Diehard Snow Lover’s Post

Okay all you snow loving people, this is the post for you.  You may be basking in tropical type weather and enjoying digging in the yard but the only digging going on around here is with a snow shovel!

We woke up to over a foot of fresh snow this morning.



Do you remember last week?

Spring Potting Bench


My pansies are under that somewhere, I will get busy and shovel a path to my potting bench and rescue them, I will house them in the greenhouse until fine weather returns, and return it shall.

  Eventually.



There are plants in those pots but they are resting now under a fresh blanket, all snug and cozy.



The path to my Burb courtesy of my shovel wielding husband. He is actually on the other side of the Burb shoveling around it. He did not bother to pull out the snow blower, this was his aerobics this morning.



The trees are laden too. This is pretty, for January but by March I am hankering for Spring.  Though, to be truthful, this is typical for March in these here mountains.



My back deck fountain, the one the hummingbirds shower in each day.  It is a hoot to watch them flit from side to side as if washing under their wings. 



My bed of lettuce, I think we got it covered just in time.  The little sprouts don’t seem to be suffering greatly in the least.  I do need to block the ends though, my cat likes getting under here and I do not want him to think it is his litter box.



This is a potted ivy, it is going incognito at the moment.



If you look closely you can see the snowflakes falling.  It has continued to snow all day so far but not real accumulation beyond what you see here. 



Last but not least my breath of spring in the greenhouse, my camellia, it keeps on blooming away!

While the snow carries on outside I am doing a bit of this and that, sewing on pillows, painted on some special order signs and cleaning.  We made some homemade cream of broccoli soup for lunch and now I think we will turn on Pride and Prejudice.  Once every year we like to have a marathon day and watch the entire thing, usually on a stormy day like this.  A nice get away.

Enjoy my snow from sunny California.

February Goes Out in White Glory!

Yes, winter is reminding us it is not done yet!  We woke to a flurry of snowflakes coming down. 

 

At times the snowflakes were quite large, nearly the size of the palm of my hand.



It did not take long for them to turn everything white.  All construction next door is at a stand still.  



My poor little chuck wagon raised bed is getting a good testing for snow stability. 



And my studio in the background is where I spent a good portion of the day, painting on special orders.  A nice day to spend doing something creative, at least the snow did not get too deep to trudge in and out through. 



And though this storm is winding down another is right behind it with supposedly a lot more of the white stuff.  Winter is making up for lost time I guess.  

Just last week we were enjoying mid-60 degree temps.  The ski resort up the hill a ways is more than likely jumping for joy.  A lot of new snow will attract the skiers and snowboarders on Spring break which is coming up soon.

It is not unusual to get measurable snow here in March and even April so I will just ride it out.  

Enjoy!

 

Depressed Tulips

Well the sun is wrestling with the clouds and for the most part today the clouds have won but the sunshine is not giving up.  We are seeing a bit now but for how long?…it has been a day that if you don’t like the weather, wait 5 minutes and it changes.  We have gone from a misty icy morning to sunshine, then more dark ominous clouds and a spit of rain to more sun and not too long ago a bit of hail.   The up side is, it is NOT snowing!

I have spent the past few rainy snowy days ensconced in my studio..



painting a bazillion signs (at least it feels like a bazillion).  Signs ordered for a rustic wedding, it is on a sizable property and they need directional signs along with others like Just Married, Tomfoolery Ahead (remember the Hydrangea tutorial) and the names of the bride and groom. 

I have also been painting some signs to put on my website to replace some that have been ordered and I have been fulfilling other special orders.  One painting table in my studio, I mostly base paint and put the varathane on the signs using this table..



This table is where I do the design and lettering…



Some of the signs for the website..





The trim on this Farm Fresh Eggs sign is a blue but it does not show up well in the photograph..



This one reminds me that summer will be here….eventually!



My last post I shared with you all the sad state of my poor downtrodden (maybe that should be snowtrodden) tulips.  This morning they were displaying how they felt about this late seasonal snow..



I think many residents of this small mountain town feel the same way.  We have had enough of old man winter…



Some tulips stubbornly stayed upright despite the weight placed upon them.  Many of my roses and a Japanese Maple lost a limb or two. 



My fritillaria do not seem to be able to handle it in the least. My one hope is when the sun shines they can perk up and reach for the sky once again.  They were just starting to bloom too.



Funny thing is, that though it looks and feels like winter it sounds like Spring.  The birds are still singing their sweet spring songs and each time I have to walk between the garage and my studio I can hear them serenading each other.  It is a constant reminder that we only have to endure so much of this and that warmer days will prevail and very soon! 

The fate of my broccoli is still undetermined…hmm, they are reputed to not minding a cold snap but they hadn’t bargained for this.

 

But now the snow has melted off and tomorrow is supposed to be sunny and mild. 



Things are already looking brighter.  I just have to trim up the broken limbs and branches, soon they well send out more and though most things are a month behind around here they will bloom and be all the sweeter for we will have been in anticipation. 



Actually all this lousy weather has been a blessing in disguise.  If it was warm and gloriously sunny out I would’ve preferred digging in the dirt to painting and I have a tight schedule with all these special order signs.  I would’ve resented being stuck indoors instead of enjoying painting them. 

I put on a movie or mini series on my laptop and listen to it as I paint away the day and am generally oblivious to what is going on outside, unless I have to trudge thru the rain to get to my garage to saw or sand a sign.

I hope all are well and you are enjoying your day, no matter the weather in your neck of the woods!

ta ta..

I link to these parties PARTIES

May 15th with SNOW!

Good morning all.  I awoke this morning to this…

Yes, that is my freshly painted potting bench in the background, this will be the first test of Chalk Paint enduring snow. 
The weatherman said 4 inches of snow ABOVE 6000 feet and maybe a wee bit at our 4500 feet elevation.  I guess he was WRONG again.  We have at least 6 inches on the back deck and more is falling, fast and furious as we speak.  My tulips are groaning under the weight of it all..

They were all starting to bloom so pretty. 

My rose tree and a potted rose are under there…somewhere.

This will most likely punch out my greenhouse roof again.  Sigh!
On another note, our trip to the valley was most enjoyable yesterday.  I had forgotten how busy places like Michaels, Wal-Mart and Costco are on weekends.  Everyone was out and about town. The weather was quite pleasant, a comfy 65 degrees. 
I need to dig out my snow boots so I can go feed and water the chickens.  My only consolation is in a few days it will be back into the 70’s and this will melt faster than a wink.  (note positive attitude, it may not last!)
I hope you have sunny skies and balmy temps where you are!
Cheers,

Tunneling to the Chicken house

Good day everyone!  Another wild snowy couple of days.  This will end and we will see sun!  I thought I would take you on my morning walk to the chicken pen for the morning feeding. We have gotten 5 to 6 feet in the past week so things are getting buried.  This is my walkway to the street.
To get to the chicken pen we need to get down my front steps. 
Then turn left to walk beside the garage.
It gets a bit tight here but I have lost weight so I can fit.  Past the woodshed..
You can see the back side of my greenhouse from here…but then it nearly disappears..

Hmmm, I have to get in to the greenhouse to get the chicken feed…dare I stomp thru this…oops, I tried but sank to my thighs.  Forget it, I will get strong backed hubby to shovel it. 

The path to the hen house is more like a tunnel than a path. The sides of snow are higher than my head.

If you look real close you can see the hens anxiously awaiting by the pen door for the treats I toss them but they will have to wait a bit more until some shoveling gets done.

And getting to my studio is impossible, waist deep snow there.
Next week we are to get sun and temps near or above 60!  What a treat that will be. 
Tomorrow I shall post what has kept me sane during this endless snow storm we have endured!
I hope you enjoyed my morning walk. 


check out these cute Chicken Houses