By the time I left the library on Monday (shortly after posting), the snow was falling so thickly that visibility was about 50 feet. Driving with exceeding care, I llistened to the radio's weatherman still commenting that this area would have only the occasional and momentary flurry without accumulation. I pulled into the driveway observing that snow was sticking everywhere, just being slick slush on the streets. By evening we had 1 1/2 inches of flurry, and I was so happy to not be driving in it. Tuesday was 52* by noon, yesterday hung in the upper 40's and rained (1.8"). Today is blue skies, bright sun, in the 50's and rising. Weathermen are cheerfully predicting highs in the very low 30's for the next few days. The spring bulbs are all showing leaves and buds, the clematis all have fat leaf-buds, the forsythia is about to bloom, the johnny-jump-ups [violas] *are* in bloom ~~ pretty soon the grass will need to be mowed! I'm trying to remember where I read that article about the guy co-relating Baltic snowfall with DC's weather. At the time I read that he was saying to expect to a milder-than usual winter until late January and then February would be ~swoosh/shiver~ colder than normal with extremes of precipitation. So far he's right; we shall see. Meanwhile, I'll have the mower's blades sharpened, and the snow shovel oiled and ready for use.

Woefully behind (no hope of catching up as the field rounds the far turn and heads down the homestretch). I am mastering the woodstove in the Salon (where I've been puttin' in quality time). It's an interesting exercise in how to maintain the comfortable temperature without having the furnace come on to augment the heat over night. I feed the stove 3 times/day; early morning, upon return from work, and before going to bed. I have a nice bed of coals at the end of every burn and have not had to start a fire "from scratch" in nearly 5 days now. I have asked Santa to bring me a new poker (long handle) and a coal rake. The coal rake will allow me to save the coals and empty accumulated ashes at the same time with minimal inconvenience. Christmas decorations are not yet finished, but could be by the end of this snowy day. :) It's beautiful outdoors today which reminds me to tell Michelle your snowy door shots are terrific. I have not poached the topiary idea, BTW. I love watching the Cardinals here. The colors of both Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal are just beautiful; one so bright and the other a restrained variation on the color scheme. I like to study the detail of the feathers in your shots, Deanne. It reminds me of Larry. Knowing a bird personally over many years (17) gave me a great appreciation of them. OK, I have to go play with the stapler and greenery. :) Waving to all, esp. Woody!

I think I am the one who posted on the Florida Forum and yes I am still seeing the hummie, almost daily. In fact, I am wondering if there are two. The first one I saw I thought was almost all light in color under the throat while the one I am seeing now seems to have the pinkish red throat. It comes around throughout the day, I have seen it around noon and on and off throughout the afternoon. It loves to sit in the bare Crepe Myrtle trees and comes down to drink from my two feeders. I have taken some pictures and will post them soon. I no longer have my son's network to go through so I have to figure out how to use Flicker or Photobucket. We have our video camera set up and will also try to get some video tomorrow. We did get cold here - lost alot of my butterfly plants along with the hummer plants. I think it was also feeding on the Cape Honeysuckle today. This is the longest that I have ever seen one in my yard. I am so excited!

Jeanne, love all this greenery with your wash tub, bird bath, red painted curly willows, metal star, door w/potting bench and wire basket. The picture with the birds there enjoying is such a beautiful sight. So nice your weather has cooperated so you could get your outdoor decorating done. Sweeeeet! Punk