20 May 2018

Where Have All The Flowers Gone?

The leaves are trying to come out, here, but have only achieved about one-quarter size after 10 days. And they're yellowish.

No sun: it's cloudy with highs in the upper 40s to around 50, and did I mention no sun? The grass would like to green up, too, but ... nothing yet. We've had snow on the mountainside above the shoulder where we live, twice this month including last week.

People have passed the "twitchy" stage from the lack of sunlight, and are now nearly zombified. It's hard to feel like doing spring cleanup in the yard when it rains every other day. Everyone we know reports feeling listless and groggy. Ambition has fled, and only inertia remains.

The temp has only reached 60 once thus far; it was on a Tuesday in April.

It's very difficult to feel like doing anything much. We haven't even sat on the deck yet, which is one of favorite things. Sorta takes the fun out of it to have to use jackets and a space heater.

And before I get the inevitable response of "What do you expect? You live in Alaska!", I should point out that it's cooler than normal ... even for us.


9 comments:

Toirdhealbheach Beucail said...

Crazy question, Reverend: Any chance the recent volcanic eruptions are playing havoc with your part of the atmosphere?

Suz said...

I have come to the conclusion that I am definitely solar powered. I get more done, and am more up-beat on sunny days. I also ache less on sunny days.

It is cool and rainy here again today. We have had so much rain in the past week that everywhere you walk ya squish. I am very tired of mud season. It seems to have been going on since mid-February at least.

The high is supposed to be 62 today. I got up this morning, went out to feed the birds, and came inside and went right down to the woodstove and built a fire. Damp chilliness is worse than just plain cold. Inside the house has gone from 60 to 73 and it is lovely inside now. :)

I was watching the news last night and thought of you. Aren't you glad you went to Hawaii when you did and managed to escape all the volcanic activity? I know it isn't going on on all the islands, but I'm willing to bet if it did a Mt. St. Helen's, it would put a crimp in a lot of folk's day.

Ed Bonderenka said...

What day will summer fall on for you this year?

Rev. Paul said...

TB, the weather issues here began before Kilauea erupted. It's not a crazy question, but we get our weather from Siberia and/or the north Pacific, rather than from areas that far to the south. Usually.

Suz, we were glad that the eruptions there waited until we were home. I don't think there's been any effect on Oahu, but you never know.

Ed, there's no guarantee that we'll actually have a summer. There have been a number of wet, cool "summers" in the last 10 years, with no warm weather to speak of.

Old NFO said...

Sorry to hear that. We're already in the 90s and the grass is GROWING... sigh

LindaG said...

And we are in summer with no spring. I feel for NFO. We have been mowing for a while now.
I will see if I can send you some of our hot, and maybe we can get some of your cool in exchange. :)

God bless!

Rev. Paul said...

NFO, we only had to mow the grass twice last year ... but I haven't forgotten the Midwest & cutting the grass in 100+° & humidity. This is better, I think.

Linda, "sunny" would do just fine, thanks. :)

Rob said...

Eaten by all the offspring of the 60's flower children. LOL. We have green grass. leaves on trees, corn, wheat and soy starting to grow. Life in Cokato is good. You on the other hand may not have summer at all. Doesn't winter start on July 1st??

Rev. Paul said...

Bwaahahaha!

July 1st? Not quite. More like mid- to late-October. What's more likely is a long spring lasting until fall kicks in, with no warm weather in the middle. :)