Random Stuff XXXI: Flashback Edition
We've had a rough winter indeed, what with the infamous Valentine's Day blizzard and the incredible Arctic chill of late January through late February (average temp. 17 °F [-8 °C]). Hence, we welcome April, and its promise of shirtsleeve temperatures and myriad blooming flowers, with open arms. Croci, the true harbingers of spring, have long since wedged their way through the permafrost, bloomed, and wilted. With the equinox behind us, we can expect a true taste of the delicious, toasty summer on its way. Right?
Look familiar? I snapped this photo early this evening. The snow has already had one sunny and fairly warm day to melt-note the exposed roof. Our lawn, lower left, had not a speck of snow on it before Thursday (four days ago). Kathy mowed it on Tuesday, fearing we'd soon have a bamboo forest behind the house: the grass was shooting up at the rate of about 4 in (10 cm) a day. Ninety percent of what you see here accumulated within a span of 48 hours. Total snowfall: about 12 in (30 cm), most of which still remains, as shown in profile on the roof over that weird little covered space attached to the garage (left).
Looking the other way also brings flashbacks to the infamous Valentine's Day blizzard. Although we received a smaller total depth, the total mass of snowfall was probably greater this time, as it came down hard and heavy, and formed an inch- (2.5-cm-) thick layer of half-ice, half-slush before accumulating in the usual way. The snow pile at the left end of the driveway is about 1 m (40 in) high and exerts a clearly discernible gravitational field. Again, this scene four days past had all the trappings of summer, save fireflies.
Our daffodils in full bloom. Nothing signifies the joy of a new spring, the exuberance of a world reborn to warmth and life, like golden daffodils nodding in a warm breeze. Photographical note: The side of our house is not nearly as dark and gloomy as the photo suggests. I snapped these around 6:00 PM, with a full two hours of sunlight remaining; the place ought to practically shimmer with sunshine. Yet for some reason, every picture I took here was underexposed. There must have been something in the shot with an unusually high albedo.
Our marigolds in the front had a late start this year, but they're coming along nicely. Here you can see them lining the flowerbed and congregating beneath the towering azaleas.
cutiepi314 asked for some photos of Yuki in recovery from her infertility rite, and we're happy to provide, having already snapped a few. Through a lucky coincidence, Yuki (at six months age) and Altair (at 13 months) happened to be almost exactly the same size when they got snipped, so we could reuse the collar without having to trim it down. Surprisingly, Yuki has accommodated to the collar much better than Altair ever did. We, on the other hand, must remember to remove it before we feed her Spaghetti-Os (see orange stain on bow).
Altair (right): "Ha, ha! I can stick my head in this glass of water as far as I want!" She did, too. I still can't explain their fascination with water. They instantly gravitate toward any source of open water in the house, and treat it like an escaping mouse (notice Altair's wet paw), with the glaring exception of their water bowl, which I meticulously keep clean and fresh. Maybe the water they're supposed to drink doesn't present enough of a challenge.
Look familiar? I snapped this photo early this evening. The snow has already had one sunny and fairly warm day to melt-note the exposed roof. Our lawn, lower left, had not a speck of snow on it before Thursday (four days ago). Kathy mowed it on Tuesday, fearing we'd soon have a bamboo forest behind the house: the grass was shooting up at the rate of about 4 in (10 cm) a day. Ninety percent of what you see here accumulated within a span of 48 hours. Total snowfall: about 12 in (30 cm), most of which still remains, as shown in profile on the roof over that weird little covered space attached to the garage (left).
Looking the other way also brings flashbacks to the infamous Valentine's Day blizzard. Although we received a smaller total depth, the total mass of snowfall was probably greater this time, as it came down hard and heavy, and formed an inch- (2.5-cm-) thick layer of half-ice, half-slush before accumulating in the usual way. The snow pile at the left end of the driveway is about 1 m (40 in) high and exerts a clearly discernible gravitational field. Again, this scene four days past had all the trappings of summer, save fireflies.
Our daffodils in full bloom. Nothing signifies the joy of a new spring, the exuberance of a world reborn to warmth and life, like golden daffodils nodding in a warm breeze. Photographical note: The side of our house is not nearly as dark and gloomy as the photo suggests. I snapped these around 6:00 PM, with a full two hours of sunlight remaining; the place ought to practically shimmer with sunshine. Yet for some reason, every picture I took here was underexposed. There must have been something in the shot with an unusually high albedo.
Our marigolds in the front had a late start this year, but they're coming along nicely. Here you can see them lining the flowerbed and congregating beneath the towering azaleas.
cutiepi314 asked for some photos of Yuki in recovery from her infertility rite, and we're happy to provide, having already snapped a few. Through a lucky coincidence, Yuki (at six months age) and Altair (at 13 months) happened to be almost exactly the same size when they got snipped, so we could reuse the collar without having to trim it down. Surprisingly, Yuki has accommodated to the collar much better than Altair ever did. We, on the other hand, must remember to remove it before we feed her Spaghetti-Os (see orange stain on bow).
Altair (right): "Ha, ha! I can stick my head in this glass of water as far as I want!" She did, too. I still can't explain their fascination with water. They instantly gravitate toward any source of open water in the house, and treat it like an escaping mouse (notice Altair's wet paw), with the glaring exception of their water bowl, which I meticulously keep clean and fresh. Maybe the water they're supposed to drink doesn't present enough of a challenge.