Whiplash

 Looking at the title of my post you might think I've gone and fallen again, or had a car accident. Nope, everything is fine.  It's this crazy weather that has us going from freezing, snowing, warm, sunny, cloudy, rainy, cold again..blah, blah, blah. 

As always the crocus as to be first in line with some Spring color.

Following a close second are the daffodils.  These are the tiny ones and my bigger ones are up and ready to bloom.

Hello my favorites...lilac buds!

The grass is growing slowly and getting greener too!  But then Saturday comes along last weekend:

Cold and snowy...pretty but it makes my head spin! What happened to our 60de temps? One cannot be greedy.  This is March and up north it can snow until May if it wants too!  

I have faith that this mighty oak tree will get leaves again.  In fact, all this snow has disappeared already. However, tomorrow this is our forecast...RAIN, ICE, SNOW, 70DE TEMPS....Wait? What?

How can it snow if it's going to be 70 degrees?  I guess we'll find out! That being said, I decided to take a quick trip to Chicago tomorrow until Monday.  Jack's hanging at home so it's just Annabelle and me and the open road.  I was going to be working but my health assessment that involved drug testing won't be ready until next week.  I'm OK with that and will enjoy visiting with my sister and her pup, Hope.  I hope Hope and Annabelle get along!  So this weather whiplash will continue I'm sure.  

This poor Robin is wondering if she took the wrong road...

Looks like she's having a bit of whiplash too!  Hey, I know a good Chiropractor!

Tasks

I feel a bit behind in posting.  I try to post something at least once a week.  I'll use the excuse that I've been doing a few tasks these past weeks. Last week seemed to be full of them!  I had started some Spring cleaning.  Jack and I emptied our foyer closet out and got rid of old coats and items we didn't want or need.  We even found a few things that we seemed to have inherited. 

Like a violin.  Neither Jack nor I ever have played a violin.  As far as Jack remembers neither did anyone in his family.  However, this was from his parent's house when we cleaned it out after they passed away. It needs new strings and a new bow and probably other things so it's on the list to go to the music store to find out if it's worth having it fixed.  Some other tasks included rug cleaning, burning leaves and wood from the yard cleanup.  Cleaning out the garage. We've tackled one area and will head to the next soon. It's on the list!  I got the taxes sent in, and Annabelle's evaluation to be admitted to Doggy Day Care.   I had to fill out 6 pages of questions about her and make sure all her shots were up to date including a flu shot and booster! I kid you not. I think it was easier to get my kids in college than to be admitted to Doggy Day Care.  Why do I need day care?  I think I mentioned possibly going back to work?  Well, I said yes to this task.  It involved 12 pages of paperwork, a background check, a health assessment (drug screening) and I'm suppose to get a laser eye exam.  I'm not doing the eye thing.  I have to do orientation on March 28th.  As soon as my drug screening and all comes back OK, I can actually start back to work. It's only a PRN position in surgery.  That means I'll work if they need help and if I can't do it that day I can say nope, sorry.  No weekends, call, or holidays.  Also no benefits but that's OK.  I'll just take the paycheck!  So I feel like all I've done is fill out forms.  Hopefully I'll get back into the swing of things at the hospital. I've been out of there for a year and a half and lots can change in that time. Fingers crossed!  Thursday was St. Patrick's Day and our little town did a super job of celebrating it!  They turned the town creek green:

They got new banners for spring and also for St. Patty's Day and put balloons on all the light posts.

They played Irish music over the loud speakers in town all day long.  They had a parade around 5pm that anyone could join in on.  All the restaurants had specials with food and drink.  It was so fun to watch everyone just enjoying the day and celebrating.  It didn't hurt that our temps were 70de and sunny!

As you can tell, a fun time was had by all!  Friday night had Jack and I going to a surprise retirement party for one of our doctors that I worked with for almost all my career.  Dr. Yoder was an ortho doc and beloved by the community.  I enjoyed working with him and was so happy to go and wish him well.

My BFF, Donna, came with Jack and me and we had a fun evening.

 Doctor Yoder is in the peach colored shirt.  He's surrounded by many of the Physicians I worked with over my 41yr career.  It's like looking at my childhood friends all grown up!  This week had many other tasks to complete...like making 50 bee cookies for our ladies group at Church:

Don't ever let anyone know you have a bee cookie cutter if they are having a "Bee" themed event!  So I'm ending here as my final task for the day is getting ready for bed! I hope you have a wonderful Sunday and have a day of rest for any tasks you may be involved with! Night all!  P.S..A big shout out to my sister Midge because today is her birthday! Happy Birthday sis! Love you!

Lions And Lambs

Why March always gets the designation of coming in like a lion or lamb and exiting the same way is a mystery to me. I guess I'll have to google it and find out where that started although I'm betting a few of my smart blog buddies know the answer.  So keeping with the theme, March came in like a lamb.  We'd had plenty of lion like weather so I'm glad Mother Natures gave us a gift.  And boy what a gift we got this weekend!  70 degrees and sunshine!  Saturday was one of those gorgeous days you would love to keep forever.  After running our usual Saturday errands I had the pleasure of walks with Annabelle, a drive in the country to deliver some food for a friend who was having some health issues, and more outdoor time.

Annabelle sat outside with me enjoying the warm sun while I sat and read a book.  One day the grass will be green again!

Our next door neighbor's horse, Temp, was also sunbathing!

I even had my first outdoor meal for this season.  A quick light lunch and reading the paper.  It's the little things that make a good day!  Later Jack and I worked for a couple of hours in the garage cleaning out a cupboard and getting rid of a ton of   "stuff".  Even that was fun because it was so pleasant outside.  Today was just as lovely although we did get rain in the middle of the early hours.  I had to take Miss Annabelle out and we both got drenched!  Oh well, waking up later to blue skies and sun was good!  After Church and lunch I took the dog for a walk in the cemetery and she's been enjoying the outdoors much more than when it was snowing and cold.   I know we're in for more of snow and cold this week but I have my memories of yesterday and today to keep me warm!  

The last rays of the day coming in through the dining room window.  Thanks Mother Nature!

Beginnings And Endings

 I did a post a few years ago about hellos and goodbyes.  Today I'm calling it beginnings and endings.  I always enjoy the hellos more than the goodbyes.  Sometimes I've enjoyed the endings more than the beginnings.  Beginnings can be scary.  A new job, a new school year, a new baby, a new relationship, a  new marriage.  Endings can be a new beginning too.  Ending a job, ending college or high school. Ending a marriage, and on and on. I'm sure we all get it.  Today is a beginning of sorts for me.  I'm beginning the last year of my 60's.  I remember when I turned 60 and how that felt but for some reason today the sound of 69 sounds sort of old.  I've never been a person prone to depression.  Yes I've been sad at times but it passed and my optimism of life always came and brought me along. For the past 2 months I've struggled with what I'm assuming depression feels like.  Not every day or every moment, just snippets of feeling lost as to what I want my life to be like.  Then I started thinking about my Dad who passed away when he was only 56 and never saw 60 and beyond.  He loved life and would have embraced every year.  Jack's parents passed away in their 60's.  His Mom was 66 and Dad was 67.  I know they had plans for things they wanted to do in that part of their life.  God had plans too I guess.  So I don't want to fritter away my life with sadness at my endings.  I need to embrace those beginnings that others were denied and I've been granted so far.  I made some plans for this final year of the 60's.  They involve family, travel, downsizing and giving up some "things" and welcoming other "things".  Better health, better organization, better use of my time and talents. Maybe finding out what talents I actually have!  So hello 69.  Take my hand and my heart and open them to new beginnings and even a few endings.  Happy beginnings to me.

One of my beginnings involves growing my hair out...we'll see how this ends up!

Ice, Baby, Ice

 Ice in a glass of Diet Pepsi is good.  Ice in a blender when making a smoothie is good.  I don't drink alcohol but I hear that certain drinks like ice.  I don't drink coffee either but I guess ice coffee is good.  I don't do ice tea either but the name says it all.  Ice, baby, ice....ice on the deck is not good. Ice on the steps is not good. Ice in the grass when the dog needs to pee is super not good.

An ice storm came through last night and today the trees are shimmering ice sculptures.

Each branch covered completely.

A beauty all it's own.

It's a cold day in bird land.

These little icesicles remind me of something...

Tears..they remind me of tears that are shed when a person is really and truly over the cold harshness of a long winter....speaking for a friend!  Ice, baby, ice.

Having A Melt Down

 This time of year can bring the brutal cold, tons of snow, and then some unseasonal warm-ups.  It's all the ups and downs of Ohio winter that I've blogged about for years. Maybe it's repetitive but it's my life so on the blog it goes.   We had some 50de temps in the past week that melted a lot of the snow we had and that had problems all it's own.  Flooding with some roads closed. We didn't have any problems thankfully but the yard is a soggy mess.

Hello raised beds! We'll be digging in you in a couple of months. It was just nice to see them again.

This side of the yard always melts off first. Walking the property is messy business.

Speaking of business..Annabelle is finding more spots to do her business! She's limping around today so I'm not sure if she hurt her back paw while exploring or maybe got something in her paw pad. I've soaked her feet and applied antibiotic ointment on the sore one. We'll see how it goes before I call the Vet. She really does enjoy the yard!

Just when we were enjoying the melt down, it snowed and iced again. You can't really tell from this pic but that's a Robin.  It was all alone and for a minute I thought it's feet were stuck to the ice! Nope, just looking for some water to enjoy.  Today was almost 50de and again we had a melt down.  I should have gotten a pic of all the Robins in the soggy area of the yard taking baths in the cold water! Must have felt good to them!  I believe we're in for another snow event on Thursday but today was sunny, warmish and tomorrow and Tuesday will be almost 60! Yippee!  Yesterday was pretty chilly though and Jack made his wonderful spicey tortellini soup. Yum! We hadn't had it in a while and it really hit the spot on a chilly evening.

Pair it up with my homemade bread and it's a winner, winner, yummy dinner!

It's been a quiet weekend and not a whole lot to blog about.  We did receive these in the mail:

The freebies from the government. We got 2 and hopefully will never need them. Did you all get some? We still wear masks at stores and church but we're only among a few who are wearing them.  With numbers going down again I hope it will be a good spring and summer for gathering . Speaking of gathering...the owls have been heard morning and night and when I was closing the shutters in the dining room the other day I saw 2 of  them fly into the trees. I grabbed my camera and clicked a quick pic before they took off:

This one turned just as I was taking the shot. Hello cutie!

This one wasn't as cooperative...how rude! Well, maybe it was me that was rude since I didn't ask permission to shoot them! So that's my weekend.  Monday tomorrow and since retirement I always say that my Mondays don't ruin my Sundays anymore!

The sun was setting as I took this shot today. The best part was it was after 6pm and still light out! Woohoo! Night all.  I hope melt downs are in our our futures soon!

A Day Late/A Dollar Short

 Happy belated Valentine's Day! I hope everyone had a fun, love filled day.  Maybe it included some flowers? Some gifts? Some chocolate? A dinner out? A dinner in?  However you shake it I guess it's nice to have a day to remember to send out love and I know that Hallmark appreciates it!  It was a  nice day here at the Pines even though Jack had to work and Annabelle had to go to the Vet for her checkup.  We've had her a month.  She is doing well with house training or maybe it's YaYa training! One of us is very good at going outside to get her business done.  One of her big deals was getting up and down stairs.  We only have 2 stairs that go off the deck but it took her a bit to figure out how to get up and just today we...I mean she..figured out how to get down them.  So you can guess that I'm a day late with Valentine greetings but I'm also a few hundred dollars short that I left with the Vet! I figured Annabelle was good to go since the shelter had done all the vaccines and such.  Ha! Silly me!  She needed a flu vaccine.  What? Yeppers, a flu vaccine.  And her heartworm shot.  And her flea and tick pill.  And the office call of course.  I think she was a bit sore from the shots and was up and down all night.  So not only am I...and Jack...a day late, a dollar short...we are also a bit sleep deprived!  However, Jack got me a beautiful bouquet of roses yesterday and our son, Jack, and my daughter-in-law, Evelyn and her cousin Mandy came for dinner last night.  No food pics to show but it was all delish.  It was fun to spend some time with them.  My kids were great as littles but they are even more fun as adults. 

Jackie, Evelyn, and Mandy.   It was a nice sunny day and fun evening.  They also brought a bouquet of flowers so I have fresh flowers in a few rooms and I love it! It reminds me that Spring is on  it's way. Tomorrow and Thursday we will have 50de temps! Yeah!  It will melt the snow, cause some flooding, make lots of mud, but I don't care because it's going to be sunny and warm..ish!  Love to all!

Snowmageddon

 It seems like I haven't blogged for a while but it's only been a week...just seems longer for some reason. Well, we did get hit by storm "Landon".   Or "snowmageddon" as it's being called around here. Jack measured the snowfall in the front of the house...10in...in the back of the house it measured 15!  All I know is it seemed like it was never going to stop. I know I shoveled a ton of snow to keep the paths open for Annabelle.  Word to the wise..wiser than me anyway...don't get a new dog who is being potty trained in the Winter. Just sayin.   When the snow finally did stop the sun came out and it seemed like the world was slowly waking up.  Of course everything was cancelled from Thursday to Saturday.  We came out good with no power outages here at the Pines and it was warm and comfy indoors.  Now it just has to melt and from the piles of snow out there it may be June before that happens!

Welcome to our front sidewalk...enter at your own risk!

Our kind neighbor did come and plow our driveway...thank goodness!  I made some special cookies for him to say thanks since he didn't let us pay him.  

Bird bathing is closed for the season.  Speaking of birds...I took a few pics of our feathered friends as they came and dined at the Pines.  These were taken from inside so pardon the bad focus.

I made sure the feeder was full.  It's first come first serve around here.

Some preferred a table for one under the gazebo!

A few preferred to snack on my herb plants under my kitchen window.

Does this outfit make me look fat?

Looks like he has on red earmuffs! As cold as it was that would be a good idea!

Go Jack, Go.

Annabelle is doing really good with her potty training.  She has a bit of anxiety and we hope it will get better as time goes on.  She just wants to be near us at all times! But she's been a sweetie and we love her.

Thanks for stopping by.  You're welcome to visit anytime. This snow shovel has your name on it!

I'll even share some of my fresh baked...this morning...cookies! Sending out the love and the hope that Winter will calm it's self down from here on out!

Entering February Holding Our Breath!

 I always say that February is the shortest month with the worst weather. After coming through a  very mild December and then a frigid, snowy January I was hoping to slide into February quietly and maybe a bit warmer.  I got my wish as Mother Nature handed us a balmy, sunny, almost 50de. day to enjoy.  Also to get ourselves prepared for a bit of a snowstorm named "Landon".  That Mother Nature is such a crabby appleton at times.  She's holding her cards close to her chest and letting us and Al Roker guess what's really going to hit the East coast and us here in Ohio.  So prepare we did. The wood stove is humming and wood is sitting waiting for it's turn to burn. Food is stocked and water too.  I bought a new book and magazine to read on Thursday if all is shut down.  I'm sure I'll be outside clearing the paths for Annabelle to do her business.  Jack cancelled his office also.  Annabelle is suppose to have her first Vet visit on Thursday but we'll just have to wait and see what happens.  So holding our breath and hoping the groundhog comes up tomorrow with a good report for Spring.  Somehow I imagine Spring will arrive as it always does with a few surprises of it's own.  Oh well, Happy February everyone. To celebrate the warm day today I did grill outside..

Mmmm...the steaks were really good! Throw in some fluffy baked potatoes and Jack's favorite veggie...Lima Beans (not my fav for sure!) and call it dinner!  I will bake some bread tomorrow and probably some cookies to get us threw these crazy days!  So for now we'll hold our breath and hope for the best! Night all!