Spring Snow Brings May Flowers!
Those April showers that bring May flowers came in the form of eight inches of wet snow and big white fluffy flakes are still falling. It’s hard to believe that it was sunny and 60 degrees yesterday. I took a couple hours off from writing, leashed up my dog and scampered outside for a much-needed walk to the park and around the neighborhood. We admired all the daffodils and tulips plants that were several inches above ground. OK, I admired, Mystic was too busy sniffing the air and ground to see who came before her. We also found quite a few green blades of grass in the yards among the brown winter landscape. The buds on the lilac bushes look ready to burst wide open. Bet they are rethinking their decisions about now.
The neat thing about this storm is that we got to try out our new snow blower. Yes, that’s the one we purchased last year, after several snowstorms and my husband was out-of-town. So, the fun of shoveling all that snow, fell to me. The purchase worked, no measurable snow fell the rest of the winter, last year.
My husband has an innate ability to be in sunny California or Arizona on business when the snow flies here and there is any measurable accumulation. It was great fun to watch the snow blower cut a 24 inch swatch through the white stuff in a matter of minutes, especially since my husband was at the controls. Definitely beats shoveling. What was more amazing is that he was actually here to do that job! Will wonders never cease. Of course, there wasn’t supposed to be any measurable precipitation with this storm, an inch if we were lucky. The weatherman missed again, gee now that’s unusual. NOT! I know that compared to the storms in the eastern United States eight inches isn’t much, but here it’s needed moisture and finally enough to use our new snow blower!
Mystic, our chow, truly enjoyed tunneling under the snow with her nose and frolicking in the back yard, snow piled almost to her belly. The snow will probably be gone when the sun comes out, this afternoon or tomorrow, but now the snowball fight is on! Nothing packs together better than the wet spring snow.
Views: 276
Posted in My Say What Blog, Uncategorized by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.
Spring Equinox Arrived!
Sure enough, according to scientists, astronomers and people that know these things, Spring Equinox arrived at 12:57 p.m., on Thursday, March 20, 2014. You wouldn’t know it here in the Colorado Rockies as lots of big wet snowflakes blanketed the tulips and daffodil plants that should know better than to stick their tender green sprouts above ground this early.
Also known as the Vernal Equinox, it brings a plethora of traditions and rituals including more sunlight hours, which makes me happy. Easter for Christians falls the first Sunday after the full moon subsequent to the Spring Equinox. Others celebrate the Spring Maiden or Goddess who watches over the emerging flora and fauna, a reminder of earth’s fertility. Still others have traditional dances and hunts to celebrate the arrival of Spring.
As the snow melts, the thirsty ground sighs with relief soaking up the much needed moisture. Hope springs eternal for the promise of warm sunlit days that awaken the budding flowers and bring spectacular color to our world. Happy Spring everyone!
Views: 77
Posted in Food for Thought, My Say What Blog and tagged Colorado Rockies, Daffodil, Easter, rituals, Spring, Spring Equinox, Tulips by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.
Spring Must be Right Around the Corner!
Yep, my Chow, Mystic, is starting to blow her massive coat. She knew it would be a cold winter and geared up for staying warm. Over the past three weeks, my husband and I have filled almost four grocery bags full of caramel colored fur from our weekly brushings. That’s enough to make at least one doggie playmate for her.
Alas, she will remain an only dog, because that’s all we can handle, not because she is a problem, quite the opposite, we hit the almost perfect canine companion lottery with her. Besides our parrot, Taco, can only keep up with one dog at a time.
Then there is our 40 year old box turtle, Sammie, who has placed our Chow at the top her s**t list since Mystic’s arrival nineteen months ago. As a puppy Mystic picked Sammie up, while the turtle was sunning herself in the sunroom and took her outside, apparently to play, not once but twice over a week’s time. The turtle did not appreciate this offer of playtime in any way shape or form. After we figured out how this was happening, we strengthened Sammie’s enclosure, so she couldn’t get out, thereby, thwarting the puppy’s efforts. Still, each time the dog passes by Sammie’s indoor enclosure, she hisses her displeasure loud and long.
But I digress, Spring is a time when green sprouts poke their heads out of the brown winter landscape with promise of a colorful transition. Mother Nature awakens not only plants, but other creatures too, pesky ones.
Each year blood-sucking mosquitoes kill thousands of humans and animals alike. They transmit West Nile virus, various types of Encephalitis, Malaria, Yellow Fever and Dengue Fever. They also threaten the lives of our canine companions with the insidious Heartworm disease. In the southern United States mosquito season has already begun and by May will be in full swing throughout the entire US. Take precautions to reduce the chances of mosquitoes hanging around your home.
• Make sure there is no stagnant or standing water around your home.
• Check your window screens for slits or holes in them and repair or replace them as necessary.
• Consider obtaining commercially available Mosquito traps.
Finally, protect your pets with readily available Heartworm preventatives.
One last thought, snakes, skunks, raccoons, foxes and various other creatures are active with the arrival of Spring. Check your yard before allowing your pets outside, especially early morning and after dusk to prevent unwanted encounters, such as the one we had last summer with a skunk in our back yard. That’s a tale for another day, until then have a magical Saint Patrick’s Day and a productive week.
Views: 65
Posted in Food for Thought, My Say What Blog and tagged Heartworm, Mosquitoes, Pets, Spring, West Nile by tenajean with comments disabled.
Changes Make It Hard To Follow Your Path!
Ever wonder why you are exactly where you are today? Is it Fate? Is it God’s plan? Or maybe Karma? Do we really have control over our own destiny? Who the heck knows, I sure don’t. Do you?
I used to believe that hard work and determination always got you where you wanted to go. After reflecting on all the ups and downs in my professional and personal life, and there have been many, as with most people. I’m not sure what I believe any more. How many times have you diligently charted the path to your goal, only to have that path bull dozed and your goal scattered beyond recognition? Well, join the club.
Every time something perceived to be bad happens, friends and family are the first to say, things always happen for the best or when God closes a door, he opens a window. I gotta tell you, I’m mighty tired of crawling through that damn window.
Recently, a post appeared on my facebook page, thank you Lynda, that went as follows: Some changes look negative on the surface but you will soon realize that space is being created in your life for something new to emerge, by Eckhart Tolle. I think I like that best.
Once again, I’ll clamber through that window and gather up the scattered pieces of my obliterated goal, bury them and design a new one. Only this time, I am going to watch and see where the path leads rather than directing its route. And…I think… I will take time to stop and smell the roses or enjoy the scenery along the way. The one thing I do know is that I have met lots of awesome people along the many paths I’ve traveled, then again, some people not so much.
With Monday behind us, I think I’ll take the road less traveled and see where it leads, you are welcome to join me. Have a magical week! Oh, by the way, these pages are under construction, I am learning as I go. Comments are welcome.
Views: 33
Posted in Food for Thought, My Say What Blog and tagged Changes, faith, goal, life, path by tenajean with 2 comments.
