Is it Over?

It seems so during the day but nighttime is a different matter. The deep freeze that held our Northern Shenandoah Valley in its icy grip seems to be gone except at night.

Daytime temperatures have been rising steadily above freezing pushing onto two weeks now. Today is to be in the 50^’s. Night times drop into freezing.

Still, there are piles of snow in parking lots, around houses and the most interesting part to me, the ponds are still covered in ice!

Wednesday’s rain turned into Thursday morning ice sheet, while back in the mid 50’s and 60’s today.

The deep freeze hit us the last week of January. Our pond has had ice on it from then up to today. It has looked like one giant white ice cube for a month. And the astonishing part is the past two weeks have been above freezing during the day.

I cannot recall the last time we had such extended cold weather. Usually it lasts only several days, surely not weeks.

It appears all over with now. Daffodils are making their appearance, our Red-Winged Blackbird is home singing his happy song, and the horses are shedding some of their full winter coats.

Hurray for Spring!

HoneyPie slid all over after her frisbee. Please don’t strain a muscle.
I walked on top of the snow for two weeks, not breaking through.
Ice fishing!
Our frozen white ice cube pond.
Only footprints were made on top of snow.
Know what this is? Ice!
Over two weeks later. Middle of February, pond still covered in ice, snow in the woods.
February 21st, pond still covered in ice. See what Buster found in the thin ice?
A bobber!

These last two photos are from today which reached into the 60’s, and still ice! Cannot recall last time I saw this ice for so long.

Our pond this morning.
Our neighbors pond.
Soon it will all be gone!

Yesterday found our pond free of ice, not so with our neighbors.

Still in an icy grip.

BTW, snow flurries are blowing all around right now.

Thursday Thoughts #181

Do young expecting Mommy’s receive crocheted baby blankets anymore at their baby showers?

I recently attended a baby shower for a first time Mother-to-be. It was a big, beautiful celebration with more baby things than I had ever seen, except one thing.

The one thing not given? A crocheted baby blanket. Not even one! I do believe this is a first for me. Our daughter received 6 handmade baby blankets two years ago at her shower.

This can’t be, I thought to myself.

So I made this one for that new, sweet baby.

The mommy was tickled to have a snuggly blanket for her baby boy.

Crocheted baby blankets are so simple a 6 year old could make one. Have you ever made any? Is it now a thing of the past?

Five Minute Friday Writing Prompt—Cold

Timer on…

Great word for this weeks writing prompt. Cold. Frigid temperatures have hovered all week over our Northern Shenandoah Valley.

Single digits sting our cheeks in the morning while feeding the livestock. Highs hardly reach into the mid 20’s.

Little wonder ‘cold’ is used to describe our hard hearts. A cold heart bites and stings just like cold temperatures. But unlike the weather, God in his grace and mercy can melt our cold hearts. We have only to ask Him, believe He will and follow His guidance.

For just as warm temperatures slowly drive out the cold, so too our cold hearts will warm with God’s love and mercy. We but need listen and heed His voice.

How badly do you want your cold heart changed and warmed by God?

Come now let us reason together,” says The Lord. Isaiah 1:18

Timer off…

Are You Ready for It? When is It Coming?

These questions wafted around the grocery store yesterday as I was filling my list. Folk on phones or talking among themselves wondered out-loud.

“It’s winter. What do you expect?” Our old neighbor would say. Very little frazzled that wonderful old woman. She lived through lots of winters.

It is snow. Apparently a BIG snow. Radio stations and news headlines blasting warnings and predictions of freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall for much of the East and South.

I do not mind weather forecasts. They help keep us informed of possible inclement weather. ‘Be Prepared’ is a good motto to live by (Thank You, Boy Scouts).

However, I do object to trying to be made fearful or worse, panic. Weather forecasts for small or large farmers is important and more often than not dictate our days work. So when the sky looks threatening and storms are in the forecast we do pay attention. We prepare. We will not worry. It is wintertime.

Plenty of hay and straw on hand.
We squeezed the tractor inside. Giving us one less machine to clear of snow.
Plow attached and ready (a little hard to see).
Full bags of horse, cattle and chicken feed.
The woodpile will stay dry!
Extra bedding on outside of barn warms the barn and provides bedding for cattle. When horses are stalled on bitter nights the cattle will bed down here.
Dukes frosty whiskers! A portent of what’s to come?
Rejoice! Spring will come!