Lovely winter we're having this spring

Yes, i saw that on a friend's facebook wall, and it sums up what's been going on here for March. We've had three days so far that are above normal temperatures, one day that's normal temperature for this time of year, and all the rest have been colder than usual.

The ground is still about 75% covered with snow, and we've had snow twice this week. No accumulation, unlike east of me where they got pounded earlier in the week and vicious winds to boot. We got the winds but just missed getting the load of snow. And by just missed, i mean a half hour further east had ploughable snow.

I've had several flocks of turkeys come to the bird feeder, as i strew bird seed on the ground for the ground feeders. Several squirrels nosh there, too, and a each season for the past few years, there seems to be one enterprising one who flings himself from the top of the fence to the bird feeder, lands, and it swings wildly while he reaches down to help himself to the bird seed. The ground feeders like the arrangement very much, giving them easy pickings.

Even the animals seem winter weary as i refill the feeder. I have to think spring is really and truly coming, as i smelled a skunk last night, which is a sure sign. And, at the second to last big snowstorm, i paid to have a man come with a backhoe or skidsteer and move the snowbank back from the driveway to allow for extra snow. That's a sure sign of no more snow, right? Right?

In the meantime, my stablelicers are still on my shoes, we've one more weekend of playing hockey, and i have to hope that when March goes, it takes winter with it. I'm ready for mud season.

Stabilicers® Add tremendous traction in icy conditions. Much cheaper than having to pay for a broken leg.

For John Gray

For those readers who may not recognise the name, John Gray has a lovely blog, Going Gently. He lives with a cat, Albert, his partner, Chris, loads of chickens, some geese and ducks, a turkey named Bingley, and several dogs, Meg, William, George, and Winnifred.

John, maybe Winnie would like to do this next time to go over to the Gop?

Spring cleaning

After a tortuous several weeks at work, i decided to take a few days off. I wanted to spring clean and knew i had to strike while the iron was hot.

Instead of taking a whole week off, which i wanted, i settled for three days. Client ran late with some stuff i needed to do my part. sigh.

I totally forgot Wednesday was Ash Wednesday, and woke up Wednesday morning with a headache and felt grumpy. I looked outside, and it was snowing. It is NOT supposed to snow when i'm spring cleaning.

I moped most of the day. I felt listless and did a few things. I attended my strength training class and found i was just really tired so i did what i could and felt better afterwards.

I woke up this morning a bit sore from my class but brillant sunshine streamed through. It was so nice to see it, even though it was very cold again this morning (3°F/-16°C). And i puttered hither and yon around the house. I could do with an entire week off to do a proper spring cleaning, but there's not much point to washing the walls in my office where the coal stove is, as i still need the coal stove to be fired up.

The kitchen, guest room, and bathrooms are all much cleaner. Sunroom is decluttered. A noisome pile in my bedroom has been properly sorted. I have started on the taxes.

I hope tomorrow i can clean my bedroom, the other upstairs bedroom, the living room and make an inroad in my office. I also want to go through my clothes and shoes. I have too many of both and need to give away what i'm not wearing or shall never wear. I also found out my two favorite pairs of jeans are now too big for me. I'm glad and sad, as i really liked them. Oh well, they can go on to make someone else happy who's a bit larger than i am.

In other news, i won a drawing! It's for a restaurant gift certificate, i get to pick from a list of which restaurant(s) i want. There's one on the list i've enjoyed going to, and one i may want to try, so getting a certficate for each would be nice.

I haven't given anything up for Lent, although i've had no sugar so far, and i don't think i swore all day. So, sugar and swearing can be contenders. I think i ought to stick for the cleaning thing, too; heck, if i did something every day for all of Lent, the house may get a proper spring cleaning after all.