We’re getting there

It might not look much like Spring to those of you who live in places that have tulips, daffodils, crocuses already blooming, grass greening, but here, this is progress! Although it was still slightly below freezing, the sun was hitting the front porch this morning, birds were singing and despite the large piles of snow left to melt, it had the feel of Spring – really!

The sun was even making Bob’s eating venue warm and spring-like.

This is near the end of our short loop – looking back from whence we came along the snow covered ridge. There is still 6-10 inches of snow on some of our path. In the morning it is frozen and easy walking. By afternoon and for our evening walk, it is like walking in mashed potatoes.

As we approached our own property, Karl decided on a toe cleaning break – hopefully one of the last for the season. We’re getting there!

Today we had graupel

Graupel: Graupel (also called snow pellets) refers to precipitation that forms when supercooled droplets of water condense on a snowflake, forming a 2–5 mm ball of rime; the snowflake acts as a nucleus of condensation in this process. The term is derived from German Graupel meaning the same. (Wikipedia)

Below is what it looked like when it was done graupeling.

We also had sunshine, rain, regular snow, more sunshine, then the graupel and now there is blue sky to the west.

But the forecast, it looks promising…

even though today we had graupel.

An interesting Spring

Ha, this bird I KNOW! Pileated Woodpecker aka “Woody the Woodpecker” if you are of my vintage. And in real life, they can be as much of a troublemaker as the cartoon. They are interesting and large and not all that skittish. I didn’t see this one until I was within 6 or 8 feet and may not have noticed had he not chattered at me in what sounded like irritation. Karl was some ways away so I just stopped and spoke back. He went about his business ignoring me while I got the camera out.

My pileated woodpecker story is that one day after patching about 8 holes in my guesthouse and barn made by pileated woodpeckers, I headed to the Swan River Nature Trail for a walk with Karl. Along the way a group of 6 people were crouched down with binoculars looking at something. I leashed Karl and we quietly approached to find out what they were watching…pileated woodpeckers!! They were a bird watching group from the midwest, all excited to see their first. I didn’t share their excitement…

But yesterday, having not left the property since the previous Friday and feeling like I just wanted to see another human being, I headed to Bigfork and the lake with Karl. Surprisingly there was little snow in the valley. I must be sitting right at the snowline. Although, the muddy brown of very early spring along with the blackened piles of snow from parking areas is not extremely attractive, it was nice to see more ground. Despite a brisk wind off the lake it felt warmer than I expected. Karl and I dawdled around the beach and then the cliff area we like.

This squall was making its way across the lake to the south. Squalls like this one passed through at my house off and on yesterday, but by mid-afternoon it cleared, warmed up and everything melted.

This morning, though, another fresh inch of snow coated everything. It is an interesting “Spring”.

*The woodpecker photos are also from our walk at the lake yesterday, although I see them in my woods quite often.

Status Quo

The month changed over but the scenery did not. One difference, though, these photos were taken in the 6:45 a.m. range this morning. That’s different from December!

And the inside scenery…

… status quo.

On impatience

Last evening, after I posted yesterday’s “Just one of those days”, Karl and I went for a walk. I was thinking a blast of fresh “Spring masquerading as Winter” air would banish my doldrums. I almost always enjoy being out once I get out, even if conditions are not wonderful and last evening was no exception. We dawdled around our loop and it felt good but also just a bit more of tiring. Whether Karl was feeling the same or picked up on my feelings, he followed me into the house – a bit unusual as he would normally get a treat and pick a spot in the yard to munch and watch. I took the cue and said, “Let’s just go to bed” and we did! Bob NEVER has objections to going to bed at any time of day. It was 6:45.

I slept well. Bob and Karl were quiet all night so I assume they also slept well. Fresh start on a new day.

I listen to a Jesuit produced podcast called Pray as you go in the morning. The podcasts start with music which varies from Gregorian Chants to contemporary to African Monks chanting with what I call a tribal beat. A verse of scripture is read. The Jesuit group that puts this together is in Britain and most of the readers have a Celtic lilt and accent that seems to put a soft serenity into the readings and the questions that follow. The questions are along the lines of “how did that make you feel” and “what did you notice” but with some specificity to the reading.

Today’s scripture was from Exodus and was a short couple of verses where the Israelites are complaining about the wilderness and its lack of good food, conveniently forgetting that they were, in fact, rescued from persecution. Their take at that moment is more “out of the frying pan and into the fire” and they are pretty blunt with God and Moses about their dissatisfaction and impatience. I believe this was near the beginning of their 40 years in the wilderness so they had a bit to go out there.

But, the “make you think” question in the podcast – the thing that really hit home to me, was “What are you impatient about?”. It made me sit up straight, take notice and think. On the tail of a day where everything seemed “wrong” although nothing really was, it hit me that it was impatience with things of no real importance in the overall scheme of life that was at the root of my out of sortness. As is so often the case, a slight change of perspective changes my outlook and my “in feel” and the world seems right side up once more.

Impatience – it has its plusses and minuses. A certain amount of it has been very good in my life. I don’t wait for conditions to be perfect to try something or do something so I’ve had opportunities for which I am very grateful. It is the impatience with the niggling things that often are beyond my control that causes me grief of my own making.

Today, I am rested and well. I have good work. I live in a place I love. I have friends and family. I have a dog and a cat. I am a beloved child of the great Creator. I have all I need and more. Life is truly good.

Just one of those days

Nothing bad happened today.

I got an early start, feeling good as I finished and e-filed taxes yesterday – a chore I had uncharacteristically left a bit later than usual. But, for whatever reason, the day was a bit of a struggle. I was tired and out of sorts from mid-morning on. I could blame it on the weather, hormones or the phase of the moon, but really, I think it was just one of those days…

Karl had one too.