Are you ready for Spring? 

-20 Below This Morning!

-20 Below This Morning! 

We live in Michigan and have had some really cold and snowy weather so far this winter. I can't remember it being this cold for a long time. The weather people said it's been about 20 years since we've had a cold snap like this.

Not As Cold This Afternoon! Only About -10 Degrees!

This morning when I looked at our thermometer it said -20 degrees! Yes, that is minus 20 degrees! Well, this afternoon I just checked and it has gone up a little. Now it's around -10 degrees. There is a wind chill warning on the weather forecast as wind chill values continue to be as low as -20 to -40. 

In Front Of Our House

 My husband said he's tired of shoveling and it's only the beginning of January! I really don't mind this weather. The only thing is that we live in a small town about 30 miles from a Walmart and Meijer. When the roads are bad we don't take a chance to drive on them. With all this wind the roads will be drifting from the snow blowing across the roads and be icy and slippery.

How is the weather where you are? 

No Snowblower At Our House!

No Snowblower Here!

We had our biggest snowfall starting last night and ending this morning here in Michigan.  No, we don't have a snowblower and that means the snow has to be shoveled by hand!  Luckily I have a husband and twin sons who can do the job.  I have shoveled a lot of snow in the past though, and still help out when needed.  We sure don't get the snowstorms like years ago.  It must have snowed close to a foot in some places with the blowing and drifting.  The snowmobilers are sure having fun today anyways.   The snowstorm was a day late.  The weather forecasters predicted it for Wednesday night so it must have been a slow moving storm, since we didn't get it until Thursday night.  All the schools in the surrounding areas were closed so there were lots of happy kids today!  A neighbor we know just called to see if the boys could shovel her driveway so it looks there will be more shoveling for the boys.

Travis In Front Of Our Garage

Dustin Making A Path

It Was Snowing When I Took This Picture.  See The Spots!!  

Making Headway

A Light Dusting Of Snow

We haven't had much snow here in Michigan where I live yet!  This morning there was a very light dusting of snow.  The picture above is my backyard up to the woods.  The bottom picture is the front of my house, with the woods in the background.  On the right is the field where our navy beans were this summer.