Dan Antion

Winter Has Left the Building

I think she’s happy I woke her up.

Last week was a bit of a blogging blur. I posted six days in a row. That’s unusual for me. I have to tell you; I don’t like it. After four consecutive days, writing starts to seem like work. It’s a good thing the sixth post brought me to the bar so I could have some fun. I do this for fun. Of course, fun is one of the things that has taken on a new definition over the course of the past month or so. Fun, commerce, entertainment, exercise…time. All of these have new parameters.

On Saturday, I put winter away. I emptied our garden shed, I tucked the snow blower into a corner and readied the lawn mowers for service. I cleaned, sharpened, oiled, etc. You know, the things we do here in the land of four seasons. Then I put everything back in the shed in ‘summer’ order. I also sucked up the leaves I missed in November and the ones that blew into our yard in the past four months. That’s the problem here when we don’t get enough snow, everything blows around. It was fun to work outside in the sun. Later today, two bags of debris will be picked up by the town.

At least trash removal is functioning normally.

I’ll let you know when anything else around here approaches normal. Until then, please enjoy the pictures in today’s gallery.

During the storm.
The sun would eventually burn through those clouds.
It’s not full enough to hide behind, yet. Give it a few weeks.
I think she’s happy.
Walking after the storm.
Maddie’s nemesis. She’s trying to hide.
Happy to be walking.
Snoopy and Mr Snoopy.
One tulip insists on blooming in this area. Every year like clockwork.
Scrapping off the dried grass and mulch from last year.
Much better
The storm passed, I don’t appear to be needed any longer.
I think she’s happy I woke her up.
The end of a good day.

78 comments

  1. Thank you for doing your part to kick winter to the curb. :-) It’s 38°F here right now with rain, but I’m grateful because folks up north are going to have an opportunity to use those tools you just relegated to the back of the shed. By all means, please post when you see anything returning to what we knew as normal. I’m still looking. :-)

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  5. Winter may be gone, Dan, but I would welcome a bit more warmth here. Our temperatures have been well below normal almost every day the past two weeks and I would not mind seeing a bit of sun. Two photos really stood out for me–the solo tulip, a nice touch of beauty, and your artsy reflection shot of the puddle after the rain.

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    • I’m with you on wanting to see the mercury clime 10 or 20 degrees, Mike. I’m glad you like those pictures. I always try to get the reflection, I love it when it turns out well.

      Take care.

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  6. hahah. That is more of an “I could kill him in his sleep” look! That cat has power. Love the pictures. It LOOKS like winter is over up here until you step outside. bbbbbrrrrrrrrr. It’s coming though. They promise warmer weather is coming. (So is Christmas)

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  7. In some ways I am enjoying the “new normal.” When I go out to the grocery store, there’s no traffic, there’s peace and quiet, and no one is pushing their shopping cart into my rear end at the check out counter! People are actually acting nicer to each other – except for people out of work, I am having more and more trouble finding the downside to all this.

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    • There are some benefits to this slowdown. I hope the people flying up and down the empty highways will remember the speed limits once people start using those roads again. As for grocery shopping, I’m a little worried this will be my permanent job. I’m getting better at it.

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  8. I am so looking forward to the warmer temperatures forecast for later this week. Temperatures here well below normal.

    Maddie sure looks comfy and relaxed after the storm. I don’t get the impression that MiMi is happy you woke her up…again!

    Love the shot of that lone tulip. Beautiful. Of course, I’m a sucker for reflections, so the branches in the puddle are perfect.

    Sounds like you are ready for summer and that’s a good thing. We did the same changeover. Now we just need the temperatures to changeover!!

    I’m looking forward to a post that says, Covid-19 Has Left The Building, The Country, The World!
    🐾Ginger 🐾

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    • Oh, Ginger, I look forward to that post as well.

      Technically, you might be right. Maybe ‘happy’ wasn’t the word I was looking for to describe MiMi. Oops, my bad. Maddie is not happy today. Wind and lingering rain have at least postponed our walk, perhaps cancelled it, because I don’t walk her when a lot of people are up – she’s a little rude. According to her, “people should not be on my street!”

      I am looking forward to those promises of high 60s and maybe 70 degrees. Of course, a week from now, we’ll be complaining about 90 degree temps and 95% humidity.

      Take care. I hope it warms up and we can all enjoy the warmer weather – alone – at a distance ;-)

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  10. The little furry ones….such great photos. Maddie’s nemesis…..I have a soft spot in my heart for him. One lone tulip. Things like that make me want to cheer! FL is not opening up as quickly as I thought DeSantis would have us. And that’s a good thing. He’s thinking outside the Trump-box. Thank goodness for small favors. Have a great week, Dan.

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    • MiMi wants everyone to know that she “does not approve that message!” I know you have a soft spot for Maddie’s enemy, but Maddie hates that cat.

      Stay safe, Lois. Up here, we’re worried that if you open up too soon, the returning snowbirds will bring the virus with them.

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  11. I don’t think I could write anything six days in a row. My brain shuts down and I can’t think of anything to write about. It’s frustrating when that happens. Thanks for sharing your humanness. I like that. I like the pictures, too. Have a great Monday!

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  14. We have had a few cooler days and another 6 hours of continuous tornado warnings Friday night. Our little garden has survived, though. I have peas. starting to climb and blossoms on my tomatoes, raspberries and strawberries. Hubby is almost finished with our third container garden. Funny what can be accomplished during a stay at home order. Love all the photos, especially the end of day.

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  17. I suddenly have a desire to do yard work on a warm and sunny day, except I don’t have a yard. Some people think that’s “work,” but I used to find it cathartic when I would putter around in the yard of the former in-laws.To this day, I miss the annual planting of flowers in the yard, trimming of bushes and pulling of weeds. Hope you enjoyed putting away winter and bringing out the summer equipment. It’s time to enjoy the outdoors and the wild one-off tulip.

    Furry pets for the kids and Happy Monday to you, Dan!

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    • I do enjoy yard work in the spring. I actually enjoy it in the fall, even though I know what it means. Then there’s that final day, when the shed goes back into snow blower mode and the garage goes from workshop extension to a place for cars. That’s always a mixed bag. It feels good to be ready, but it also means being stuck way more inside. I think the cats hate that day :)

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  18. You are ahead of us, at least in the get everything organized for summer department. Our weather has gone full out spring over the weekend and I’m ready to get outside to do something in the flower beds. All I need are some plants to plant.

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    • Maddie gets very upset during bad storms, John. She likes to be protected. The forecast says we should be in the mid to upper 60s by the end of the week and might see 70 degrees on Sunday. That would be most welcome.

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  21. That‘s how I felt this week. I don’t think I’ll do the A to Z next year, it seems like too much work lately. I can’t imagine doing the napowrimo! I love to write on the blog as long as I can do my thing but after three years of the challenge, enough. . .😄. I love that look on your cat’s face, they are so expressive! And more lovely pictures, thanks. I always look forward to your posts.

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    • Thanks Cheryl. MiMi’s expression might not actually be one of happiness, but I do get her message. I signed up to do the A-to-Z challenge one year. I had it all planned, but I backed out at the last minute. I didn’t think I could post 26 times in one month.

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  22. I’m sitting here sore to the bones. It was almost 80 degrees here over the weekend and I weeded and weeded and weeded and then hauled everything up the hill. I should know better. I should have been blogging! But … can’t resist those first lovely days.

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    • We will hit 61 today. and appear to be heading for 50s and 60s for the next week or so. That’s much better than 40s and 50s, although we will still have nights getting down to, or below freezing. I hope you adjust to the heat. That has to be strange coming from Chicago.

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  25. Never sorry to say goodbye to winter, although I’m not ready for it to be hot just yet. The weather’s been pretty nice lately here in the mid-Atlantic (though I wouldn’t mind less rain at the moment); I could take this year-round if need be. :)

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    • I’m not ready for hot either, Paul. If we could get into the 70s, and park for a while, I’d be a happy camper. We have been having a lot of rain. I could do with less of that as well.

      Hang in there. We both know we’ll be grumbling about 90° and 90% humidity before too long.

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  26. Hi Dan – well done on getting that side of life sorted out for 6 months or so … spring cleaning, packing for charity later on, and clearing out – hopefully for a few years ahead. Weather’s turned here … but we needed this rain – the plants and leaves particularly will be pleased. More car noise too from the wet roads … stay safe – Hilary

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    • My wife bought a spray that helps prevent the grass and other stuff from sticking. It worked really well on my snow blower, but it has to be applied to a clean surface. It took forever to find the green, but it felt good.,

      Actually, the trip to the leaf dump was like a social occasion. I got to talk to the woman who checks your permit and meters the flow to no more than three dumpers at a time. She in her car, me in mine, but real human-to-human interaction.

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  31. It’s still on the cool side here, but like you, I’ve been working my way through the transition from winter to summer. I’ve been cleaning both the yard and inside closets. There’s something hopeful about the process that makes me smile in spite of the effort.

    btw – Maddie’s nemesis bears a striking resemblance to Theo … and Theo, being the territorial alpha-male he thinks he is, would definitely consider Maddie a nemesis 😆

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  32. My husband mowed the lawn for the first time last week. This week the grass is going to have to be long again because it keeps on raining here. Supposedly we’ll have sun on Friday or Saturday. Being able to be outside without a coat is going to make life seem more natural again.

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    • Outside (full time) without a coat sounds great. We are probably a couple weeks away from that, but I was able work in just a tee shirt for about two hours. It’s going to rain here for a while, then I think we will have to cut the grass.

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  34. Nicely done, Spring Dan! I still haven’t begun work in my garden and at this point, it means most of my plants and herbs will not be grown from seed, but hey, I was sick.
    Tomorrow is the day I would normally pot the pretties and sew the sunflowers… however, it’s going to be high of 60 with rain and thundershowers all day, so, um, maybe next weekend.

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    • It’s so good to see you again – I hope that means you’re feeling better.

      My wife has plants and seeds to get outside, but it’s been too cold at night. Last night we had a hard freeze and having one again tonight. We just had a mini-blizzard! I probably shouldn’t have teased Mother Nature.

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      • Yeah, it was nice and warm a while, and now it feels like winter when the wind blows fierce! I saw about the storms there-ish — my sympathy. The editor is wise to sit on her seeds and seedlings a bit longer.

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