A miscellany of Winter. . . . . . . . .

In the depth of winter I finally learned that there was 

in me an invincible summer.

~ Albert Camus ~

Those are words I thought would never apply to me. 

I have always loved winter, the cold air, the rain, the open landscape 

uncovered, see-through, beautiful in its bareness, even an occasional snow.

This winter has changed my mind. I long for some warmth, not hot and 

humid, just slightly warm to be able to go outside without slipping on

ice, dressed in fewer layers, and my feet without heavy boots.

Sharing my garden on cold, snowy, icy days these past couple of weeks.

Night in the garden. . . . . . . .

. . . . . . and just where were you last night? 

At 1:30 AM I woke up and went to peek out the windows. Dark, yes. Normal 

dark when slumber muffles the brain and blurs the eyes, definitely not!

I flipped on the the lights in the gazebo hoping to see more. 

This was 'more'. The sky was actually very bright with heavy falling snow.

At 6 :30 AM the power went out. We were under six inches of wet snow, 

bending branches to the ground, snapping pine trees at their 

slender waistlines, silencing the neighborhood streets, and bringing the city 

to a halt yet again.

Our power returned around 11:00 AM. We were fortunate. Many of the 100,000 
area residents who lost power are still awaiting their supply to return. 
Many accidents have occurred taking down wires. The thaw is already well 
underway, however with bitter temperatures tonight, there will be a refreeze and 
tomorrow will be yet another stay close to home day for many, including me!

Suddenly this has become a very long, cold Winter here in the southeast.

Be safe if you too are in the path of these storms and bitter weather patterns.

February Snow. . . . . . . .

Totally unexpected. Well they did say a few flurries possible. It started

around 6:30 am and was already sticking by the time I looked out at 7:30 am. 

It's still falling now, huge fluffy flakes flying by the window as I write, and it's 

almost 2:00 pm. We may get about three inches today. 

Of course this is nothing compared to up north, but for here in the south it means 

everything is shutting down again - just as the ice from last week melted and 

was a memory, and the kids returned to school yesterday, but are off again today.

I just had to let you see my flannel-robed snowman/birdman out early this morning 

to refill the feeders and toss some crumbs and seed out. Dozens of birds, and four 

squirrels, were looking for breakfast by 7:30 am - they know when the weather 

conditions will be bad.

Note Bob is none the worse for wear after yesterday's slip cover debacle!

Temperature will remain around freezing today so little melting expected.

Hope you enjoy these pics from my garden today. 

Another storm may pass through tomorrow night bringing 

more snow on Thursday morning. . . . . and here I was thinking

Spring was about to appear. 

That old Mother Nature is up to her trickery again.