Category Archives: Weather

Where Did Winter Go?

Posted on February 28, 2013 by AnnieRie

I must admit, typing this, that I may jinx us, and we will get a March snowstorm. But, that would be really interesting as we haven’t had one of those for quite a while. Today temps in the fifties lured me out to mix potting soil and top soil into a container to start my spring greens.

I buy a simple tray, punch some holes in the bottom. I put this tray in one of those fruit boxes from a visit to Costco, the box wrapped in plastic, and with some newspaper between it and the tray, to absorb excess water. I mix potting soil and top soil. Made three rows of indentations. One I filled with mesclun mix, one with arugula, and one with Tuscan kale. I am trying kale for the first time this year.

I will see how they do in the east window of the kitchen, and if they need more sun, I will take them up to that large south facing window in our bedroom. The largest and brightest winter spot in our house. Strange place for plantings, but it does work well. Last year I got great results with the mesclun.

As for other spring planting plans, I saw that Tractor Supply has a greenhouse for sale. A small one, build it yourself. Just enough for a few trays of plants. We may check it out and that is where I will start some of the herbs, and where I will harden the heirloom tomatoes. I have my plans in my head, now if it really is getting to be spring, the planting will begin.

Really, I don’t think we got much of a winter. A little cold. Really rainy. Snow that disappeared in a day. Not bad.

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Dishes and Laundry

Posted on February 18, 2013 by AnnieRie

Sometimes I think it’s all I ever do. They told us in financial planning courses that we would be spending more time in our cars and more time traveling and eating out after we retired. Funny, that isn’t what we are doing. I swear I spend way more time with the laundry and the dishwasher.

Why? Eating in the house way more than we did when we worked. Cooking from scratch.

All those freezer containers. And, breakfast and lunch all week in the house. We may eat out a few times a week now, but those 10 extra meals, plus all the cooking, means more dishes to wash. I really hadn’t thought of that. Add to that, the laundry. We live in Tee shirts, jeans, shorts and sweaters. No more dry cleaning or taking shirts to the laundry. We are wearing things that we throw in the washer and dryer.

In the summer, those sweaty items after gardening, or yard work. In the fall, after leaf raking. No more fancy work clothes taken to the cleaners to be done. I wonder if we need to have the septic tanks cleaned more often than we used to, now that we are home most days.

Retirement is definitely changing what we do, and when. For example, today I started to run a few errands. Including my emissions test. Until I realized it was a holiday and they weren’t open. So, I bagged the trip to Costco, Trader Joe’s and the emissions station until later this week. When the working people went back to their jobs and left the stores relatively crowd free.

After almost three years, I really feel retired. Doing what we want when we want. Not constrained to the weekends. Besides doing errands, I need to use that last red envelope at Iron Bridge. Maybe lunch sometime this week. Beating those dinner crowds.

Ah, retirement. Loving it. Glad we decided to do it. It’s way more fun counting juncos for the bird count, than commuting in snow or ice.

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Posted in Birds, Retirement, Weather and tagged birds, nature, retirement, weather. Bookmark the permalink.

Tulips in January?

Posted on February 1, 2013 by AnnieRie

What is it with the weather here in Howard County? Yesterday my husband told me the tulips were coming up in the front yard.

Yeah, those little leaves poking up in front of the mums I cut back to the ground. Those same tulips that bloomed in March last year.

Those same tulips that bloomed in late April 2009. I wonder when they will bloom this year as they are really early.

2009 April tulips

This week has been one crazy roller coaster ride, with snow, ice, rain, tornado watches, thunderstorms, floods, and super high winds. All we need are plagues of locusts. As for the 2.5 inches of rain in a 24 hour period earlier this week, the stormwater management on the property did what it was supposed to do.

All of the water from our shared driveway and my neighbor’s field came down to the depression that allows it to run into our yard and around the back of the house.

From there,

it heads off past my herb garden on its way to the vegetable garden. That area is the final destination for most of the water, where it will perk back into the ground water and become part of the water table. So far, knock on wood, we have never had to redrill the well even during our worst droughts. Of course, our well is about 500 feet deep, but we are lucky to be in a good location.

Now, if it ever stops raining, I need to finish the garden clean up. I got all the cages and tomato plants out. I just need to clear out those morning glory vines from the fence, and pull up the black fabric barrier. This shaded garden is going to be the new home for many shade tolerant herbs, and I am going to experiment with some cooler weather varieties of plants. Just for the heck of it, I will be putting in pumpkin seeds in one section.

Just cross our fingers the weather doesn’t get nasty for Super Bowl Sunday. We all remember the blizzards of 2010 that weekend, don’t we? Not going to many parties in Howard County when most roads looked like this or worse and it took a week to clear out all the snow from back to back storms.

February 6, 2010

We had 25 inches of snow that Saturday. The equivalent amount of snow that 2.5 inches of rain could have been this year if the temperatures had been lower.

I think I am happier with all the rain. The 2010 blizzard was a real pain to shovel.

hocoblogs@@@

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Posted in Gardening, Howard County, Nature, Weather, West HoCo and tagged gardening, hobbies, hoco loco, Howard County, nature, photography, spring flowers, weather, West HoCo. Bookmark the permalink.

A Perfect Place for a Winter Hike

Posted on January 29, 2013 by AnnieRie

We went hiking today. In perfect weather. We were shedding vests and jackets and loving the temperatures that climbed into the 60s this afternoon. All the snow has melted. Except for a few places where the sun doesn’t touch. Out at the Howard County Conservancy, our last winter hike took place this morning.

The strollers got to find the first skunk cabbage up near the East Branch on the Conservancy grounds. Also found a few last milkweed pods. And listened to the woodpeckers up in the trees.

The other “fitness hikers” took off behind Ann, their leader to find the champion tulip poplar on the property. There is a geocache located there for those into discovery using the GPS units.

We watched them coming down the hills on their way back to the Conservancy.

The birds were out in force today, flitting from trees to bushes. I startled half a dozen bluebirds, some Carolina wrens, lots of sparrows, a few woodpeckers and nuthatches. We heard the pileated woodpeckers but couldn’t find them. They were hiding, not coming to visit like they did for me last November.

After our hike, we went to hear Ned Tillman talk about the geology of Mt. Pleasant, and then enjoyed soup and salad for lunch. Lunch provided by one of the supporters of the Conservancy, REI. The Conservancy knows how to keep their volunteers happy. Let us roam around outdoors, come in for some enriching lectures and feed us well.

Here’s to more time spent enjoying the scenery.

hocoblogs@@@

My Love-Hate Relationship with Snow

Posted on January 24, 2013 by AnnieRie

It is considerably colder outside today than it has been in quite a while. And, on top of all else, it has snowed about an inch. It’s about the same as it was the day after Christmas.

Just a dusting. Enough to delay the schools so the buses can safely navigate after they treat the roadways. I hate the dustings of snow in really cold weather, when the sun comes out. It doesn’t go away and it becomes black ice, treacherous to walk and drive on.

Since I don’t have to get up at oh dark thirty anymore (the proper military shorthand, and not that stupid movie title), it doesn’t bother me much when it snows. Usually it melts before you have to deal with it. Today, though, it is bitter cold. I can look at this as a good thing, as finally some of these nasty flu and cold germs will hopefully die. When it doesn’t get cold enough, the colds and flu bugs linger on.

Additionally, the nasty little bugs that thrive in our bushes and trees will vanish as well. Good things for my plants, and our friends’ vineyards.

I just wish I didn’t have to clean off the car to go out later. Yes, we have a garage. It is the home of the snow thrower, and the tractor. The shed has the materials for the radio tower in it. Bolts, masts, coax cable. Tower base. All those things in the place the tractor belongs.

As for the snow thrower, it has to occupy one space for the winter. You don’t want to be digging your way to the shed when this happens.

our welcome in winter

As I said, the snow is just a nuisance for a little while around here. Today it is sunny and lovely to see it sparkling. I do hope we don’t get more tomorrow though. I have things I want to get done.

Tonight we will make a cozy dinner, and try out a new grain for risotto. I will see how it goes and post about another notch in that 60@60 challenge.

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Posted in Howard County, Nature, Sixty@Sixty, Weather and tagged amateur radio, commentary, crock pot cooking, Howard County, nature, snow, weather. Bookmark the permalink.

Rearranging the Habitat

Posted on January 14, 2013 by AnnieRie

And driving the birds nuts. They don’t like change. They were not happy when everything came down while they did crown cleaning of our maple tree. When I put it all back up, I had moved things around.

I got a new witches hat at Mother Nature’s the other day. Plus, I wanted to protect the suet better. And, I found a new nugget and peanut feeder to replace my gnarly looking old one. Birds don’t like change, as I said. The downy woodpeckers had to take time to figure out how to get onto this new one.

This young downy launched herself at least a half dozen times before figuring it out. She did finally get there. Don’t worry. It isn’t a girl thing. Her brother had just as much trouble. These are two new young woodpeckers that live in my yard somewhere. With their parents. I watched all four of them this summer. Mama very protective while the younguns were learning. Mom and Dad are not afraid of me. The younguns still are.

See, she did figure it out. Besides her, the young newest generation of red bellied woodpeckers took no time to get back here and find his favorite feeders. Even though they all moved around.

He’s up in the tree here, but came down to the suet and to the sunflower/safflower/peanut mix in my left most feeder. He nails that feeder every morning now. He is also still very shy, and flies away immediately when I come out.

As for the blue jays, they are loving the peanuts. And, they have figured out how to hang on the side of the feeder with the spring loaded closing mechanism. Smart birds.

We have at least six blue jays. They are always chasing the hawks, and they definitely know the sound of the top of the feeder closing. The “jay jay” call goes out immediately after I finish filling feeders and flinging peanuts in the shell.

As for smart birds, we now have three crows here. They love me, as I do the peanuts. I can now take their picture. They will fly away the instant my husband appears in the window. He has to start feeding them and make them happy to see him. Besides, they look almost like Ravens, don’t they?

The crows are our alarm clock in the morning. As are the squirrels who think it is cool to jump from our cherry tree onto our roof and run across it early in the morning. Living in a Cape Cod, our roof line does run right across us on my side of the bed. It sounds like an army when they chase each other across there. They love the new location of the corn feeders. They can munch right from the tree. No sweat. No real acrobatics.

I don’t need to pay for entertainment out here in west county. It is right outside my kitchen window.

hocoblogs@@@

Get Out There!

Posted on January 8, 2013 by AnnieRie

That’s how I feel when the weather is as good as it is around here now. Today we had wonderful hikes for the volunteers, and a lecture that just really gave us so much more to think about when it comes to life in the farming community of Howard County. Creating the Mt. Pleasant history has been a long fascinating task for the history committee.

One thing we learned about the farmhouse. The old log cabin is under the siding in the center part of the building. The dining room was in this section of the house. Guests were seated so they could watch the beautiful sunsets through the open door. Now that the trees have grown, you don’t get the clear view that they did a half century ago. Still, sunsets out here are spectacular. In this clear winter weather, we get some really incredible ones.

This weekend a really great wonder talk on Beekeeping will take place there. Put it on your calendar. The weather should be wonderful. You could hear the talk and take a walk through the property. What could be better than strolling around the trails in 50-60 degree weather. In January.

Carol Link is giving the Beekeeper program. She has one very exciting interesting life. Check out her bio on the bio page.

The wonder talk this Saturday the 12th starts at 10 am.

And, if this weather holds, the Tuesday fitness hike (and the stroll for us slower folks) will concentrate on native plants. This hike is at 0930 on the 15th followed by a lecture by Tabby Figue of the Conservancy staff.

Don’t stay inside during this incredibly mild lovely weather. Tomorrow I am going to spend most of the day outside. Think it is time to take down the Christmas lights and finish the garden prep to be ready for spring.

What are you all doing this weekend? Oh yeah, there is football for the Ravens fans. 😉

hocoblogs@@@

Snow Days

Posted on December 26, 2012 by AnnieRie

I don’t mind snow days like these. We needed the rain, and we got almost an inch so far today. It is snow mixed with sleet and rain, so it will be gone soon. The birds are frantically looking for food. It’s junco and blue jay reunion out there. Although the blue jays flew away once the camera came out.

Today was one of those stay inside and do projects kind of days. I am cleaning out the bedside nightstand drawers and doing some shredding. I did put tuna and tomatoes, with a base of canellini beans, in the oven on slow cook. A good hearty cold weather dish. Using some of my oven dried tomatoes that I froze. Plus, that end of the Costco tuna loin. It looks so dark and meaty, you wouldn’t think it was a fish dish.

We are keeping a close eye on the trees to make sure they don’t get weighed down with wet snow. We lost too many branches during those storms a few years back. We were supposed to have the final high tree pruning today, but the weather forced a cancellation. Without leaves, though, the deciduous trees will do OK, it’s the coniferous trees that worry me. We have a wind advisory for tomorrow with a potential for downed power lines again. The big question always is, “Should we fill the tubs with water in case we lose power and can’t flush toilets?” With all the weakened trees after the hurricane, power losses are still possible.

I do have to admit that it is beautiful out there. All Christmasy with the twinkling lights. Glad we don’t commute anymore, but can enjoy the view.

hocoblogs@@@

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Posted in Birds, Food, Howard County, Nature, Real Food, Retirement, Weather, West HoCo and tagged birds, commentary, community, cooking, Food, foodie, heirloom tomatoes, Howard County, Locavore, nature, real food, retirement, tomatoes, weather, West HoCo. Bookmark the permalink.

Home for the Holidays

Posted on December 25, 2012 by AnnieRie

Loving the fact that we don’t have to travel on the holidays anymore. Getting up when we want, and having a leisurely breakfast. Watching the animals in the yard, and watching the snow melt. Hearing my neighbor’s children running around out in the last of the snow. Just one of the reasons we came here. Peace. Quiet. Doing what we want for the day.

A couple of Breezy Willow’s eggs, over easy. Served with Spring Mill honey wheat bread, and Trickling Springs butter. A nice cup of coffee. The view out the dining room window. Still snow on the ground.

What did you get for Christmas? We always pick one thing we want and go and get it. I wanted a new lasagna pan. He wanted a rotor (rotator) for his tower. Obviously, we feed our hobbies.

My new pan:

I think it is much better than his refurbished, newly painted, good as new, rotor. It came back the other day. Looks brand new.

I did put a flat iron steak in the crock pot, to cook all day and enjoy with an old wine, for dinner tonight. Rubbed with the dry rub mix that I put together as part of the gifts for my relatives.

The flat iron steak came from England Acres. And, all the veggies in the pot are CSA, so this will be a mostly local Christmas dinner. The dry rub came out nicely.

Garlic powder is predominant in my spice rubs. This one is for beef and venison. It also includes peppers, paprika, cumin, cinnamon, savory and just a small amount of salt. I think I am forgetting something, but since I just wing it with spice rubs, it comes out fine. The house does smell wonderful at the moment. Dessert tonight will be a few of my orange chocolate truffles I made. With the last of the wine, after dinner, while watching Santa Paws II. Does Christmas get any better?

hocofood@@@

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Posted in CSA, Food, Local Businesses, Locavore, Real Food, Weather, West HoCo and tagged amateur radio, cooking, crock pot cooking, CSA, Food, foodie, holidays, local businesses, Locavore, real food, weather, West HoCo, wine. Bookmark the permalink.

It’s Christmas Eve

Posted on December 24, 2012 by AnnieRie

And, we will have a white Christmas. Sort of. There is still snow on the ground although much of it is melting. To me it isn’t Christmas without snow. We went to my brother’s this evening. Like we always do.

All my cousins and their little ones were there. My brother did his thing, playing Santa Claus, just like he has for almost 30 years. It took my nephew years to figure out it was him on the porch leaving candy.

I did many home made items for the cousins. Pumpkin bread. Orange chocolate truffles. Dry rub mix. Herb mixes.

Plus, I also gave gifts from local farmers. Soaps from Breezy Willow. Honey. Popcorn for the little ones. What do you expect from me? A definitely locavore Christmas. Took local wines for the party. Linden Vidal Riesling. Rose too.

Then, home for a glass of pastis and a chance to chill out. Tomorrow a few open houses to attend, and some finger foods while watching a Christmas movie. A lovely laid back holiday. Wishing everyone a wonderful Christmas.