Well, here it is the 9th of April and all the left over snow piles have melted by last week. I am speaking of all that snow that was piled up on the edge of parking lots.
We have spring flowers just about ready to bloom which certainly confirms warmer days ahead. I belong to Michiana Bike Association and attended their Potluck carry in at the Kickoff ride last Sunday afternoon. It was my first time back on my bike since February, while visiting Mark and Diane on Maiu, HI. Since then I have had a bit of a set-back. After some eye surgery it was no activity for four weeks, that included biking or driving. Needless to say my bike ride before the potluck at Kickoff lasted less then 10 miles. Each year it takes me getting on several times during the week and extending the distance to regain the conditioning I need to ride 30 miles. I have a goal this year to do 40 miles before colder weather in the fall. Like any sport, you have to work at it to get better. On a travel note, Barb and I are attending a Road Scholar event at St. Simon Island off the Georgia coast this spring. We plan on exploring Savannah before ,so will really have some warmer spring weather in the southeast to enjoy on our trip. I think I will pack shorts and some polo shirts and maybe a few Ahola shirts from Maui. I will try to include a few photos on my next Blog post. That WILL be a sight.
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Thursday, March 20, 2014
GOOD NEWS, THE FIRST DAY OF SPRING MARCH 20,2014
After all the snow, and snow, and snow and cold this winter we have finally reached a point on the first day of spring that we can see the bare ground in a lot of places. The snow is still a several inches thick on the north side of hills and where snow plows pushed snow higher along the roads and drive ways.
Cobus Creek is along the property in back and we watch the water rise as the snow melts. So far this year the daytime temps are in 40s and 50s which allows snow to melt slowly, reducing the chance for high water flooding.
We have bird feeders near our back patio and have fed every bird in the neighborhood during the cold, snowy winter. I had taken down the Blue Bird feeder in the fall, thinking the Blue Birds were leaving. That was not the case. We had about six that were eating suet so I put the feeder back up. It looks like a feeder that has a inverted V shaped roof with on side hinged, except it has a hole on each end for the Blue Birds to come into the feeder. In the center inside is a cup which I put dried Mealworms. You can buy them in a bag. The Blue Birds like them and they are dried protein for them. I have several Blue Bird houses throughout the property and we have had several occupied during the spring.
I do have to watch out for Sparrows wanting to claim the houses before the Blue Birds nest. You can tell the difference between how they build the nest. The Blue Birds have fine nesting material, the sparrow, catch as catch can.I did my walk around the property and saw the spring flowers pushing through the leaf cover along the creek. This time next month will see more green grass and buds on trees getting ready to leaf out.
After all the snow, and snow, and snow and cold this winter we have finally reached a point on the first day of spring that we can see the bare ground in a lot of places. The snow is still a several inches thick on the north side of hills and where snow plows pushed snow higher along the roads and drive ways.
Cobus Creek is along the property in back and we watch the water rise as the snow melts. So far this year the daytime temps are in 40s and 50s which allows snow to melt slowly, reducing the chance for high water flooding.
We have bird feeders near our back patio and have fed every bird in the neighborhood during the cold, snowy winter. I had taken down the Blue Bird feeder in the fall, thinking the Blue Birds were leaving. That was not the case. We had about six that were eating suet so I put the feeder back up. It looks like a feeder that has a inverted V shaped roof with on side hinged, except it has a hole on each end for the Blue Birds to come into the feeder. In the center inside is a cup which I put dried Mealworms. You can buy them in a bag. The Blue Birds like them and they are dried protein for them. I have several Blue Bird houses throughout the property and we have had several occupied during the spring.
I do have to watch out for Sparrows wanting to claim the houses before the Blue Birds nest. You can tell the difference between how they build the nest. The Blue Birds have fine nesting material, the sparrow, catch as catch can.I did my walk around the property and saw the spring flowers pushing through the leaf cover along the creek. This time next month will see more green grass and buds on trees getting ready to leaf out.
Monday, February 24, 2014
Awaiting Spring (with winter holding on)
Barb and I had a very enjoyable time on our trip to Maui, Hawaii visiting my son Mark, daughter in law, Diane and their family. Their
grandchildren, Owen, Madison, and Damen are entertaining to watch and play with.
We attend a First Friday Food and Funfest and the Whale Watch day at Kehei while there. We hated to leave and come back to the snow and cold.
Today, February 24th, we have a forecast of low 20s during the day and single digits this evening. That big Polar Vortex they talk about on the weather channel certainly has effected our weather. I am patiently awaiting the arrival of spring and a lot of snow melt and yard cleanup. The winds and snow have a way of loosening every weak branch on the Sycamore trees and each spring I spend several days pulling my small trailer behind the John Deere lawn tractor picking up the leaving from winters snows and wind. I do push myself to bend, squat and swivel myself around, to pick up this and that such as blew in or dropped during the winter. Each time going around cleaning up seems to get a little easier as I work out the kinks developed by having my legs up in the recliner during the winter.
Age milepost has begun this month with my oldest son, Craig having his 50th birthday celebration. Barb's daughter Shannon will celebrate next year. Wow,
how the years go by. Even though Barb and I have done a lot of traveling and are still quite active, we have to admit we are not spring chickens.
We are looking forward to a Road Scholar event the this spring island hopping off the coast of Georgia. Road Scholar is the new name for Elderhostel.
r
Barb and I had a very enjoyable time on our trip to Maui, Hawaii visiting my son Mark, daughter in law, Diane and their family. Their
grandchildren, Owen, Madison, and Damen are entertaining to watch and play with.
We attend a First Friday Food and Funfest and the Whale Watch day at Kehei while there. We hated to leave and come back to the snow and cold.
Today, February 24th, we have a forecast of low 20s during the day and single digits this evening. That big Polar Vortex they talk about on the weather channel certainly has effected our weather. I am patiently awaiting the arrival of spring and a lot of snow melt and yard cleanup. The winds and snow have a way of loosening every weak branch on the Sycamore trees and each spring I spend several days pulling my small trailer behind the John Deere lawn tractor picking up the leaving from winters snows and wind. I do push myself to bend, squat and swivel myself around, to pick up this and that such as blew in or dropped during the winter. Each time going around cleaning up seems to get a little easier as I work out the kinks developed by having my legs up in the recliner during the winter.
Age milepost has begun this month with my oldest son, Craig having his 50th birthday celebration. Barb's daughter Shannon will celebrate next year. Wow,
how the years go by. Even though Barb and I have done a lot of traveling and are still quite active, we have to admit we are not spring chickens.
We are looking forward to a Road Scholar event the this spring island hopping off the coast of Georgia. Road Scholar is the new name for Elderhostel.
r
Monday, February 3, 2014
WHAT A WINTER (and it not over yet)
Here it is, the 3rd of February in northern Indiana. We have had a record snow fall this year. Right now the snow is taller than the mail box along the street and it is knee deep along the driveway. I will say I have had my winter exercise this year, either pushing the snow off the drive and walk or using my Cub Cadet single stage snow thrower. The Cub Cadet really throws the snow over 25 feet which helped with keeping it from building up along the drive and walkways.
Barb and I will be visiting my son Mark and his family soon. They live on Maui, Hi. Oh, Yes, I will miss dealing with the snow and cold....I forgot to tell you part of our challenge this winter was -18 below zero temps. along with the accumulation of snow.
We got to see a many different birds feeding and of course the squirrels wanting to take over the feeders. I have a pellet rifle and put just enough pressure on it to sting them when they get greedy. That is a show in itself, them seeing me opening the door and trying to scat off the feeder before they get their behind burnt.
Here it is, the 3rd of February in northern Indiana. We have had a record snow fall this year. Right now the snow is taller than the mail box along the street and it is knee deep along the driveway. I will say I have had my winter exercise this year, either pushing the snow off the drive and walk or using my Cub Cadet single stage snow thrower. The Cub Cadet really throws the snow over 25 feet which helped with keeping it from building up along the drive and walkways.
Barb and I will be visiting my son Mark and his family soon. They live on Maui, Hi. Oh, Yes, I will miss dealing with the snow and cold....I forgot to tell you part of our challenge this winter was -18 below zero temps. along with the accumulation of snow.
We got to see a many different birds feeding and of course the squirrels wanting to take over the feeders. I have a pellet rifle and put just enough pressure on it to sting them when they get greedy. That is a show in itself, them seeing me opening the door and trying to scat off the feeder before they get their behind burnt.
Thursday, January 9, 2014
January 9, 2014
Eldon and I had good holidays. The first of December we visited Janice and Ron, Duane and Dawna in Florida. We had a good time there with both and even spent part of a day at Epcot. Dawna showed us the day care where she works.
On December 21st we joined a local travel group for a progressive dinner held at three historic bed and breakfast inn. They were all decorated for Christmas and were beautiful. We were allowed to tour before our meal. The appetizer was held at Tippicanoe Place, then we walked next door for our salad and main course. We had three pork roast medallions, with rosemary potatoes and green beans, and yeast rolls. There were some excellent cooks there! We then went down the street for our tea, coffee and fabulous desserts. Everything was wonderfully decorated and very well done.
We had Shannon, Rick and Anthony for an early Christmas dinner. We even had a tree this year.
Then on December 26th we drove to TX for time with Craig, Wendy and grand-daughters. It was cool there, but the time spent was good. We were delayed on the way back due to the weather. We decided to spend an extra night in Marion, Il, which was not as far as we had planned to drive, but the weather was telling us we should stop. A good thing we did! When we left we have not ever seen so many overturned semi trucks and cars off the road. At some places we were completely at a standstill
While wreckers were pulling up the semis to tow. What a mess!! I just hope no one was seriously
Hurt. It took us much longer to get home, but safely. We did not expect to come back to so much snow, but what can we expect for northern Indiana.
Now the laundry is done, groceries are put away and we are back to our daily routine.
Eldon and I had good holidays. The first of December we visited Janice and Ron, Duane and Dawna in Florida. We had a good time there with both and even spent part of a day at Epcot. Dawna showed us the day care where she works.
On December 21st we joined a local travel group for a progressive dinner held at three historic bed and breakfast inn. They were all decorated for Christmas and were beautiful. We were allowed to tour before our meal. The appetizer was held at Tippicanoe Place, then we walked next door for our salad and main course. We had three pork roast medallions, with rosemary potatoes and green beans, and yeast rolls. There were some excellent cooks there! We then went down the street for our tea, coffee and fabulous desserts. Everything was wonderfully decorated and very well done.
We had Shannon, Rick and Anthony for an early Christmas dinner. We even had a tree this year.
Then on December 26th we drove to TX for time with Craig, Wendy and grand-daughters. It was cool there, but the time spent was good. We were delayed on the way back due to the weather. We decided to spend an extra night in Marion, Il, which was not as far as we had planned to drive, but the weather was telling us we should stop. A good thing we did! When we left we have not ever seen so many overturned semi trucks and cars off the road. At some places we were completely at a standstill
While wreckers were pulling up the semis to tow. What a mess!! I just hope no one was seriously
Hurt. It took us much longer to get home, but safely. We did not expect to come back to so much snow, but what can we expect for northern Indiana.
Now the laundry is done, groceries are put away and we are back to our daily routine.
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