Ground hog predicts early Spring

It will be 53 degrees here tomorrow, everything is mud. The gravel driveway on two layers of road fabric is mushy. Did winter ever start or has the weather changed to a prolonged fall?

 

I don't mind prolonged fall one bit!

 

It's 50 F outside in the sun, and snow is receding nicely - I may have to start doing yard work.

 

Grey, lifeless looking scenery for miles in every direction (we're surrounded by open fields), predominantly dark days, mud, rain...it's just depressing. I had thought of this morning a poem this morning while we were watching the news about the ground hog traditions.

The Rainy Day- by Longfellow

The day is cold, and dark, and dreary;
It rains, and the wind is never weary;
The vine still clings to the mouldering wall,
But at every gust the dead leaves fall,
And the day is dark and dreary.

My life is cold, and dark, and dreary;
It rains, and the wind is never weary;
My thoughts still cling to the mouldering Past,
But the hopes of youth fall thick in the blast,
And the days are dark and dreary.

Be still, sad heart! and cease repining;
Behind the clouds is the sun still shining;
Thy fate is the common fate of all,
Into each life some rain must fall,
Some days must be dark and dreary.​

I get it, I'm in a rut and being a real Wendy Whiner....I apologize! The horses aren't happy, slogging through the muck. If it doesn't firm up cleaning the barnyard is going to be a real mess. The dogs love it, but they don't care about their muddy feet when they are called back in. The bees were out the other day making cleansing flights, I guess that makes them happy. I'll "wade" out to the far group of hives in the fields tomorrow and see how they're doing. I can't go ice fishing, I took a look two days ago. A few folks were out there on the lake, standing in two inches of water on top of a thin layer of ice...no thanks.

I always look forward to a substantial break from my fruit and vegetable farming, some diversion if you will. I looked at the calendar this morning and I'll be starting the greenhouse up soon just a few short weeks. The warmer temp's mean that insects will be a problem this upcoming season. Could it be that the heavy rains that we had five years or so ago that rotted so much produce in the fields is also in our future?

I guess I should be thankful that I got a break, but just enough to do my many projects and not the things I really enjoy in the winter. Maybe I should make a campfire tomorrow and sit with the wife and a "blue smoothie".

 

My grass and lillies are greening up. This is stupid.

 

I agree - it was 33 F this morning at 7am & sleeting, 40 at noon and raining like heck,

it is now 52 F outside at 10:30 PM, green grass on either side of the walkway, and I'm unloading pellets from the car in a T-shirt .. Just wacky.

 

Winter as we know it will slide sideways into a half assed spring, followed all to quickly by an obscene symmer.

 

Thanks bobdog, guess I outta start pulling out the Window A/C units now..

(I think I'll just have a Beer instead. )

 

My keg kicked tonight, forgive my grumpy outlook on the weather. It still sucks though.

 

That does suck.

Hey, you're only a couple of hours from the Latrobe Brewery - you could be there, grab a Keg - and be back home in no time.

 

I do love me some rolling rock, high life is the standard here though.

 

Gotcha. A road trip to Milwaukee doesn't sound bad, either.. But you won't be back by morning.

I haven't had a Rolling Rock in years - gonna look for some Green 33's, next time I'm in the store.

Was at the local supermarket today, there's a zillion 'boutique' brewery bottles on the rack, with catchy names, the wife had to drag me away from the display.

(At 10 bucks a "mix-n-match" six-pack, it wasn't happening though. Need more pellets first. )

 

my lawn is green. It may need to be mowed soon. absolutely bizarre. We accidentally left a planter out from last summer and it has resprouted something that is now 8 inches high. cant remember what was in there. It might be flowers. we shall find out soon.
Today i get the mail and there is the mailbox is the annual seed catalog.

Yet here i am with knobby snow tires on my subaru. The mower deck is off the deere, and its got weights, chains and a plow installed. Snowblower is right behind the garage door, gassed up and ready. I have not used any of these things a single time.

I actually appreciate the break, but at this point a few inches would be nice just so i dont feel like i've done all this preparing for nothing. At least i forgot to buy winter windshield wipers this year!

 

I've had the snowblower out just once, but it was to deal with a 30"+ snow. We were speculating last night as to whether that would be the only snow. 40% chance for Tuesday. Crazy winter. Worried about a nasty hot summer but little we can do. May as well learn to enjoy it.

 

That's what she said?

 

Seriously they appeared at our local markets also. $9.99 a mix and match six pack reduces it to social occasions. Some of them remind me of the high school days living in Germany.

 

Raining, snowing, freezing rain, windy, sunny, melting.
Strange February indeed