Winter and Spring and Other Things

 ... are fighting for supremacy. We've had temps in the 40s, 50s, and 60s, but not in that order. On four of the last eight days, we've had steady rains. In three of those, we've also had hail and strong winds.

We're still getting lows in the mid-30s, intermixed with lows in the mid-40s. And of course, there's still snow on the ground in shady, north-facing areas.

Three weeks ago, we had a foot of snow on the ground in our yard. Now we have leaves on the trees, the grass is greening up, and there are weeds a foot tall.

So we're going to put the cushions on the deck furniture on Friday evening, and this weekend we'll sit out on the deck. Even if we have to wear jackets. And perhaps Spring will be convinced to plow ahead by our stubbornness and resiliency. 

Or it won't. :)

On the home front, my wife's cast was removed three weeks ago, and she's been going to physical therapy twice weekly since then. She gets around the house pretty well in her sock feet, but still wears a walking boot and cane when outside.

She also tripped over one of the cats yesterday morning and fell down, twisting the ankle a bit. There's no apparent damage nor lasting effects other than some residual soreness. In her defense, the cat decided to lie down and roll over onto its back as D approached.

So life goes on up here. We're starting to get out and about a bit more, including booking a trip to a Navy reunion in Gatlinburg in September, and finally going back to Hawaii next spring. 

Spring's Arrival: the White Variety

The Spring equinox occurs around 8:30pm tomorrow, but we'll be hard-pressed to notice.

The forecast says we'll have 1 to 3 inches of snow tonight, another 3 to 5 inches tomorrow, and a snow/ice mix tomorrow night. And maybe freezing rain on Sunday.

Welcome to Alaska, pilgrim.

Okay, So NOW It Wants to be Winter

It's official: this has been the least snowy winter on record (since 1915 anyway, since they began keeping records).

Fine, whatever. As long as we get some rain this spring, it's all good.

So ... since the first day of Spring, we've had two light snowfalls, and several lows below freezing. And frost on the cars a number of times, including this morning.

Hey, Mother Nature: I know changing your mind is a woman's prerogative (so my wife has been telling me for the better part of 40 years) but couldja PLEASE make up your mind?


Sheesh.

Neither One Nor The Other

4/18/13

This is a tough time of year for Alaskans.

The winter just passed seems to be gone, but we're all aware that it can come roaring back in a heartbeat, dumping two or three feet of snow in a short time. I give you, as example, April 27th of 2008 - when we received 27 inches of snow in about 12 hours' time.

But in the meantime, the snow that's already here is receding. Sunny days and cold nights produce bare spots where the afternoon sun is strongest, and leaves the compacted snow two feet deep in shadier spots.

We look longingly at the sunshine outside, but are reminded each time we step outside that it only looks warm. The picture above was taken just a few moments ago, and the temp is 37 degrees. Any breezes bring windchills in the teens and 20s, and the ground is still cold and hard.

Once the frost thaws far enough down (it's some nine feet deep right now, much of which never melts - hence "permafrost") we'll see buds appearing at the tips of branches, and even some tiny shoots of grass will begin to appear.

But until then, we look at the calendar ... then outside ... and sigh.