BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere

Subject: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemi
From: katlaughing
Date: 13 Feb 08 - 06:26 PM

Just in time for Valentine's Day, I heard, then saw, Robin Redbreasts in my back yard, today! A little earlier than in years past. I can just *hear* the primroses, tulips, irises, and daffodils wriggling awake under the soil. I love Spring!!

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemispher
From: Sorcha
Date: 13 Feb 08 - 06:32 PM

Here...nada. Zero. Zilch. Pfui.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemispher
From: Bill D
Date: 13 Feb 08 - 06:40 PM

and we in DC/Maryland had one intense ice storm last night. I'm ready for them Robins!

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Ebbie
Date: 13 Feb 08 - 06:46 PM

After a few weeks of temperatures that hovered around zero degrees F it has turned warm this week, with highs in the mid30s.

And this morning I watched a Stellers Jay! What's he doing up here in Juneau, Alaska in February? If he doesn't freeze to death, he's likely to starve.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Emma B
Date: 13 Feb 08 - 06:51 PM

The days have been so mild here recently - up in the mid teens centigrade - although the nights have been clear and cold with twinkling turqoise stars and a new moon.

The snowdrops have been forming white drifts for weeks and the daffodils are already in blossom.

The first early flowering blossom is on the trees and no doubt young men's thoughts everywhere are on the turn :)

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemispher
From: bobad
Date: 13 Feb 08 - 06:55 PM

We here (eastern Ontario) are approaching record snowfall territory and if the forecasts hold up we will be there soon. That being said I did notice that the chickadees are beginning to sing their spring songs.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemispher
From: Bill D
Date: 13 Feb 08 - 06:56 PM

"In the Spring, young men's thoughts turn to....what she has been thinking about all Winter."

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemispher
From: curmudgeon
Date: 13 Feb 08 - 07:44 PM

Spring? HUMBUG !

It's raining at 34 F.

I got up this morning to another foot of sodden snow, followed by six hours of freezing rain.

I came home from work early yesterday to wrest what chunks of firewood I could from snow piles and ice. I put the last two logs in the stove at 2:00; now just embers.

Mayhap, when and if the sun comes up, there will be the tops of some more wood exposed and not frozen in. Next wood delivery on Saturday.

Around here, Spring is a long weekend in late April.

Now is the winter of our discontent...

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemispher
From: katlaughing
Date: 13 Feb 08 - 07:50 PM

{{{{{{{Tom & Linn}}}}}} (extra warm hugs for you both...maybe you should come to the Banana Belt of Colorado!?)

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemispher
From: curmudgeon
Date: 13 Feb 08 - 07:54 PM

Thanks for the warm thoughts, kat. But you don't have an ocean.

P,S, - there's now a flood watch in effect.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Charley Noble
Date: 13 Feb 08 - 08:05 PM

No sign of Spring here in Maine. We just got a load of more snow, followed by rain, and then freezing. The only bright moment for me was the residents of the four apartments in this building have finally figured out how to get up, get dressed, go out and clean off their cars, warm them up, so that when the snow plow comes we can get all the cars out of the driveway and get it cleaned up proper. The parking lot's clean as a whistle now, a regular skating rink from one end to the other. Guess I'll have to sprinkle sand on it in the morning or someone will break their neck.

Charley Noble, somewhere in deep freezing Maine

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemispher
From: Sorcha
Date: 13 Feb 08 - 08:09 PM

Have you tried a sledgehammer, Tom? Just hit that sumbitch woodpile a few whacks!

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemispher
From: artbrooks
Date: 13 Feb 08 - 08:13 PM

Spring? Is that a separate season? When did Autumn end?

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: SINSULL
Date: 13 Feb 08 - 09:11 PM

Tomorrow's always turning towards the morning.
Honest Tom, this will end and Mud Season will arrive.
LOL
SINS

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Bee
Date: 13 Feb 08 - 09:27 PM

Charley's gone and sent his nasty weather to Nova Scotia. We're having the blinding rainstorm with 80km gusts right now.

I promised the cats Spring would come, but they don't believe me at all.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 14 Feb 08 - 01:21 AM

Here in north Kent (UK) little coloured bits by roadsides as what I think are going to be crocusses put their heads up.

I've already had the lawnmower out.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Barry Finn
Date: 14 Feb 08 - 01:36 AM

I heard those same fucking birds the other das. Saw them this morning & shot them, one & all, pleasant little bastards won't wake me up on another cold & bitter morning, that's fur sure.

Over $800 to fill up the oil drum in the basement & over another $300 for the propane tanks. Gonna start burning the structure next before it becomes worthless, along with the trees that are coming donw in the yard

Barry

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemispher
From: Sorcha
Date: 14 Feb 08 - 01:58 AM

Snowing again...looks like 2" and still coming down hard.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Cats
Date: 14 Feb 08 - 03:38 AM

Here in Cornwall we had primroses out on Christmas day. I have snowdrops, crocus and daffodils out a plenty, the roadsides are dotted with primroses and yesterday I found my first dandelion. My frogspawn in my pond is late this year, it is usually there by now. As for birds, the long tailed tits are back and the birds are busy nest building. Now is the time to put out the cat hair and the fluff from the tumble drier! We have had no snow at all but a couple of light frosts in the last few days.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: John J
Date: 14 Feb 08 - 04:25 AM

Here in Manchester, England, we seem to have barely had a winter. A few nights of frost, one night of very light snow and some lovely crystal-clear bright days. Other than that we've had a fair bit of wet - but not the floods that some parts of the country have suffered.

The crocus and snowdrops are brightening up the garden and the grass is growing well - the lawnmower will need to brought out of hibernation in the next week or so. The birdies are tweeting well - their singing always makes me feel good.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: gnu
Date: 14 Feb 08 - 04:39 AM

It's spring again here in Southeatern New Brunswick, Canada. For the sixth time. Bee... yesterday, the Maineiacs sent us 8" of snow first, before the freezing rain and rain and wind. Winter is expected to return by noon today.

I haven't burnt a stick of wood yet this year. I only have two cords because I couldn't get any new wood in due to illness, so I am keeping it in emergency reserve until at least mid-March. But, the old wood stove will roar then because the power rates went up 13% last fall.

Bad luck or good luck.... I realized on Dec 1 that I was gonna HAVE to go under the knife and wouldn't be able to do the snow thing, so I called a guy with a tractor mounted snowblower at 8AM on Dec 2. He was driving past my house at that moment. Five minutes later, I wrote a cheque. At 5PM it snowed. And it's been snowing ever since, except for the half dozen times we had freezing rain, ice pellets and rain. Oh, and, of course, when it was close to -30C. What a MESS!! On some back streets, small cars are scraping the undercarriage between the ice ruts.

Spring me arse!

PS... Art... piss off. Ah, that goes for you, too, Amos. Even if you don't post here, I know what you're thinking.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemispher
From: maeve
Date: 14 Feb 08 - 05:31 AM

Of course it's spring in Maine. We keep sending our storms on downeast to gnu. I know it's spring because Truelove is outside raking snow and icicles off the roof at 4:30 am rather than at daylight. I thought it was thunder, or reindeer, or sumpin fun.

Potted forcing bulbs in the cellar are busy making roots in the dark. Snwdrops will be ready for daylight this week. More snow is on the way.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 14 Feb 08 - 06:23 AM

The blossom on the trees round here is beautiful.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Bryn Pugh
Date: 14 Feb 08 - 06:29 AM

Here in Northamptonshire (UK) daffodils are in flower bud, crocussusses (croci ?) are in full bloom and having seven bells knocked out of them by marauding birds ; snowdrops are on the second flowering.

Primulas are in flower, as are cultivated primmy-roses.

Goosegrass is growing like the clappers, and, getting off the bus this morning, I saw a red dead-nettle in flower. Forsythia is in bloom, too.

Chaffinch, Robin, Mizzle thrush and Blackbird are singing ; Jinny Wren is twittering; Blue Tit, Coal Tit and Great Tit have on their courting gear (mating plumage).

A neighbour from where we used to live tells me the Natterjack ponds in the slacks are stirring.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: John J
Date: 14 Feb 08 - 06:55 AM

Don't mention tits to LTS, she has a thing about them.

JJ

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Anne Lister
Date: 14 Feb 08 - 07:30 AM

Here on a hill (almost a mountain) in South Wales my daffs are in bud, the croci (crocussessess?) are flowering, there are buds on the trees and the grass is looking very sprightly and making my husband mutter darkly about the mower. We've had quite a few frosty mornings recently and some glorious warm sunny days but I gather we're in for some colder weather again now.

Anne

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemispher
From: maeve
Date: 14 Feb 08 - 07:33 AM

I think it's now daylight, but can't be certain. TL is out with the snowblower, trying to keep our snow banking in place. The window is covered with wet, sticky snow.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: GUEST,The black belt caterpillar wrestler
Date: 14 Feb 08 - 07:41 AM

In Lancaster (UK) we had daffodils, crocus, snowdrops, primroses and a couple of others (I'm not a gardener, just know the brown end goes in the earth) out on 26th January. Also had a flock of long-tailed tits come past that day.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Big Mick
Date: 14 Feb 08 - 07:43 AM

All youse layabouts need to come here to Michigan....you will quickly quit all yer moanin and bitchin.......I am sooooooooooooo ready for spring.

Mick

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemispher
From: jacqui.c
Date: 14 Feb 08 - 08:20 AM

Same here Mick - nothing but white for what seems like months now. I know the spring flowers are there and waiting for a chance to bloom, but that won't be for a while yet I reckon.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Bee
Date: 14 Feb 08 - 10:01 AM

The ten cm.of snow we got a few days ago disappeared overnight in the rain. Our dirt road's a sheet of ice with water on top, the lake's got about 12cm. of water on top of ice. All the ATV and snowmobile lads are gloomy. S'posed to drop to -18 Saturday night. At least with the snow gone I can see the pitiful state of my gardens.

Aw, gnu - start burnin' that wood! We use around four cord most winters, and have been lucky most years getting half or more of it cheap or free.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemispher
From: katlaughing
Date: 14 Feb 08 - 10:28 AM

Well, of course Nature had to prove I spoke too soon. (Or maybe it is the robins sang too soon?!) It is gloomy and overcast here with 100% chance of snow mixed with rain. That's okay, though, the ground is mostly bare and I know the green things need the moisture. Maybe instead of the Bananan Belt, I'll start calling it "little England"...we seem to have more in common weather-wise this time of year. We'd never measure up in moisture, though.:-)

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: The PA
Date: 14 Feb 08 - 10:33 AM

Worcestershire UK. Yep looking back maybe one or two falls of light snow, gone within 48 hours, occasional heavy rain, and a few really cold (-2) nights. All in all not too bad for 'winter'. Things can only get better - maybe?

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemispher
From: GUEST,Seiri Omaar
Date: 14 Feb 08 - 10:40 AM

Ottawa. Cold. -18 today.
At least there's sunshine.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemispher
From: topical tom
Date: 14 Feb 08 - 10:48 AM

Spring? No sign of it here in Quebec though, wonder of wonders, the sun is shining today!It's -7 C (19 F).We have loads of snow but the male and female cardinals visit every day.You folks in the UK and points south, why don't you come and enjoy non-Spring here with the rest of us poor schmucks?

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Bryn Pugh
Date: 14 Feb 08 - 10:49 AM

We wouldn't wish to deprive you . . .

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemispher
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 14 Feb 08 - 11:58 AM

Icicles are best attacked with swords. Forunately, we have a few around the house. And a fencing foil is the perfect tool to unclog a vacuum cleaner hose.

By the way, Tom and I cut our wedding cake (almost 26 years ago) with a 16th century main gauche.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: gnu
Date: 14 Feb 08 - 01:32 PM

Bee... I would burn the wood if I could but I shouldn't. Not yet. The old guy I bought this house from had one of them there Norwegian stoves (a three footer). Ya know the kind what when ya try ta move it the legs fall off? And there ain't no damper? And the door don't shut near tight? Yeah, that's the one.

Fact is, if the wind picks up, the flue pipe can easy glow red even when I got a fan on it! So, it goes through rock maple like (probably) your stove would go through bog spruce, unless the temp and wind are even. I would get a decent one, but I may have to move house soon, so.... my woodpile is just an emergency backup until March moon (21st or so?).

Hehehe... yup. March 21. That will be a good Friday.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Becca72
Date: 14 Feb 08 - 02:39 PM

I saw on the news the other day that we are already about 20" over the average amount for this time of year...I want the 40° weather from January back!

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 14 Feb 08 - 04:29 PM

We've already exceeded our annual average snowfall locally, with warnings from "official sources" that we have a couple of months left and more is likely.

During the past couple of months, we've had at least a day or two each week of daytime high temps in the mid 50F (13C) range. Also during the same period, we've had at least a night or two each week of overnight lows close to 20F (-7C) or below. The pattern is predicted to continue.

There are small patches of "green stuff" visible in the lawn from my window, that sprouted during the last warm swing but that now is "green-dead" (frozen) from the pea-sized sleet that was laying on it yesterday.

"Mother nature" appears to be in a distinct "PMS" phase here, with intermittent "cold-shoulders" interspersed with "hot flashes." About the only notable birds have been bunches of unusually large blue-jays and occasional small cardinals, with the more usually numerous starlings, crows, and sparrows almost unseen.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Cats
Date: 14 Feb 08 - 04:33 PM

On tonights local news there was an article about the annual flower count at nearby Cothele House, a National Trust House and gardens. Today there were 141 different kinds of flowers in bloom, many up to six weeks early and a 76% increase on last years count. Seasons? What seasons?

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemispher
From: Bee
Date: 14 Feb 08 - 09:30 PM

Cats, from here that's just...obscene! Cold water in front of a man dyin' in the desert... (Bee throws another damn log on the damn fire...)

GNU!!! Get a new stove! take it with you or sell it when you move. You can get safe wood stoves for not a lot of money, often free if you ask around. I do know that kind of stove, and I've seen the whole thing glowing cherry red and practically dancing on its little legs, just panting for a bit of clothing to brush it, or the cat to pass too close, or the dry old wall behind it to spontaneously combust.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemispher
From: Janie
Date: 14 Feb 08 - 11:16 PM

Biggest snowfall of the year last night - 3/4 inch....Looked kinda pretty crowning the blooms on my earliest daffodils.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemispher
From: ragdall
Date: 15 Feb 08 - 01:03 AM

Left side of Canada, here.
Is this an early sign of Spring?
rags

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemispher
From: maeve
Date: 15 Feb 08 - 07:49 AM

Listen to Bee, gnu! Heck, Uncle Henry always has some gooduns. We could drive up and meet you halfway to deliver one if poor little NB is low on good stoves. Maine has a plentitude!

Otherwise I'll have to start sending more snow your way, hehehe.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: gnu
Date: 15 Feb 08 - 09:37 AM

Rags! It snows in Beautiful BC? How is the deck?

Bee & Maeve... I only have two cord and spring will come eventually. I'll get a new stove. Maybe around June.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Big Mick
Date: 15 Feb 08 - 10:04 AM

I have, perhaps, one of the great stoves ever! It is a Defiant Encore, made by Vermont Castings. I love this thing, it just puts out the nicest heat ever, is easy on wood. Every couple of years I do have to put in new gaskets and that can be a pain in ass, but other than that it is great. It has a catalytic element in it that really makes it more heat efficient.

Love it, but I want to give it a break. Come on, Springtime.....before I shoot a snowmobile.......the bastards have no respect for others property and solitude....

Mick

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Bee
Date: 15 Feb 08 - 10:24 AM

There was a lovely, safe, efficient Scandinavian 'egg' shape stove here when we bought the place, but it was pre-CSA certification, and therefore unacceptable to the insurance company. We bought an Osburn, has a catalytic burner, works very well, and the sides and back are never more than warm - all heat is directed out front and top.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Cats
Date: 15 Feb 08 - 10:35 AM

I have 2 lovely woodburners, one in my lounge and one in my dining room and I think I have probably only lit them 2 or 3 times this winter and that was just 'cos I fancied the real flame comforting thing! Our relatives in BC keep telling us about real snow and I love the stuff. There's nothing better than walking across open moors in a foot of snow. Sadly, I've never done it as we don't get real snow here. The odd snowflake a couple of times a year. There again, 4 years ago Bodmin Moor was cut off for 24 hours and people had to be rescued from their cars by helicopter. It just so happened I was in Birmingham at the time with not a cloud in the sky and thought Jon was lying when he said we had a foot of snow! By the time I got home it was nearly all gone.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemispher
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 15 Feb 08 - 02:23 PM

In December, New Hampshire (US) had more snow than any year since 1876.

Not sure how January lined up, but it still seemed to be snowing about every three days, maybe alternating with snow turning to freezing rain (or freezing rain turning to snow).

Since the new metal addition in my left shoulder has given me the ability to predict the weather (as well as to verify what I can damned well see out the window!), I've been in pain for most of the past two weeks. And then the past couple days have been very cold (on top of the snow, then rain), which hasn't helped at all.

At least yesterday a neighbor came over with his front end loader and excavated some of the firewood for us. And another load comes tomorrow, which will make life a bit easier. Tarps over the woodpile only seem to help temporarily. Tom re-laid the tarp under the wood -- good thing, because there's water underneath that. Wood frozen together can be whacked apart. Wood frozen in the snow can be whacked out. Even wood frozen into the ice usually can be pounded out. But wood frozen into MUD -- it'll be there til June.

I think we might be getting too old to be heating primarily with wood. I think first house project after I can work again and have an income again might be duct work and thermostat for the furnace (which we have been using only as backup) .

At least the sun is out today!

Linn