Random Notes from Here

The paperwhite I wrote about on the 13th has opened up.

I've added some other plants to the house.  My Valentine's Day presents selected by me from Home Depot.  Above is what I call Mother-in-law Tongue.  And below is a ZZZ plant.  I had one of those at the last house we owned in Maryland and found it to be an easy plant to care for.

The poinsettia from Christmas is still doing fine.  It likes its placement in the front window.

In other news, we have a team in the cellar replacing support poles.  The inspection report described what was there as temporary supports.  We had Lyle Parry come and take a look and yes, they were temporary so 4 permanent ones are being installed.  There's another construction crew due today too, to dig up the dirt half of the cellar and prep it for concrete flooring.  Needed for radon mitigation.

An old house requires work!  We have had locksmith, plumber, appliance repairman, and HVAC so far.  Electricians due next week.

The third puzzle since we moved here is almost done.  This one only has 500 pieces.

And the last newsy note is that I got on a pair of snowshoes last week and took a walk across the field and back.  It was fun but slow going because you have stay aware of where your feet are so you don't step on the snowshoe.  I managed to stay upright the whole time.  These were daughter's snowshoes.  I hope to have some more fun in the snow this week after the big snow comes through.  Let's hope we stay north of the sleet and freezing rain line.

 

We're Rich

 Diamonds fell from the sky yesterday and are scattered all over the front yard. 

Can you see them?

How elusive. They were there winking at me when I took these photos.  I think I'll put off harvesting the diamonds until it warms up a bit.

One more try.

Snow

We had snow yesterday from mid afternoon to evening.  The threat of it closed schools 3 hours early.  Side roads got covered by evening but not the main roads.  All the roads are clear this morning and the sun is shining.

Here's the view from the 11th floor where we live.

Looking west.

A zoom up on the lake.

Looking south.

Southwest.

From our other balcony looking northeast.

Finally Some Snow

We have had minuscule amounts of snow all winter.  Now that Spring arrived we are having our snow storm for 2018.

We are so glad not to have to worry about shoveling and snowplowing the driveway we once owned. In fact we have not had to venture out at all except on the balcony to take these photos.

The snow event started yesterday as freezing rain and sleet.  Here are the icicles forming on the north balcony railing yesterday.

Then overnight another system came through and heavy snow started before daybreak.

Here's the same railing this afternoon.

And here is the view from the south balcony.

The temperature is warming so dark surfaces like the pathway above are losing the snow and ice.  It was snow covered for much of the day.

It will rapidly disappear once the sun shines tomorrow.

Another Snowy Day

A Presidents' Day snow fall here today.  A good day for it since lots of folks have the day off.  We are in no hurry to clear our driveway since the forecast is for it to change to ice as it comes to an end tonight.

The birds are thankful I filled the feeders on Saturday.

It's interesting to note that the usual ground feeders like the junco above left and the sparrow below are going to the feeders today.  I haven't seen that before.

The mounting dove knows it just too big to do it.  As birds go I think these are on the not so bright side.  All the other birds had flown when some alarm was called but this one stayed under the feeder.  No wonder they are more likely to be hawk food.

Joining Through My Lens

Wild Bird Wednesday

Snow on the Way

6:30 AM EST 1/20 HIGH CONFIDENCE FOR MAJOR MID-ATLANTIC STORM FRIDAY INTO SUNDAY. (Forecaster Mike & the Winter Stormcast Team) Brisk and wintry greetings everyone! Shades of snowstorms past are appearing in this upcoming winter storm expected for Friday into Saturday. We are certain now that it is going to snow, the question is, how much? 
Source: www.Foot'sForecast.org

So will it look like this?

This was January 2011.

Wordless Wednesday - Snow!

Tuesday, 9:00 am

9:30 am

10:40 am

11:15 am

12 noon

1:00 pm

3:30 pm

4:15 pm

5:00 pm

Wednesday, 7:00 am

8:00 am

Joining Jenny's Wordless Wednesday.

Our Second Snow Day!

The bird feeders were filled again this morning, but it's not just birds eating the sunflower seeds.  Here's one of two does that visited at lunch time no less to eat the spilled seed.

I didn't realize that when I sprinkled the seed on the snow for ground feeding birds that I'd also be feeding the deer.

Here she is outside Dan's study window oblivious to him sitting there.

Somehow she sees me taking her picture from the great room.

She's had enough so she heads off.

I remember a time when it was unusual to see deer.  Even when we'd vacation in West Virginia when the daughters were young it was a special event to happen upon the deer feeding in the fields at dusk.  Now they're out and about at all times and are everywhere.

Post script: 12-21-13 Linking to Saturday's Critters.
Snow in these photos is disappearing fast as our temps are at 50º and climbing.