Rainy Memorial Day 2017

As many of you are experiencing, our weather is wonky! We had 90 degree temperatures for two days earlier in May and this past week has been cool....and today we again have rain! Thankfully the past two days were partly sunny and the temperatures did get into the 60s.

Yesterday I went out and cut some plants - the rhododendrons are in bloom and one of the perennials is flowering. I also cut a few twigs off the shrubs to fill in and ended up with several nice displays that I've posted below.

One of the things I like about this kitchen is the small island. And lately I've been trying to use it as a display area. The reddish "flower" is from our rhododendrons and the fill is shrubs. We have a red maple tree in the front that is just lovely - and one or two branches are sticking out. So, I liberated them for this display. This shot is toward the breakfast area.

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Same bouquet other side of the island shot toward stairs to the lower level (the door is closed) and the dining room. See the picture on the wall? A close up from the Lake house. I've always liked to take flower pictures.

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To the left of the sink is a long stretch of counter topped by a "shelf" that is wide enough to use as a display area or a holding spot. This bouquet has some rhododendrons and a flower branch from the perennial planted two years ago. Anyone know what that is? The yellow and red go well together.

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And to the left of the vase above, is the final rhododendron flowers. You get a better view of the breakfast area. 

We are thankful to those who served and enabled us to enjoy this day.

Where are the May flowers?

While the calendar says May, the temperatures say very early spring. It's been abnormally cold the past several days - and cool temperatures continue into the weekend. The band of storms that caused so much damage earlier this week only gave us winds. While nothing you could call "damage", there was a lot of twigs and small branches down. I bought herbs and put them in a crate and have brought them in on two occasions due to low overnight temperatures. But, it is Spring and the trees are in bloom as are the azaleas and other flowering shrubs. 

B has been buying mulch by the car-full and we did put a lot of it down last week when we had warmer temperatures. We dumped a few bags over the past several days. These pictures were taken last week when the mulch was mostly in the bags. We are just about done!

 This lovely tree has both pink and white blossoms

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And you can see the bags of mulch all ready to put down

We replaced two azaleas and are leaving the one on the right in and pruning it. Spring wreath on the front door The front door can't be considered a "porch"!

 This pretty, small red maple is so lovely. We had a red maple at the South Jersey house. 

We have never had a "front porch" before. And even though it's facing front, it's really the side door that is next to the driveway and opens to the kitchen. It's the door we use the most. I've started on the decorations and still have a way to go.

And around the corner you can see a different view of the porch as well as a bit of the garage door. This is where we had all the mulch. 

We are anticipating warmer weather and look forward to putting some flowers in and getting those herbs planted! 

The Blizzard of 2017!

I don't remember ANY storm dropping as much snow as this one did! We have drifts that are 40 inches deep on our deck. Yesterday as the storm progressed we went out to snow blow using the big blower - first we used it this year. Thankfully it started at the first try. B and I took turns as I can't turn the darn thing around. The wind was whipping the snow into major drifts. So we went out again this morning. I've got  pictures to show the progression of the storm and what we were doing. Right now there is a path down the driveway but the SUV is not dug out. More pictures later.

I opened the door that leads to the deck - OMG look at the snow! Honey was also amazed The high mound of snow on the left is where the grill is. The hump on the back right is the table.

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And here is the same view around 5 PM. We hadn't shoveled this area - the wind had re-arranged the snow! 

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And the SUV on Tuesday after we did the driveway for the first time. You can see it. The mound behind it is my red car. Probably see that in April!

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A Snowy March Day

After some nice rather warm days, it's snowing.....again.....

It's a lovely snow - large soft flakes that started last night. Honey and I went out for our final walk of the day around 9:50 and the flakes were falling. This morning we awoke to several inches on the ground and more coming. As I look out my office window, it looks like a snow globe that someone just shook. Lovely fat flakes that are making a lovely view. The borough truck just did another pass dropping cinders. Many local schools are closed - and that gives the kids a three day weekend! 

I went out after breakfast and took these pictures.... We plan on going out this afternoon and dealing with this "mess" by both blowing the driveway and cleaning off the cars. The forecast is calling for colder weather over the weekend with temperatures well below freezing. So what's there will stay and most likely freeze solid. Then we could get more snow early next week. The Scranton St. Paddy's Day parade is scheduled for this weekend. A very cold day for those who venture out. 

As I stepped out onto the back patio, the chairs just caught my eye. 

As I looked to my right the steps up to the deck that's off the breakfast area looked interesting

And the trees in the back were draped with snow

And it's still snowing.....

More Snow!!

Here it is, Monday February 13 and....IT'S STILL IS SNOWING!!

We had snow late last week..that then continues as rain to ice pellets to sleet to ice..... dang, it's slippery out there!

Yesterday was miserable with gusts that blew the snow around and sleet/rain/snow that made walking treacherous. We stayed home. Honey still needed to go out. And that was somewhat comical as the snow was higher than Honey's belly...well you get the idea...

This morning the sun was out and the temperatures below freezing. Snow showers all day and walking was difficult as there was a very thick crust of ice on top of the original snow with today's snow on top of the ice. A challenge for both Honey and me. I went out to start up my car and had difficulty getting the door open - frozen shut. I was able to open the passenger side and get the car started. We let it run for about 15 minutes and I slid down to get the morning paper. The streets have been plowed but our driveway is covered with drifted snow on top of ice. Tomorrow is supposed to warm up so we will snow blow then.

B snow blowing the first snow on the 9th.

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Honey in the kitchen. She has a new collar - orange!