Some years we quickly slide into Winter with snow, ice and sharp winds. Other years it is an easier process, more of a gentle teasing of the cold weather to come. We are fortunate to have the gradual arrival of Winter this year only making itself known more clearly after the change of time that brings the dreaded short, dark days.
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| Neighborhood Trees |
We had our first snow this year almost a week before the end of October. Luckily when we get an early snow, we usually have more warm days to come and we did. Those warm days continued through yesterday when it was sunny and beautiful with a temperature of 74 F (23 C). I finally decided to tackle the many leaves in our back yard and spent four hours raking and bagging. I ended up with eight bags of leaves and some pretty good back and knee pains! Believe it or not, that was from only half of the back yard. Our yard is not that big but we do have a lot of trees and that means more yard work in both Spring and Fall. That is fine with me though because I love trees! By the time I stopped working the sun had disappeared and the sky had that dark, foreboding look. This morning I stepped out onto our deck and was hit with that sharp cold that is unmistakably the beginning of winter. We went from temps in the 70’s to the low 40’s (4 C). Then the heavy, cold rain started. Oh well, I didn’t feel like finishing the raking today anyway.
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| Sophie sleeping with her friends |
Time does move fast and before we know it the holidays will be here. For those of us in the U.S. Thanksgiving is just a little over two weeks away and as soon as that is over, we are into the Christmas season. There is no telling what the holidays will be like this year with the pandemic still here. We don’t travel over the holidays so the main thing that will change for us will be the lack of local Christmas activities. I am hopeful that we will still see our kids and grandkids Christmas but these days I know there are no guarantees. Are you making different plans this year for the holidays? Maybe someone will come up with some new ways for those of us staying home to celebrate this year?
We've had two nasty crashes into winter . Between the crashes we had 10 days of very nice fall weather.
ReplyDeleteIt's like winter is playing with us before it hits for good!
DeleteOur run of nice weather ended last weekend as winter showed up Sunday with lots of snow. The kids and the dog were happy about that. The holidays are definitely going to be different this year. Still don't know what we have planned but we will doing something fun I hope. Take care.
ReplyDeleteKids and dogs always love that first snow! I hope you got some pictures. You and your family are always good at coming up with fun activities. I bet you'll have a great Christmas!
DeleteMy plans are same as ever. Same old same old. Thanks for asking.
ReplyDeleteWe don't do much at Christmas anyway but something tells me we will do less this year. I hope you can see some of your family for the holidays Joanne.
DeleteWe went from 20s to a week of 60s and even hit 70s right back to the 20s again. A short Indian Summer, as we used to call it. Probably not right to call it that anymore. No clue why it was called that in the first place. :)
ReplyDeleteIsn't it crazy when you have those extreme temperature changes? Missouri is really bad about the sudden jumps in weather and temperatures. We've called it Indian Summer too but it seems like we didn't used to get several of them in one year!
DeleteSnow already! And then back to 23 Celsius, almost summery, and back again to 4 C - that must be quite a ride for anyone's circulatory system. Well done on the raking! What do you do with the bags of leaves? Are they picked up, or do you compost or burn them?
ReplyDeleteYour neighbourhood looks nice with that beautiful tree.
With only 2 1/2 weeks until the first of the four Advent Sundays, I have begun to order a few Christmas presents. We don't know what is going to happen on Christmas Eve (the main event for my family) or the following days, but I am determined to make it the special time of year it deserves.
Where we live does get many extreme weather and temperature changes and yes, it can be a little hard on you sometimes! We are mostly used to it though as it happens so much. The bags of leaves went out this morning. I put the leaves in special bags that are made for yard waste recycling and they are picked up to be recycled.
DeleteWe live in an older neighborhood of small and simple homes but I've lived here since 1976 and I love it. The tree in the picture is across the street from us and always has the most beautiful colors in the Fall.
You and your family are all so kind and loving and I'm sure you will find a way to celebrate the season even if it is in a socially distant manner!
I'm glad we never get snow in October - that would really be worrying! February is our usual month for a little and no white Christmas since 1981
ReplyDeleteWe often get an October snow but it is never more than a couple of inches and goes away in a day or two. Our bad snows are usually later and much heavier. A white Christmas is nice but if it makes the roads dangerous than I'd rather do without it!
DeleteI'm like Joanne, it will just be the same as always, quiet, but very enjoyable nonetheless.
ReplyDeleteI like it quiet for the most part but I do hope we get to see family. I am glad you are expecting an enjoyable Christmas. I think our attitudes make a difference on how holidays turn out.
DeleteNo snow yet in my area of the Mid-Atlantic but we've had the very warm (Nov) weather for the past 10 days or so. The rain you've talked about in MO is now making its way into my area today. Still warm--68 at 8 am. While temps are expected to drop into the mid 50s next week, no freezing temps yet. Frankly, I'm ready for cooler weather.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you have had a nice November with those temps. Our weather is all over the place. I am ready for winter I think because the constant changes do get difficult.
DeleteWe have had the most beautiful fall and the temperatures have been outstanding. Today is the beginning of the end with rain and cold coming today and the next few days. I have not lost hope though that maybe we will have another mild winter,
ReplyDeleteLast year I had 21 or 22 people for Thanksgiving dinner. It was hard, and I needed a shoehorn to get everyone seated. I loved every minute of it and have enjoyed being the hostess for 30 years. This year it is just me and My Retired Man. After much thought, I have come up with an idea to see my family, albeit, for only a few minutes. I am going to make our traditional Roasted Butternut Squash Soup, put them in containers, and deliver it to their doors (staying socially distanced). I just want to see all their faces in person. Later on in the afternoon, we will Zoom a dessert hour.
Wow, what a change Christmas will be for you this year after having such a house full last year! That is a lot of people and I imagine it was also a lot of work for you but I know family is worth it! Our house is small and we would have trouble having more than the usual six or seven we normally have at Christmas.
DeleteWhat a wonderful thing it will be for you to deliver your traditional soup to each one's house! I understand wanting to actually see them even from a distance. Your appearance along with the soup will make for a special day for everyone!
What great ideas, Arleen. You've come up with a good plan!
DeleteDoes Sophie carry her toys - sorry friends - around. Ours takes all hers into the kitchen overnight and leaves them there - ratty, mouse, rope, hamster ...
ReplyDeleteDon't you love cats and all their unique personality traits! The larger stuffed animal toys she sleeps with but does not carry around. Her brother will sometimes drag one of them around by the tail though. She and Zeus both carry many smaller toys around and sometimes even fight over them like small children.
DeleteThat is funny that your cat carries the toys into the kitchen each night! Does your kitchen have a different kind of floor maybe? Ours will take toys in the bathroom because they like to chase them on that floor and sometimes they hide them under the rugs. They will each bring their favorite toys to bed at night.
We have had a nice fall here and even a "second summer" (as we are now encouraged to call it). I was able to do some yard work today and, like you, I am feeling it.
ReplyDeleteLast Christmas was the first time in six years that we had both our kids home, and our daughter's family was here as well as our moms. This year we must stay in our bubble, but we also want to reduce my husband's exposure to others due to his compromised immunity (from the chemo). We will always have the memory of last Christmas, though, even if it does make me weepy. Can you Facetime with your kids and grandkids? I love Arleen's idea of delivering soup to everyone just to see them for a few minutes, even if it's from a distance. And a Zoom dessert!
How nice to see you Jenny! Yes, I enjoy working outside but we do have to pay for it in aches don't we!
DeleteHow wonderful that you had your whole family together last Christmas! It's almost like it was meant to be. It must be difficult for you and your husband now with his compromised immunity in the middle of a pandemic. We are all taking precautions but they are even more critical in his case. I hope you are able to find many ways online to keep up with your family. I guess that is the one blessing that we do have the ability to keep up using things like Facetime or Zoom.
Yes, I love Arleen's idea to deliver soup to family members on Christmas! We all just have to be creative and she has some great ideas!
And I love your kitty pictures. What beautiful cats you have :)
ReplyDeleteAhh, thank you! I know you are a cat lover like me. You always find the best cat pictures for your blog! You and your husband take care - I keep you both in my thoughts!
DeleteYes, I loved the Sophie picture too Bonnie. Xx
ReplyDeleteThank you Rachel. You know I always love seeing your beautiful cats. Our two cats bring so much love and happiness to our lives every day and I am forever thankful for them. Something tells me you have similar feelings for your sweet cats. xx
DeleteWe had a temp yesterday morn of 28°F...and a big, heavy frost. Today not so cold of the morn but the day had that sharp chill to it. It is hard to believe the holidays are just almost here. I am in hopes of being able to get together with our kids, too. It would sure seem weird if we couldn't.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like winter has moved in where you live. It was in the 20s here this morning too and we had a frost. Well it is November and time for winter!
DeleteI hope you will be able to get together with your kids for the holidays too. That means so much to all of us.
Snow and ice here to start the week and now the weather has warmed and all is melting. I know this won't stay this way for long so I am taking advantage of it.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Hi Jackie, I don't blame you for taking advantage of it while you can! It seems like this year especially winter likes to give us a taste of what is to come.
DeleteWe will make the best of it at home alone this year:)
ReplyDeleteThe pandemic makes it challenging for so many of us but I hope your family will be able to have some holiday Zoom (or other online video) get togethers to share with one another online. I think this year is the big "Christmas Zoom Year"!
DeleteIf we are fortunate we will have very little snow, if any this year, but I'm spending every day collecting leaves. I bought a leaf blower back in March and although I hate the noise it makes it really makes collecting the leaves a much easier job.
ReplyDeleteI bet that leaf blower does help a lot! I keep raking and bagging leaves and it seems like the more I bag the more reappear! Your back will thank you for that leaf blower!
ReplyDeleteHi Bonnie. Visiting your blog today. We are in Texas and the weather is beautiful... 67 F and sunny. Kids and grandkids usually come here for Thanksgiving and Christmas... but not this year. Everyone is staying close to home this time... (being extra careful as their dad just went through radiation). But we will Skype and/or Zoom with them. Wishing you a wonderful safe healthy holiday!
ReplyDeleteHi Rian! Thanks for stopping by! It sounds like your family is staying safe for Thanksgiving and that is smart. I just visited you blog and I love it! Have a good week Rian!
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