In like a lamb and out like a lion

Spring?  The phrase is supposed to be in like a lion and out like a lamb for March, but hey – this year has been anything but normal. Yes folks, it’s snowing today – not unusual for some of your locales, but very much so here.

Above is Narcissus Pink Pride today. As soon as I saw this on the computer, I went inside for a flashlight and camp lantern to try to get a bit of light into the shot – but in the few moments that took, this flower had hit the ground. Below is a shot of Pink Pride last weekend.

Scilla Siberica today, big fluffy snowflakes are weighing these down.

Scilla Siberica last weekend

Narcissus Dickcissel today

Last weekend, a happier Narcissus Dickcissel

Ruby Swiss Chard

Calibrachoa

Last weekend, a hawk. I’d been thinking I hadn’t seen many hawks. Predator birds. Also heard the screech owls move back in. Predator bird. Haven’t seen ANY hummingbirds at the feeders, unusual for me. Hoping the snow of St Patty’s Day simply sent them to lower elevations for a bit (Cornell notes they “eat smaller birds”, sigh).

This weekend, really big wet snowflakes, sadly empty feeders.

This post is participating in Sundays in My City – stop by to see what others are doing in their neck of the woods.

Almost, but not quite, Spring

Finally, a real snow storm this weekend! A few days short of spring and this is the first snow I’ve had stick here at my little mountain home.

When I was out quickly snapping these shots (company – so no fussing about with settings etc) the snow on a length of telephone wire fell – FFFWWWWUUUUUUUMMMPP. Very loud, I’d forgotten how loud the sound of falling snow can be.

This is the first dusting of snow in the back, always such a cozy view when embraced by the darkening storm.

My sadly stressed internet connection (satellite) – hmmn, why isn’t Maggie posting yet? Although AT&T is constantly working their poles here, no Uverse, no internet worthy cable. It’s satellite or dial on the mountain side.

   

Murphys Irish Days – the Pringles sized (read huge, and I’m quoting a friend) snowflakes amused everyone – at one point I think from the right angle you’d have captured at least ten folks shooting the snow from their phones. The storm lessened the crowds for Irish days somewhat – but those who ventured down stuck it out and had a great time (you could pop in or out of a winery for a taste or some warm mulled wine to keep you toasty, hot cocoa was offered every few blocks). The booths stayed open until almost the end of the show time as the crowds stayed – we were all so amused and happy with our snow. The Irish days shots are from Kady’s iPhone – mine had memory full and I’d grabbed my camera but not the memory card (ouch!). Waking early to make scratch coffee cake – that we could have before needing to leave for the parade – put a damper on my photo prep.

First crocus this season (pre-storm photo, but the crocus are fine, they adore a bit of snow).

First Narcissus Tete a Tete and Muscari of the season.

This post is participating in Sundays in My City over at Unknown Mami.

Capricious Mother Nature

Mother Nature pulled a fast one on us this weekend. Murphy’s Irish Days is usually a day of joy, crafts, parade and fun. This year she decided to descend on us in a whirlwind of snow cold and wind. The evening before our morning parade, chains were required south of town, an extremely unusual occurrence. Power went out Friday night, as it’s wont to do with stormy weather. Our lovely fair day was overcast, cold and subject to sleeting rain.

I’ve missed Unknown Mami’s Sundays in My Citythe last few weeks and had planned a cheery update on our fantastic joyful happenings at Irish days. This blog party’s premise is attractive and some talented regulars participate. Alas (great word alas, every time I think of it I hear Dumbledore, “alas ..” when he got the icky Bertie Bott Jelly Bean) t’was not to be. Just couldn’t force myself to join many the hardy souls who braved the weather for the parade (that was blessed with a break in the rain) and events.

Over the last few weeks, I’ve continued to play with images of clouds, sunsets and, when the opportunity presents itself, rainbows.

I’d also considered a bit of a dissertation on my regular jaunt to Sonora, think the children’s song  “over the mountains and through the woods”. Eighteen miles of scenic, curvy mountain roads and a bridge across New Melone reservoir is all it takes. This was my destination Friday; I swung through a rest stop to get the image of a small portion of the drive. You can see below that although cloudy, you’d never guess the severity of the storm that would hit a few hours later.

A surprise of rain and hail at my last stop gave way to dense snow flurries halfway home. A few moments later and I may have hit the chain requirement or had to park at the top of my steep driveway and shovel it out. White out conditions descended.

Sadly, this was also the weekend for Ironstone’s Daffodil Days. Here’s the progression of what happened to a pot of mine from snow last night to melt this morning. If I’d tried to spend the day in town today, believe I’d have fared about as well.

 

UPDATE SUNDAY MORNING – FIRST DAY OF SPRING! This is what the above pot looks like Sunday morning – and the National Weather Service is still showing I should be in the mid forties with only rain (talk about being off on predictions). They are forecasting snow this evening around 4,000ft - I’m at 2,500 and the snow hasn’t let up for a moment. Thicker, deeper and heavier than Friday and above pics. Oh oh, power flickering, not good – would really like to have a Sunday with power, heat and water …..

This post is participating in the linky parties noted below.

A Tale of Woe, Sundays in My Town

Wild and wooly weather here this past week. I’m choosing to share photos that more tell a story than are exquisite or frame -able. The spring-like weather we’d been enjoying brought out the hummingbirds en masse. Usually I see one or two over the winter at the feeders and that had been the case since about Oct/Nov. Then, last week after our weeks of warm sunny weather, the mobs of 12 I usually only see in spring arrived (I think the best shot captures 9 – a few always take off when I start clicking the camera). Hummingbirds do fight over the food – flaring their tail feathers as I captured in a shot you’ll see. Once they’ve established dominance, one bird will sit at and own that feeder to only be challenged occasionally. They nest close to the feeders in the oaks closest to the house, usually one or two in the wisteria on the front porch. The picture of the tangle of vines has the hummingbird nest within. Their behavior was totally spring at the beginning of the week. Then the storm hit. Thursday was whistling whipping winds with sleeting rain. Friday morning, instead of the mobs, I only saw a bird or two. I’m sure many nests were destroyed but it wasn’t yet freezing and don’t have a clue what happened to them. Then of course, the snow came with a vengeance, knocking out my power and hanging deep on the trees that house their nests. For the next two days I’d hear the loud thumps as the snow began to melt and slide like an avalanche from the tree branches.

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I used to call the fat guy sitting on the red feeder “Glutton” – one time he kept his head in the feeding tube so long I thought he was stuck and started out to the porch to pull him back. He did stop feeding and then like a cartoon flap his wings while he slowly sunk below porch level as though on a slow elevator. I thought I’d seen him once since the storm but can’t be sure. No one’s sitting on the red or blue feeders even with the sun shining and I’ve only seen a few hummers that I can identify as different in the past few days at the back feeders.  It looks like one is trying to own all three back feeders. The jays and larger birds are also about, though also not as prolific as before the storm.  I’ve hung up a net filled with dryer lint (for new nests) and will leave bundles of ‘ready made by me’ small clusters of branches about, I’m keeping the feeders fresh and full and putting out some roosting pockets. But, I’m sad as it looks like our surprising storm wounded the amazing little creatures. Thus is my tale of woe.

The human population is mostly back on its feet. Neighbors with longer driveways were out with the chainsaws to clear the fallen trees from the roads to their homes and PG&E had their bucket trucks, monster orange vehicles and Polaris all terrain mountain climbers here in attempts to restore power to neighbors uphill of me (eight or nine homes). The power for the folks at the top of the hill is from lines strung up the vertical hillside, not along the curvy, narrow and steep road they have. My own home is right on the road, something I usually don’t appreciate until winter when I realize I really wouldn’t want to deal with a long road in. Our entire hill is on a “not county maintained” road – so no snow removal. You let the folks with the really big trucks get out first and go back and forth a bit. This storm knocked me out,  no power and no power for well = no water, no electric turn on for gas furnace and oven means they don’t work as well, for first 24 hours then again for 8. Luckily, I pack in supplies for the possibility of this happening when I have four or so friends visiting to ski – so when it’s just lil ol me I do fine, if grumpy.

All 16 shots are from the back deck except the hummingbird nest and power lines which are the front.

This post is participating in:

Sundays in My City, Weekend Walkabout, The Tablescaper, Under the Table @StephanieLynn