Thoughts on Winter

by Patricia Bradley

Did you realize this time next month Spring will be three days old?
Photo from Bing
I can't wait!! But until then I've made a resolution (I know, it's not the first of the year) to not gripe and grumble about the weather. After all, I live in Mississippi and don't have it nearly bad as others. Our low has only been 8, not -25 like Flint, Michigan, and it didn't last long. 

But I have the mulligrubs. For the past week, it's been below freezing with lots of precipitation. The solid kind. So, I've been ranting and raving at the weather like it will do any good.

Back to my resolution. The only way not to gripe and grumble is to try and find something good about what's going on weather-wise. Like, the mosquito population should be much smaller this summer since hopefully, they all froze to death. Same for ticks. But probably the best thing to focus on is the beauty of the frozen tundra. 

And, then my daughter posted this on Facebook:
And I was back to this:
from Facebook
So, how about you. How do you feel about this winter?

Comments

  1. You made me smile, Patricia, even as the temps slowly drop here in Baltimore! So, thank you! And here's hoping the week ahead will be warm and sunny!

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    1. My week is supposed to be sunny, but not warmer. Last night we dodged another bullet of ice and snow. YAYAYAY. But the average temp is about 32...which is still much better than a lot of places. Glad I made you smile.

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  2. LOL. I don't mind it. Two winters in Florida (which were lovely) made me homesick for winter. That being said, I really am ready for it to be over. It's three above here right now, and even though my office is warm, my typing fingers refuse to thaw! :-)

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    1. Liz, I don't know that I would ever be homesick for winter. lol. Although I have noticed I appreciate Spring much more. (Note the capitalized S)

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  3. This winter in Phoenix has been mild. I don’t know that we’ve even had a frost because all the ficus trees still look healthy. My son flew in from Alaska this week where they’ve had 40 degree temperatures. They should be getting the cold and snow that’s dropping into the east coast but warm temperatures from Hawaii have changed their usual weather patterns. I can’t imagine Mississippi suffering with 8 degrees. One of my classmates from high school died a few hours after shoveling snow this winter. I’m with you – can’t wait for Spring to finally get here and the world’s weather gets back to normal. Loved your pictures.

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    1. Thanks Marion. Phoenix, hmmm. Must give your city consideration if I ever decide to move.

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    2. You'll need to take our 110 degrees plus summers into account.

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    3. I lived in Scottsdale for years! Loved it but oooo those summers can be rough. However, can't wait to get a condo there in the future. I have so many good friends there!!!

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  4. Pat, I got my much needed morning laugh at your last photo. The ice pictures are beautiful, but I don't like cold, so I'm glad I'm not looking at them up close and personal. My kids left yesterday so I have a mountain of laundry. Much happier to do that when the sun is out to give my psyche a lift. Also it's hard for a few days after everyone goes home. So thanks for the blog that makes me appreciate where I live this winter. I hope your weather improves soon.

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    1. The ice is beautiful and I wish I could have captured the way the trees sparkle in sunlight...but I couldn't stay out there long enough to experiment. lol. So glad your kids got to come home! Mine will be here in April--the ones who live in Florida.

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  5. I live in NC now, but lived in NY all of my life before that, so although it's been colder than usual here I can't complain. I use it as an opportunity to snuggle up and read more books!! Now as for my bones and joints, well, that's another story. However, each season has its positives and negatives. I LOVE Spring, but my allergies make me miserable. I guess I'm just glad to be alive, whatever the season, and try to find ways to stay happy even when the odds are at times against me. Love the pictures and your post.

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    1. Thanks, Laurie. I love Spring even with the many tornadoes we have in Mississippi. Never have understood why we aren't included in Tornado Alley. And I used to have allergies, but now I take an Allegra every day.

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  6. OMG Patricia - you made me laugh so hard this morning! That snowman at the end is exactly how I feel! Winter needs to be over. We are trying to find somewhere to go for Spring Break, the kids desperately want some sunshine!

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    1. The Mississipp/Alabama Gulf Coast is a beautiful place to go on Spring Break! Gulf Shores is where I'd be if I didn't have to do a workshop in Memphis on villains...maybe I'll talk about winter.

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  7. Patricia, I hate to say this, but we are having crazy-nice weather here in the Northwest. I think spring might already be here. Daffodils are blooming and the swallows are back, We haven't even had enough snow in our mountains to make any decent ski-conditions. Skiing is usually what gets me through the winter. But I watch the news and feel so sorry for all my east coast, mid-west, and even southern friends! Hopefully, like you mentioned, spring is only a month away...

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    1. I absolutely love the Seattle/Washington area! Visited once and went to the Japanese Gardens. Beautiful.

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  8. Cannot complain. Our winter has been average temp of 70 degrees. Loved how you rid your aggression on the snowman!

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    1. You sound like my daughter, Melinda, giving me an update every day. lol. One day I may live somewhere the average temp is 70!

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  9. Patricia, you're hilarious! I love your 'last-act-of-Hamlet' snowman! Like Carol and Melinda, I'm also on the west coast - Astoria, Oregon. We haven't even had that much rain this year, much less snow. I bundled up for my walk this morning. It was 39 - colder than the 50s we've been having. The view of the river from my office is clear as gorgeous! Dock strike finally over and ships moving up and down. Still - can't wait to be able to have tea on the porch! Usually by April, my neighbor and I do it in our parkas just so we can! Hang in there all of you. Praying for sun for you. Patricia, is your daughter in Hawaii?

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    1. I can usually sit on my deck in April and work...not sure if that will happen this yearl lol
      Both of my daughters live in the West Palm Beach, Florida area. I wish they were in
      Hawaii--my bags would be packed!

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  10. Love, love, love this Patricia! My thoughts...come on Spring and warmer temps!

    mauback55 at gmail dot com

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    1. Yes!! Melanie. February is almost over...it can't be much longer.

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  11. As today is the coldest February 23rd on record here, I appreciate the reminder that spring is less than a month away!

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    1. See above, Kate. :-)
      Maybe this year spring will be all the sweeter.

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  12. Since I just returned from a visit to my daughter in Maryland, which was plenty cold as far as I'm concerned, I'm extremely grateful for the lovely Tucson temperatures. My lemon tree is blooming with the promise of a good crop around Christmas time, my ice plant is blooming, and my yard is full of budding weeds. Oh, well, there has to be at least one drawback to warm winter climates.

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    1. Lemon trees and ice plant blooming...we had 3 buttercups two weeks ago, but no more since all the ice. I had no idea it took so long to make a lemon, Patricia.

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  13. Okay, that snowman made me laugh out loud and I love the frozen bud pics! Gorgeous! We had a total of about 4 hrs of school all last week due to weather...nights of neg 20 wind chills. This morning it's a nice, warm, big, fat zero degrees. Sigh.

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  14. Guess I'll have to quit complaining, Rula! lol. Twenty-five days and it will be spring! Hold on to that.

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  15. Patricia! This is the best blog! I love the voodoo snowman. I am not banking on spring arriving by next month. Last year we had 4 feet of snow pack till mid April. This year there's 2 feet. The deer decimated all my shrubs. Thank goodness I did not replace them because they are back eating what little remains. I doubt I'll have any tulips or Casa Blanca lilies. I'm so depressed!! I'll force bulbs inside but in our pocket of overcast skies south of Lake Michigan, I need to install track lighting for them. I'm gathering new grilling recipes. This venture looks more promising than the flowers. I can grill in my parka if it doesn't warm up!

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  16. Catherine, I don't know how you stand it! It should be 66 here by Tuesday with thunderstorms. :-)

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