Yes typical indeed. Just when we begin to marvel at the absolutely glorious sunrises (they were exquisite last week - especially when flocks of rooks chose to fly right across the deepest red part), just when folk began to say,"at last the dawn is coming that bit earlier and did you notice it was still light at half past five last night?" February chooses to remind us that Winter is not yet past. It obeys the Weather Forecasters on the TV - they said the snow would begin here in the foothills of the Pennines at around 8am yesterday - they were two minutes out. 8.02am light snow began to fall. By tea time the darkness had set in and it was turning to sleet. But February had the last laugh - the temperature went down a tad (minus 0.5 degrees C according to my carer's phone), what had been sleet turned to 1p sized snow flakes and when I went to bed there was about four or five inches of the stuff (sorry in an emergency metrics go out of the window quicker than a gnat's fart as a dear member of staff in my teaching days used to say - a male member I hasten to add as it is certainly not ladylike language).
My milkman delivers my Friday milk at 5am. He walks across my front lawn and I haven't the heart to tell him to use the drive at that time in the morning. When I unlocked the front door and looked out at about a quarter to seven his footprints were melting nicely. And now - at 1.48pm according to this dear laptop - the cars have swished the slush off the road and into the gutters and there is green grass where his feet trod.
Apparently there were photographs abounding on Facebook of abandoned cars littered across the roads through Wensleydale (we are a mile or so outside the National Park and just in the 'foothills' of the Pennines so not so bad here).
Neither of my morning carers for today could get here on time. W had to go right into the Pennines for an hour before 7am (and managed it as much of the worst of it had melted overnight) and J couldn't get the car out of the garage.
So a rather different (and rather nice ) morning. I always get my own breakfast (porridge this morning - Flahavan's Organic Jumbo Oats) with the obligatory prunes, banana, grapes and orange juice. Two cups of tea. Times spot on cue at 8am, Mind Games until 9.30 and then half an hour of TV News on 231. A message from both carers. W to say she would call in on passing = she lives nearby = to bring in the milk and see if I was OK (I was) and one from J to say she would be round shortly. So here I am - showered, dressed, sprayed with Elizabeth Arden Toilet Water, de-whiskered (a secret from the Boudoir - everything might slow down when one is on 'End of Life Care' but whiskers just have not got the message yet).
My Son is bringing my Grandson, over from Shanghai, later - that means a nice chat and I am so looking forward to it.
Hope you are all coping with the weather here in the UK - it is set to get better over the next few days.
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39 comments:
Though you told your story well and with humor I think the return of snow,,
cold and hail was to most a disappoint.You seem in good humor despite the
circumstances.You please and impress me continuously,Mary
February brings big swings in the weather. Mild to warm and then snow can be expected in the US as well. Enjoy your visit with your grandson. I bet he has many fascinating stories to share.
Good morning dear Pat. Your comment about your favorite scent reminded me that for several years I kept the open bottle of my Mother's favorite scent found on her bedroom dresser. Your description of your morning made me feel I was right there with you. Having visited your beautiful area in 2016 it took me back. I must find my photos of the beautiful place you call home! Jackie
By now I am sure you have enjoyed (or are still enjoying) your grandson's visit to the full - with him living in Shanghai, I guess he does not get to see his family in the UK all that often.
No snow here at the moment; we've been having mild days, wet and windy, but we all know that this can change very quickly - it's still only February, and it is not unknown in this area to have snowfall as late as April or even (as I remember from Librarian School days in the late 1980s) in May, although that would be very out of the ordinary.
Well the snow here was completely disappointing. Sleet all yesterday, and then an hour or so of snow, which disappeared overnight. I think the problem of cars stuck in the snow was on higher ground. I sent off for some seeds, tomatoes and courgettes, and a packet of half dozen different varieties of nasturtium. Their brightness through the summer always cheers me up.
Still not a snowflake here this winter however like you, beautiful sunrises getting a little earlier each day, 7.07 am this morning.
Crazy days here so good weather required - new roof going on the house next week, a huge job! Sat. morning wood repairs following a pair of woodpeckers drilling for several days on the side of the house and leaving two quite large holes. Plumber here early today to give us assistance with shower leaks only find we couldn't turn off the main water line! City came out to check and apparently "somewhere" in the line there is a valve problem - Oh no, that sounds like another enormous "search and ye shall find" job!!!! Old house + old non-handy residents = deep pockets and $$$$$$$ required!
Glad you were still able to have your carers stop by despite the snowfall, and hope your grandson shared wonderful stories this afternoon. It's so important to have people care for and about us as we age.
Sending love from quite mild North Carolina - Mary.
Snow came and went here too..unless you were over 600 foot above sea level (we are just over 400)
Glad that you weren't snowed in and visitorless today.
We use the same oats as you..they are the best!
I am glad to say that it didn't snow here but we did have very heavy rain this morning which caused some flooding. I had to drive through the worst of the rain and floods which was a bit hairy. Fortunately it had stopped by the afternoon and I drove safety home. The university celebrated Chinese New Year by serving Chinese food in one of the dining rooms.
gz We are 600ft ASL so that is why we got it.
Thelma - so many of my friends like nasturtiums - I never seem to have any luck with them at all.
Hope you had an ever so lovely visit with your grandson.
Wishing you fair weather with gorgeous sunrises and sunsets.
We seldom get snow down here in South Gloucestershire for which many are thankful. However, I have never fully grown up and still find a snowfall rather magical. Frozen slush is not so appealing but has to be endured sometimes.
It sounds as if you are very cosy and contented, and if carers were later than usual, normal service was resumed as soon as possible.
You must be looking forward to your grandson's visit with great anticipation. Hope his travel arrangements will not be interrupted.
By now you have had your visit with your grandson and are tucked up snugly in your bed, happily exhausted and dreaming about spring.
We spent the day working outside. It felt like spring and we could not believe we were working without our coats. A cold snap is on the way, though. February is a tease.
Sounds like a good day for you---snow, but melting quickly, a good breakfast, usual mind games and news and a visit with your nephew. What more could you ask for? Our weather here has been exceptionally warm for the last 10 days and today got up to 63F (very warm for February). I have managed over yesterday and today to dig up and replant an oak seedling (with help of course) and weed about two-thirds of the herb garden. Hope to finish that tomorrow---it will be cloudy and colder but real cold ----daytime low 40's and 30's and dipping down into the 20's several nights coming up next week. Well, it is February after all and as others have said the days are getting longer which is so encouraging.
Surely your sleeping soundly and dreaming of your wonderful son and charming grandson with a smile on your face!
Happy Saturday! The high temperature here will be 19*C with rain likely.
Hugs!
I envy your snow Weave. Am I perverse?
And after a week of spring we are set for winter again next week.
I would prefer snow to the rain we have had for weeks now, with one or two sunny days between. Snow makes everything looking clean and bright. Now it´s all brown and grey again, with lots of rubbish along the roads, but in our village, too.
It is the time of the carnival parades here right now, so we all hope for some dry days. I don´t care for the big ones in Cologne or the other big cities, but in the small villages some people work all year on their costumes or their carnival floats, and and they should not have to trudge through the rain. At least, the temperatures are about 10°C, so there is no reason to be envious for ice bear or viking costumes!
Quite sunny down here yesterday which pleased my wife as she had washed the sheets. I don't think we're getting any snow.
Just catching up with your blogs, my, you lead a busy life in spite of what you say. Hope you had a great visit with your grandson. Down here in Cornwall we just had rain and not quite as much as predicted. Lovely and sunny start to day with a clear sky and I have lots of purple crocus flowers in the lawn - more in fact than in the flower beds, I find the birds peck the yellow ones but not the purple.
Here in Toronto we had an 86 year high temperature for yesterday, it reached 15.7 C Also it was sunny, no wind, just beautiful. So sorry you got the snow that we usually get, but you can have it. Looks like today will be nice too then temperature is to drop. We have only had a couple of inches of snow all winter at my house but winter usually lasts well into March here. Hope you had a nice visit with your grandson. Mine just came back from a month in Thailand so I look forward to a visit from him. Gigi
We didn't get any of the threatened snow, well we had very heavy rains that left everywhere sodden so when an hours snow fell drearily down it melted immediately on impact. Pretty watching it fall, sad watching it all come to nothing.
I hope you had a lovely visit with your son and Grandson, I bet you had lots to catch up on and chat about. Happy weekend. xx
Absolutely perfect day here today with not even a hint of a breeze - sunny and soft, without a fierce sun washing all the colour out of the day.
I like to hear of you enjoying visits from friends, family and carers, and what the weather is doing in your part of the world.
We have snow-like conditions in Sth Australia extremely rarely, and if the ground is covered in white, it is hail remnants and people pat together muddied rock-hard little snowballs with great difficulty, but with a great deal of enthusiasm and pride, wondering when it will happen again. You have to be quick to gather the snow/hail ball before it melts!
Snow happens each season in Victoria and New South Wales and not much snow-depth in Tasmania. Skiing is only two months of the year if we're lucky. It is not unusual to have to make snow to keep the ski-lifts operating - a very expensive exercise.- Pam.
No snow here and my one last old snow pile melted away yesterday. It is supposed to get chilly again tho, so no Spring quite yet.
Hope you enjoyed your visit with your grandson.
Happy Chinese New Year!
Tsk !Gnats don't fart....well not in Australia anyway !. Enjoyed your post !
We didn't get any snow this time. It only settled on the high fells. X
Ralentanda - my son read it and reminded me it wasn't fart my fr
iend used to say - the expression apparently is "a gnat's dick" - declined to change it.
Tom - Very perverse but then that is part of your charm.
Thanks to you all.
It's unusually sunny and warm in my part of Ontario. I'm heading out for a walk shortly. I even put sun block on my face (as a precaution) which felt a little bizarre as I was doing it.
What I remember the most about living in North Yorkshire in the late 1980s
Was how cold it was compared to home in the winter
Thnks for responding.
Your December 30 2013 post titled Beggars was so touching to read Pat.
I glanced through your archives and that title captured my attention.
You might enjoy the memories it would bring back to you if you choose to read it.My mother also taught us by example to treat those in need as well as we could afford to .
Hoping to hear from you soon,Mary
I do enjoy your postings ...make me chuckle all day ! 💐🌞💗
It's heartwarming to hear about the kindness of your milkman and the thoughtful gestures of your morning carers, even amidst the challenges of snowy conditions. And your cozy morning routine, complete with porridge and a warm cup of tea, sounds like the perfect way to start the day.
Check out my new post!
Hope you've had a wonderful time visiting with your son and this grandson who lives so far away and are feeling good, well loved, and well cared for.
I know I'm not the only one looking forward to your next post, my friend!
Hugs!
Several weeks off and on of rain and snow but now it is spring everything is growing, birds everywhere and lots of quail bun buns and Javelinas.
Thinking of you, dear lady and wishing you well. (((((((Hugs)))))))
Dear Pat, hoping you are feeling well and looking forward to your post
A big hug,
Ombretta (littleshadow from Italy)
Today near Milan it's a lovely and sunshine (16 gradi) and we are celebrating the Carnival
Hope you are doing o.k. Pat.
42 degrees C in parts of the state today (107 degrees F). - Pam, Sth Aust.
...Perth, Western Australia is forecast for 43 degrees C tomorrow. -P.
Thinking of you
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