This weekend has been quite lovely. Still winter for certain. But we've been enjoying sunshine AND temps that at least creep past the freezing point for the last few days. Of course, that does make for icy sidewalks and--in some cases--streets (definitely our alley), but just looking out the window or stepping onto the back deck or the front steps ( Read more... )

I admit it. I do miss the lower pressure of my Leave of Absence (LOA) time. The being "off" from the need to watch the early morning clock for the approaching hour for Start of Work was almost sufficiently freeing as to balance away much of the issues of physical discomfort involved in the eye surgeries and their effects--actually rather minimal ( Read more... )

The last day of June, 2020. . .  It seems as though I was putting up photos of a snowy yard just a few weeks ago. Now we're into genuine summer and almost wallowing in the heat and humidity of a Minnesota mid-to-late summer. Wow! It was a lovely 4 weeks ( Read more... )

We're finally being treated to some clear skies, sunny days, and lovely warming temps. The weekend was NOT lovely. Saturday evening brought us a full-blown thunderstorm, with at least one burst of thunder strong enough to make our house vibrate a little, and with lightning flashing through the dark. It also rained all day Sunday. Winds were up and ( Read more... )

Last night's moonrise was gorgeous! Although Grandmother Moon was a day or so past Full, she was still looking quite large--if a bit oval. And she glowed a very pretty pale orange that made me think of tangerines. I stood at the bedroom window on the second floor to get a good view, since the houses and trees across the alley blocked my view of all ( Read more... )

Clambering out of The Mighty Steed a little while ago, I couldn't help but smile and mumble a few "ahhh's" and "ooooo's" in appreciation of the nearly-full moon rising above the houses and trees across the alley, with a deeply-blue clear sky surrounding her. So lovely ( Read more... )

Yesterday, I stayed home to deal with an annoying upset digestive system that I definitely did NOT want to take to the office. Very low rez, low energy day. I spent much of it with a book (by Martha Wells--and allllmost finished ( Read more... )

Rain blew through last night. I don't know how much we received, but the thunderstorms that had been forecast for tomorrow and Friday have now been pushed back to ... wait for it ... THE WEEKEND! Wouldn't you know it ( Read more... )

Although my calendar insists that "The Merry Month of May" arrives just the day after TOMORROW and the darned snow seems to finally be gone from my back yard, the temps are still cool with highs in the 40s F. The days that bring sun (like yesterday) are most welcome and enjoyed. Today appears to be a cloud day ( Read more... )

After last week's Arctic-cold and half-foot or so of snow, the gentler temps we've enjoyed the last day or two--not to mention a few hours of sunshine!--have melted away much of the built-up snow. Fog has rolled in during the night, muffling sound and reflecting the light of the street lights into pyramiding globes of diffuse glow ( Read more... )