banishing short pants
to the attic until spring
a tearful goodbye.
Showing posts with label winter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label winter. Show all posts
Oct 15, 2013
Mar 15, 2013
emergency in the snow
local emergency volunteers get a call that a grandfather, snowmobiling with his grandson out in the middle of nowhere, turned around and realized his grandson was not behind him!
he retraced his path, but didn't find the boy. he rode on to the nearest town and called 911 for help.
dozens of people show up in response, as word spreads of the lost child.
their snowmobiles comb the area for this kid.
it was the event of the year!
one smart rescuer decides to go back to the parking area the pair started out from, and discovers the boy, waiting in the car.
turns out the boy is 18, not a child as people had imagined, and driving his own snowmobile!
when grandpa got too far ahead, grandson turned around and drove back to the car to wait for his return.
no doubt there's plenty of grumbling, but given the happy outcome, i'm sure a good time was had by all!
he retraced his path, but didn't find the boy. he rode on to the nearest town and called 911 for help.
dozens of people show up in response, as word spreads of the lost child.
their snowmobiles comb the area for this kid.
it was the event of the year!
one smart rescuer decides to go back to the parking area the pair started out from, and discovers the boy, waiting in the car.
turns out the boy is 18, not a child as people had imagined, and driving his own snowmobile!
when grandpa got too far ahead, grandson turned around and drove back to the car to wait for his return.
no doubt there's plenty of grumbling, but given the happy outcome, i'm sure a good time was had by all!
Mar 13, 2013
sunny with patches of brown
out the window i stare hard at Spring - is she unpacking?
or living from a suitcase??
the birds will know.
oh wait! hahaha!
it isn't Spring at all!
it's Jack Frost in drag
what jokers they are!.
or living from a suitcase??
the birds will know.
oh wait! hahaha!
it isn't Spring at all!
it's Jack Frost in drag
what jokers they are!.
Mar 5, 2013
keeping warm before dawn
i've never seen him with burnt paws...how does he know when the fire has burned down enough and the stove cooled enough to warm his tum but not hurt? i often find him here mornings.
Feb 27, 2013
forced remodeling
the van a the neighbors' probably wasn't robbers, or they would have backed into the driveway. the next day more trucks and people, and something clearly was going on. those neighbors are off in Florida keeping warm during the cold months. and they aren't the type to have someone remodel their house without them there to keep an eye on the doings!
eventually a huge pile of wood, insulation, flooring, grew in their front lawn. the sad story is that their furnace broke, and when their daughter came to check on the house, the pipes had broken, the downstairs flooded, the water froze, and what with the ups and downs of our weather as the sun returns, things even began to get moldy.
Feb 22, 2013
more placebos
 |
| mupie's pseudoceuticals |
are they taking them as directed? are they working?
or did they sit them on the shelf as a cute conversation piece (bah).
she has a brilliant idea, and several requests for ... ta da!...
assisted suicide placebos
(it being February and all)
but is nervous about actually giving them to anyone.
if you believe in the placebo effect, well, what would they do??
Feb 2, 2013
festivities of february!
longest of the months
yet having the fewest days
february is
(haiku by mudpie)
february! (apparently pronounced feb-yoo-wary) here in
winterland seems like the longest month.
maybe that's why it has so many holidays.
there's Feb 2nd, one of the halfway holidays between the
equinox and the solstice -- the sun is halfway here!!
of course this is groundhog's day, the day when we badger a
woodchuck.
it's also Imbolc (from the belly) or Brighid's day.
could also be candlemas, whatever that is.
then comes the day the music died - Feb 3. if you don't know, look it up.
and then bring it on!! -- Valentine's day -- on which volumes could be written!
next i think is president's day, in the USA.
a boring for sure but necessary long weekend in this month
of waiting for the sun to get 3 weeks closer!
hmmm that's it, except for those odd days that nobody knows
where they come from like Thank a Mailman Day and Hoodie Hoo Day (feb 20)
now and then we get an extra day in february. this excites lots of controversy and
speculation and consternation as if there is some greater meaning!
has anyone pulled together stats for feb, like car
accidents, heart attack deaths, weddings, births, drastic haircuts, hospital
surgery errors, hospital surgery recovery times, people who decide never to
speak to their sibling again, murders, meals eaten in restaurants?
Jan 28, 2013
tea and film discussion
snowing like mad today. yay!
i love the bright sunny days, but more snow will be fun.
a friend and i met in a tibetan teahouse to discuss the movie SAMSARA, which he sent me a copy of.
a profoundly disturbing film. has anyone else seen it? we can find a teahouse with more pillows. (maybe somewhere warmer, too)
i love the bright sunny days, but more snow will be fun.
a friend and i met in a tibetan teahouse to discuss the movie SAMSARA, which he sent me a copy of.
a profoundly disturbing film. has anyone else seen it? we can find a teahouse with more pillows. (maybe somewhere warmer, too)
Jan 26, 2013
rug cleaning
it could almost be spring!
i love it after a spell of below 0 F weather how anything 20 degrees or higher feels balmy!
especially with the warm sun and longer days
and yesterday a woodpecker drummed a bit of flirting!
still the sun sits only a bit above the southern horizon at noon, and the shadows are loooong.
any wind takes things back to 0.
yesterday was perfect for rug cleaning.
i dragged the big braided rug and a small asian style rug out onto the snow.
once all the dirt and cooties had frozen off of them, i swept them, feeling like Strega Nona in my too-small plaid wool hunting jacket, the paisley neck 'buff' my sister gave me worn like a babushka, big clumsy work gloves, cords over heavy longjohns, and hiking boots!
after all it was sunny, but barely in the teens temperature wise.
(this is a common fashion look for vermont ladies when they are at home, brown is not advised lest you be mistaken for a bear)
and my broom was the old back porch broom which of course is worn and witchlike! a good opportunity to practice my cackle.
i love it after a spell of below 0 F weather how anything 20 degrees or higher feels balmy!
especially with the warm sun and longer days
and yesterday a woodpecker drummed a bit of flirting!
still the sun sits only a bit above the southern horizon at noon, and the shadows are loooong.
any wind takes things back to 0.
yesterday was perfect for rug cleaning.
i dragged the big braided rug and a small asian style rug out onto the snow.
once all the dirt and cooties had frozen off of them, i swept them, feeling like Strega Nona in my too-small plaid wool hunting jacket, the paisley neck 'buff' my sister gave me worn like a babushka, big clumsy work gloves, cords over heavy longjohns, and hiking boots!
after all it was sunny, but barely in the teens temperature wise.
(this is a common fashion look for vermont ladies when they are at home, brown is not advised lest you be mistaken for a bear)
and my broom was the old back porch broom which of course is worn and witchlike! a good opportunity to practice my cackle.
Jan 23, 2013
0 farenheit and falling
at 10 am the thermometer on the dashboard read 5 F. the car started right up (Subaru, of course!) and i backed it out of the shed into the sun.
5 minutes later i came back and it now read 3.
isn't it amazing that it worked at all? that the tires don't freeze in, that the doors open, etc?
driving through sun and shade the temperature remained steady between 0 and 1.
i had a car for awhile that had to have boiling water poured on something under the hood, i forget what now, for it to start when it was 0 or thereabouts.
of course by the time i carried the kettle out to the driveway, it was not boiling, but it worked.
brrrr!
5 minutes later i came back and it now read 3.
isn't it amazing that it worked at all? that the tires don't freeze in, that the doors open, etc?
driving through sun and shade the temperature remained steady between 0 and 1.
i had a car for awhile that had to have boiling water poured on something under the hood, i forget what now, for it to start when it was 0 or thereabouts.
of course by the time i carried the kettle out to the driveway, it was not boiling, but it worked.
brrrr!
Jan 18, 2013
turkeys
eight turkeys went through our yard in the snow this morning. right under the window and crossed to the neighbors' garden
then on over the ruined road and up the hill by the frozen falls.
they are huge! birds big as dogs.
i want to toss some food to them.
a universal human longing -- a powerful urge to interact with other animals.
for me it's toss them food. for small boys, scatter them with a rock.
for bigger boys fell them with a stone.
if nothing else, they should acknowledge me
it isn't acceptable that they go their way and i mine.
if i were very hungry i would follow them and kill them.
then on over the ruined road and up the hill by the frozen falls.
they are huge! birds big as dogs.
i want to toss some food to them.
a universal human longing -- a powerful urge to interact with other animals.
for me it's toss them food. for small boys, scatter them with a rock.
for bigger boys fell them with a stone.
if nothing else, they should acknowledge me
it isn't acceptable that they go their way and i mine.
if i were very hungry i would follow them and kill them.
Dec 4, 2012
Jan 26, 2012
the sun is coming back?
the sun came up early yesterday!
made a believer of me
spring is a long slow dance -
step forward, step back
and mud mud mud
meanwhile, speaking of mud,
mudpie put pots of herbs at her tiny houseboat window,
even tho Raglan Shire is still covered in snow.
feels good to see them there. 
Jan 16, 2012
warming trend?
when i drove out of the driveway this morning at 9,
the temperature (according to my car's thermometer) was -6 F
(that's -21.11 C to you differently temperatured).
tonight at 9:30 when i drove back into the driveway,
the temperature was 25 F (-3.89 C).
feels like a heat wave coming in!
Jan 9, 2012
the pond
by the time i got around to taking a walk it was coming on dusk with a brightening moon.
up the hill, around the block, past the small mill pond, then down dark backstreet where coming towards me were 3 burly young men -- big boys really -- with blades and sticks!
heading for the mill pond... hockey sticks and ice skates.
yes boys still skate on mill ponds.
a good winter for it this year, very little snow so they don't have to clear 2 feet of the stuff off the ice.
on my way back, they are bearishly hockeying around their net at one end of the pond and at the other end a daddy is helping a tiny girl on tiny skates, while mom with baby on back photographs the scene. such a patient dad...whatever happened to "put a pillow in their pants and give them a shove?"
i get home before dark, thinking of the amazing time i skated on mulder's pond, round and round in the dark with all the stars blazing overhead.
.
up the hill, around the block, past the small mill pond, then down dark backstreet where coming towards me were 3 burly young men -- big boys really -- with blades and sticks!
heading for the mill pond... hockey sticks and ice skates.
yes boys still skate on mill ponds.
a good winter for it this year, very little snow so they don't have to clear 2 feet of the stuff off the ice.
on my way back, they are bearishly hockeying around their net at one end of the pond and at the other end a daddy is helping a tiny girl on tiny skates, while mom with baby on back photographs the scene. such a patient dad...whatever happened to "put a pillow in their pants and give them a shove?"
i get home before dark, thinking of the amazing time i skated on mulder's pond, round and round in the dark with all the stars blazing overhead.
Dec 26, 2011
boxing day cold with snowy ground and fluffy clouded blue sky
despite all the hard work i did in the last few days, making the house ready for christmas and a party, here on the morning after christmas i am up early and feel happy energy.
the house is still clean and in order, other than the mountains of dishes to be put away, the wrappings and paper hats strewn about, the tablecloths all rumpled by the kitties during the night.
we have so much food in the house! alas most of it is of the dessert kind, that everyone loves to make to give to someone else! i think because nobody officially stated they were bringing dessert, everyone thought they'd better fill in the gap and bring several.
my libby's pumpkin pie in an excellent organic frozen crust was a big hit! perhaps libby's just defines pumpkin pie for us now.
after the hours of talking and eating, drinking and laughing, berating politicians and corporations, wearing silly hats and reading stupid jokes from the crackers, everyone left in the dark night. and i felt so content, i sat by the fire for an hour reading my new book and drinking a little more wine. and i slept so well!
the house is still clean and in order, other than the mountains of dishes to be put away, the wrappings and paper hats strewn about, the tablecloths all rumpled by the kitties during the night.
we have so much food in the house! alas most of it is of the dessert kind, that everyone loves to make to give to someone else! i think because nobody officially stated they were bringing dessert, everyone thought they'd better fill in the gap and bring several.
my libby's pumpkin pie in an excellent organic frozen crust was a big hit! perhaps libby's just defines pumpkin pie for us now.
after the hours of talking and eating, drinking and laughing, berating politicians and corporations, wearing silly hats and reading stupid jokes from the crackers, everyone left in the dark night. and i felt so content, i sat by the fire for an hour reading my new book and drinking a little more wine. and i slept so well!
Dec 24, 2011
christmas is sticky
don't you think christmas is the most weird amazing thing ever?
you can't ignore it
i know, i've tried many times to do that
even changed my religion - but it's a national madness
you're gonna feel something one way or another
after all those years of good or bad 25ths
all those movies and shows of how it should be
all those times it was and it wasn't
best is to dive in headfirst and completely give in
don't fight it, shop, decorate, bake, sing,
invite in everyone you meet, cook a turkey or two.
it's sticky - grabs you up and drags you along anyway
not very pleasant, i can tell you
but you can lay low and endure
go to bed early and next day it's gone
like some one day flu thing
at the very least have some little plan
watch star wars movies all day
eat frozen turkey dinners, don't answer the phone
go to the movies, go to a church
volunteer somewhere - the old the mad the hungry
stay in bed with hot chocolate and your pets and read mysteries.
=============== ==================================
you can't ignore it
i know, i've tried many times to do that
even changed my religion - but it's a national madness
you're gonna feel something one way or another
after all those years of good or bad 25ths
all those movies and shows of how it should be
all those times it was and it wasn't
best is to dive in headfirst and completely give in
don't fight it, shop, decorate, bake, sing,
invite in everyone you meet, cook a turkey or two.
it's sticky - grabs you up and drags you along anyway
not very pleasant, i can tell you
but you can lay low and endure
go to bed early and next day it's gone
like some one day flu thing
at the very least have some little plan
watch star wars movies all day
eat frozen turkey dinners, don't answer the phone
go to the movies, go to a church
volunteer somewhere - the old the mad the hungry
stay in bed with hot chocolate and your pets and read mysteries.
=============== ==================================
Dec 20, 2011
winter lightness
as the nights get colder and colder,
and we add yet another quilt from the closet
once winter sets in the pile gets heavy and then top heavy!
one night it all slides to the floor and has to be retrieved and sorted out.
finally we can barely move and it's time...
time to fold up and put away the blankets and quilts and get out the Real Winter Stuff...
the big down comforters and the flannel sheets!
oooo it's wonderful!
and we add yet another quilt from the closet
once winter sets in the pile gets heavy and then top heavy!
one night it all slides to the floor and has to be retrieved and sorted out.
finally we can barely move and it's time...
time to fold up and put away the blankets and quilts and get out the Real Winter Stuff...
the big down comforters and the flannel sheets!
oooo it's wonderful!
Dec 2, 2011
brilliant millions
after autumn fogs
winter's milliant stars stun my eyes
hello my old friends!
~mudpie
winter's milliant stars stun my eyes
hello my old friends!
~mudpie
Oct 28, 2011
FIRST SNOW ~ Irene cleanup retrospective
here it is! always sneaks in when we aren't looking.
and i found this on my camera from September 5, the brave crew of volunteers who chloroxed my cellar ~ too bad i didn't think "photo op" the week before when these folks and others as well shoveled a foot of muck and stone from the cellar into buckets and brigaded it up the stairs, across the dining room, and out to the road. boy were they a mess by the end of the process! what a wonderful bunch of folks, some from town, some from the Shambhala center, and some from other towns and states!
and i found this on my camera from September 5, the brave crew of volunteers who chloroxed my cellar ~ too bad i didn't think "photo op" the week before when these folks and others as well shoveled a foot of muck and stone from the cellar into buckets and brigaded it up the stairs, across the dining room, and out to the road. boy were they a mess by the end of the process! what a wonderful bunch of folks, some from town, some from the Shambhala center, and some from other towns and states!
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