ABC Wednesday - S

S is for Snow.

We just received a couple of inches of it this morning.  It has been 32-33 degrees F all day.  I'm not ready for cold weather; nor am I ready for winter.  Bah. Humbug.  (That's all I'm going to say about that for the moment.)

https://youtu.be/Ec3L5KgAD_Q 

Enjoy!

SG

ABC Wednesday - S stands for Snow

Yes, it is now November.   And quite often we SE Iowans receive SNOW in November.  Sometimes more measurable than others.  Our latest snowfall was intense, but short-lived.  :-)

I know the following two photos don't really depict Snow... but I had to catch Jack in action!

Jack Frost, that is!  :-)

And we truly appreciate the Sunshine!  :-)

Would you like to enjoy other ABC Wednesday posts?  Follow this link! Look for the folks that have signed up to publish their blog posts.
 

Enjoy!
SG

Yesterday's Wildflower Wednesday post!

Beautiful sight...

 Bright

 White

Snow

Drapes the delicate framework

of a Springtime

"wannabe!"

:-)

lol   For truly sweet and "serious" postings, head over to see Gail at Clay and Limestone.  Read the comments and see who else has posted!  :-)

SG

Fragilistic Friday!

Fortunately, we received some snow today.  It's beautifully white and fortuitous.

(We need the moisture.)

Fresh

around 8:00 a.m.

Fair

around 3:30 p.m.

and

Festive!

 Six blossoms on my yellow moth-orchid phalaenopsis (above)

and one blossom on the plant below.

My dad painted the iris picture about 20 years ago.  I love it!  :-)

Have a wonderful weekend!

SG

The Snow-Storm

The Snow-Storm

Announced by all the trumpets of the sky,
Arrives the snow, and, driving o'er the fields,
Seems nowhere to alight: the whited air
Hides hills and woods, the river, and the heaven,

And veils the farm-house at the garden's end.
The sled and traveler stopped, the courier's feet
Delayed, all friends shut out, the housemates sit
Around the radiant fireplace, enclosed
In a tumultuous privacy of storm.

Come see the north wind's masonry.
Out of an unseen quarry evermore
Furnished with tile, the fierce artificer
Curves his white bastions with projected roof
Round every windward stake, or tree, or door.

Speeding, the myriad-handed, his wild work
So fanciful, so savage, nought cares he
For number or proportion. Mockingly,
On coop or kennel he hangs Parian wreaths;
A swan-like form invests the hidden thorn;
Fills up the farmer's lane from wall to wall,




Maugre the farmer's sighs; and at the gate
A tapering turret overtops the work.
And when his hours are numbered, and the world
Is all his own, retiring, as he were not,
Leaves, when the sun appears, astonished Art
To mimic in slow structures, stone by stone,
Built in an age, the mad wind's night-work,
The frolic architecture of the snow.

by Ralph Waldo Emerson

Visited my parents, spending a few days prior to and after Christmas. This is the snow they received in Clear Lake (extreme north central), Iowa. (A good 12 inches)

Happy Winter Y'all! :-)
SG

Isn't this a Pretty Sight?

Even though we've had a lot of snow,
I had to share this photo.

"When snow falls, nature listens." ~Antoinette van Kleeff

Compare this photo to the first one in the post below.... same tree
with the result of yesterday's snow.

:-)

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day

Carol at May Dreams Gardens

invites you to join Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day
I don't have a hoe in my hand... but perhaps you might find me with a shovel?

In the meantime,

here are a few photos
of what you might see outdoors today:

"I sift the snow on the mountains below,

And their great pines groan aghast;

And all the night 'tis my pillow white,

While I sleep in the arms of the blast."

The quoted poetry is a portion of The Cloud by Percy Bysshe Shelley.

Perhaps we'll find no blossom outdoors today, but the little wren house reminds us that Spring is around the corner. And if I squint just right, I can almost see the bright green, newly unfolded leaves on the trees, the sprouted astilbe, hosta, ferns and others in the bed to the left. And when I attune my ears very carefully, turning my head ever so slightly, I can almost be sure I've heard the little wren in her house.

:-) Happy Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day! (Yes, go ahead and envision a little more snow here, too!)

December 16, 2008

This was yesterday's weather.
Today it is bright and sunny.
:-)




(You'll hear my dog snuffling...)

We have more snow in the forecast for Thursday.
We leave for Michigan Saturday.
We'll be celebrating the birthday of our granddaughter on Sunday (21st).
She turns 5!
And we get to celebrate Christmas with them all! Yea!
:-)

Christmas Blessings to you, as well!

What Happened? What is This?

It's

Snowy Sunday!I'm also participating in Nancy Bond's First Snowfall Meme at Soliloquy
Click on the tab at the top of her header to see other postings.


My prayers for safe transport for those Near and Dear that traveled,
and snow after Thanksgiving were answered.
Did you see yesterday's post... how beautifully clean was the yard?
And then, what did I say?

Please Snow?

Yipppeee! I woke up this morning to this!!!!!
You may click on the photos, some enlarge more than others.

This is the bed that houses 'David' phlox, a few hosta,
my new hardy cyclamen. Beyond it are the raised beds.

Let's go for a walk around the house!

We're standing in front of what's left of 'David.'
Do you remember that poor little Balloon Flower
that cried for a little more light?
I moved her, but she was never the same. Perhaps she'll do better in 2009!

Purple Coneflower seed heads are wearing their Winter Finery!
Oh, boy! I wanted to chop this fellow down all day, yesterday!
Now I'll have to wait awhile.
Who plants a pine Right next to the house?
In front of a window?

Our friendly squirrel-folks were out before I was!

A view of the backyard woods. :-)

This is the view behind the little screen...

...and this is the view from the front.
A burning bush near the garage.

This little view shows trembling water droplets.
It's above freezing, so the snow may not stay too very long.

Today's snowfall has ranged from large, feathery snowflakes to the thick dusting of dandruff that's falling right now.

And now, if there are any leaves on the ground... they're lurking under the snow!

:-)

Green Thumb Sunday

Today is the most beautiful of beautiful of beautiful snows! It's just falling straight down in huge flakes. Interspersed with two photos of the same, almost-a-blossom on my friends' "Christmas Cactus," you'll find a couple of photos of the snowfall from the front window. Have a wonderful day.

Quite the study in contrasts, wouldn't you say? :-)

There's no business like Snow Business...

What a Show we had this afternoon!
I was supposed to tutor, but I dropped my little student off with her mom and said,
"Sorry! We'll meet next Tuesday! I'm headed home!"
I'm glad I made that decision, as
Huge Flakes Splattered on my windshield.
The road was slick.
I stopped for the mail, hopped out of the car, and took this photo!
By the time I'd returned to my seat, I'd accumulated a layer of snow. ;-)
(Don't forget, our snow had only just melted away.)
(taken at 4:00 p.m.)
This was taken out the basement window... through the screen.
Back upstairs, my dog wanted to be outdoors for a second.
Normally the brown house is visible.It's now 5:00 p.m.
I've returned to the basement.
Can you find the cardinal next to the tray feeder?Our broken tree branches are on the north side of the driveway.
So... who's the little guy out by the street sign?
This was taken at nearly 7:00 p.m.
I had to take this photo.
I'd passed by the living room and noticed this lovely sight
out the front door. :-)Not shady. Just dark. ;-)

Winter Wonderland

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow... :-)

When I woke up this morning, it was snowing "to beat the band!"

The photo above was taken around 9:00 a.m.

The photo at left was taken from the dining room of "out back."

This photo was taken out a family room window... do you see the junco?I noticed the birdfeeders were getting low, so I trekked outdoors to fill them.
As I stood there surrounded by the variety of bird and song, I decided to try feeding one from my hand.
I held the food on my extended glove. One brave little junco decided to see if the food was any tastier from the new "dispenser!" To say the least, I was thrilled.
What a wonderful experience. I'll do it again! :-)

The bushes standing in front of our front door seem a sanctuary for birds that have been frightened from the birdfeeder.










A Christmas gift from our daughter and son-in-law is this new birdfeeder (below). It's a "Yankee Flipper!" You may have seen some You Tube videos about them! Motorized by a rechargeable battery, it's guaranteed squirrel-proof! (And provides entertainment, as well!)I'm waiting for the opportunity to take my own videos of the squirrel/squirrel-feeder in action! ;-)

Below are two photos taken from our dining room window into very nearby trees. The first contains two cardinals... and probably other hidden birds, as there were many.

This second has a nuthatch. My version of a Bevy of Beauties(or a Bevy of Beauty)!

:-)