white on white on white

monochromatic is one word for it…

Boo/Yay?

So despite my last posting, the pragmatist in me doesn’t really take much stock in how many more weeks of winter are left based on the prediction of the groundhog…

But to be honest, I did sigh a bit when I found out good ol’ Phil saw his shadow. Boo.

What I did not know though was the vast amount of other “official” groundhogs and their “official” readings.

Turns out the Midwest (or at least the local Midwest representative Woody Woodchuck from Michigan) predicted an early Spring. So, yay!

I guess I better get that flower order in, my spring renovation plans sketched out, and the new doors ordered, sooner than later after all!

That is… I mean… if you believe in that sort of thing.

http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/posted/archive/2008/02/02/groundhog-day-roundup.aspx

6 more weeks?

As I type this, I realize that I write a lot about the weather.  And my anger/joy that stems from it. 

Oh, well.

All I’m saying is that the little chubby woodland creature better known as “Phil” better NOT see his shadow in two days, because I really can’t stand any more of these sub-zero nights and days of dry snow.  (and yes, if you’ve never experienced it, snow can be dry.  Nosebleed inducing dry. Not that we’ve been having issues with that at our house or anything…) 

I mean, why in the world did the first settlers stop here?  Did their wagon wheels freeze in the mud, forcing them to stay here until spring, which caused them to forget about the cold until the next year?  Was the cold a nice change of pace from the balmier weather they had in Europe?  Were they gluttons for Puritan punishment? 

Enough said.

On a happier note, I was at the Nashville airport a half an hour longer than expected, so I got the chance to read the winter edition of O at Home.   Most times if I’m stuck at the airport, I go pick up a book- but the magazine had some cute home decorating ideas.  It also had some ideas that were a little stale- like how to decorate for the holidays- but that’s what I get for picking it up two months after it’s publication date I guess.

My favorite new idea to try? The faux transoms over a window.  I have the perfect spot in the kitchen, and I think it’ll help bring more light into the room.

I’m melting…MELTING…oh, what a world.

After a record amount of snow in the month of December*, by the looks of it, much of it will be gone come Christmas.  Puddles abound.  Heads routinely get dripped on.   The eaves of my house look like the inside of Gollum’s cave**.

 

Which has been leading to multiple reports on the news about ice damming and the havoc it can cause to your roof.  In a nutshell for the Southerners in the audience, when the snow melts on the roof and then refreezes at night, the expanding water forces the ice back up the roof under the shingles.  Which is very, very bad, for numerous reasons.  So, one more thing to worry about in this stress-free season, right?   

Yeah, there are roof shovels and gutter guards and all sorts of other preventative steps to keep this from happening…but either require installation in the autumn months, or are as rare in the stores nowadays as those pesky ice melt pellets.***

So far (fingers crossed) it hasn’t been an issue with us- and the snow is rapidly disappearing.  The roof is also brand spanking new- which I hope helps (please don’t burst my bubble if it doesn’t!), and it’s pretty clear of snow- the charcoal color shingle we have helps with that too…but you never know.

Maybe we’ll come home after the holidays to a caved-in roof…could we stay with you then?

*Milwaukee has gotten more snow than any other metro in the country!  Oh, c’mon…We have to have something to brag about other than beer, cheese and the Packers.

**Shout out to you LOTR fans out there  (cough, cough, Mom, cough, M)

***Seriously…three stores…no pellets…and me with my horrible sense of balance.  You do the math.

Batten down the hatches…

We’ve got a storm a’coming.

3-6 inches of snow tomorrow – high winds and average temps in the 20s….Brrrr.

That also means no excuses on getting the painting done!  Shoe sale?  Christmas shopping?  Won’t want to risk getting caught in the storm!  The only setback might be a really good movie on tv…

Alley, alley, pollution free…

Or trying to come close…

Our neighbor to the south, Chicago, is updating their alleys with “green” concrete.  The new paving surface has pores in it that allow rainwater to drip down to the dirt below.   Essentially, the water is filtered and adds to the water table- not to the lake as sewage.  Kinda cool, huh?

The article explaining it is in the New York Times here.  I hope it’s a success- and that Milwaukee starts following in its footsteps.  Milwaukee also has tons of alleys- especially in the little suburbs surrounding the city.  It would be cool if the little stretch behind my house was a benefit to the environment WHILE housing my trash/recycling bins…

Jack Frost nipping at my nose.

For the first time this season, you can feel winter coming. Its icy frozen jaws are about to clamp down…

Even though I complained, I’m glad I got my yard work done when I did- while it was still nice. Tuesday we’re suppose to have flurries. Flurries! Or, as I call it, Angel Spit.

Ok, so I don’t really call it that, but um, yeah, have I mentioned yet that I hate snow? Yeah, pretty much hate it- except at Christmastime- and only then if it’s the soft fluffy not-too-cold stuff.

I go through this every year- so I’m not sure why I complain every year. You’d think I would get use to it…

Anywhooo- while I’m off bundling up, enjoy these kinda artsy photos I took today- before the ice and snow sets in.

And oh, yeah, Stella’s bundling up too…