Looking forward, 2023

[maeve]

Raising a glass in celebration of the determined spirit of so many people dealing with climate, personal, family, work and health challenges with forward-looking hope.  Let us remember what has passed while seeing glimmers and pools of  light that lead us onward.  "Slàinte Mhath!"  

[maeve]

There is sunlight here for the first time in weeks. I am grateful. It is good to remember that the sun is shining even when we cannot see it.

[meganl]

All good wishes to all of you in bed with the flu roy in hospital with flu and pneumonia thanks to the vigilance at the home it was caught early and he is responding well to treatment but with his dementia there have been some heartbreaking phone calls as i tried to calm him. Thankfuly all i have to do at the moment is remind him where he is.

May 2023 bringgood health and prosperity

[maeve]

Oh so sorry for your and Roy's illness!

Sending sunshine and health your way.

[maeve]

Six inches of snow + 12 inches of snow + five inches of snow +sleet and freezing rain = six inches of frozen slush.
Fun times in the country!

[ragdall]

Maeve and meganl, Please forgive me, it's the end of January and this is the first time I've seen any of your posts on this thread. For some reason the "participated" alert never showed up.
Megan I hope that you and Roy have both recovered and that you have been seeing many sunny days.
Maeve, I hope winter will be kinder to you, going forward. Alas, I saw that it seems "the east" will be under an arctic chill for the near future. I hope that it's frosty fingers can't reach far enough to affect you.
We are looking forward to a week of "snow flurries", but the bitter cold is due to end here.

[maeve]

Oh rags, no worries! I only now saw your most recent reply. Life gets busy sometimes, and our notes here will still be here even when we are delayed by other necessities.

Weather wise we are bouncing back to back from springlike promise to winter's bitter cold. Chickadees and titmice are already practicing their spring songs, so I focus on the springlike promise. Inside  the house most of our many orchids are in bloom, cherry tomatoes have begun to ripen on the five half gallon pots in the south windows, and the two feeble red pelargoniums/geraniums I mentioned in the autumn have rejoiced in having the plant lights and seaweed emulsion so are now hearty and healthy, with bright red buds  beginning to emerge.

[ragdall]

Maeve, your indoor garden sounds delightful and delicious! I'm sorry that your promise of Spring has been interrupted with more cold.

I'm still trapped in winter with too warm temperatures that yield wet heavy snow to move.

Snowy night ending, c. 6:50 a.m., on Flickr

I was thrilled in the morning after I took that photo, that a kind neighbour drove his snowblower from around the corner and down the street to clear the very heavy, wet snow from my driveway for me. <3

I've been marveling at a ridiculously large flock of Bohemian Waxings that has been circling in my area for several weeks. flic.kr/s/aHBqjAsxTR
They seem to have removed every last berry in the area. I'm very worried that many of them will not survive the rest of the winter. This little critter landed less than 10 feet away from me. They seem to have lost all fear.

Standing at attention, on Flickr