Two of the Triplets

On the goldfish pond - March 2014

Spring - where are you . . . .

This full-disk image from NOAA’s GOES-13 satellite was captured at 11:45 UTC (7:45 a.m. EDT) and shows the Americas on March 20, 2014. This date marks the start of astronomical spring in the northern hemisphere.

The vernal equinox, or beginning of astronomical spring for the northern hemisphere, occurred at 12:57 PM on March 20 - well, I don't know what happened but Spring has not Sprung in my neck of the woods. 
The weather tonight is crazy - rain clearing in the evening hours making way for clears skies and cold temperatures. Lows dipping into the mid to upper 20s. Northwest winds will be gusty as a high pressure system moves into our area. Wind chills Wednesday morning could be in the teens. 
Holy Batman!!!!!!!! My bees don't know what's going on but they know it's best to stay inside.  I'm still feeding all four hives and thank goodness I have made it thru the winter without losing a hive.  I haven't checked them - been gone all the good weather days we've had but hope to get it done soon.  Have bought new frames for supers and brood box.  Some of my equipment is so old - need to replace some and help those girls any way I can.
I want to complain about hot weather - bring it on!

Cold Weather and Snow

It doesn't look like much but it's a solid sheet of ice out there.  The coldest temps we've had in a long time - it's 15 degrees this morning.    

On February 19, it thundered during the early morning hours - so snow in 10 days - so we're right on schedule.

Retired People

Yesterday I was at one of those big warehouse stores, buying a large bag of Purina dog chow for my loyal pet Owen, the Wonder Dog (name changed to protect the innocent), and was in the check-out line when a woman behind me asked if I had a dog.

What did she think I had an elephant?

So because I'm retired and have little to do, on impulse, I told her that no, I didn't have a dog, I was starting the Purina Diet again. I added that I probably shouldn't, because I ended up in the hospital last time, but that I'd lost 50 pounds before I awakened in an intensive care ward with tubes coming out of most of my orifices and IVs in both arms.

I told her that it was essentially a Perfect Diet and that the way that it works is to load your pants pockets with Purina Nuggets and simply eat one or two every time you feel hungry. The food is nutritionally complete, (certified), so it works well and I was going to try it again.

(I have to mention here that practically everyone in line was now enthralled with my story.)

Horrified, she asked if I ended up in intensive care because the dog food poisoned me?

I told her no, I had stopped to pee on a fire hydrant and a car hit me.

I thought the guy behind her was going to have a heart attack he was laughing so hard.

Better watch what you ask retired people. They have all the time in the world to think of crazy things to say.

(this little story has been around for a long time but it just passed my way recently)

Daffodils

 

I'm hoping this means Spring is on the way.  I did hear lots of thunder early this morning when a rain shower passed thru - you know what that means . . . . snow in 10 days.  Believe it or not but it does happen.  Hope we get an EASY button this time.  I'm ready for some warm days.

old folklore that if you hear thunder in the Winter, then you will get snow in the next 10 days - See more at: http://blogs.wavy.com/2011/01/04/thunder-in-winter-snow/#sthash.6wDax08f.dpuf

old folklore that if you hear thunder in the Winter, then you will get snow in the next 10 days. - See more at: http://blogs.wavy.com/2011/01/04/thunder-in-winter-snow/#sthash.6wDax08f.dpuf

old folklore that if you hear thunder in the Winter, then you will get snow in the next 10 days. - See more at: http://blogs.wavy.com/2011/01/04/thunder-in-winter-snow/#sthash.6wDax08f.dpuf

Poetry Contest

The “All Australian” poetry contest to select the Aussie Poet Laureate  is held every 5 years in the Sydney Opera house.

The judges would select a word at random that would be given to the finalists five minutes before the start of the final competition. Each finalist would study the word and were required to come up with a short four line poem that contained the selected word.

Last September, the contest came down to 2 finalists – a British immigrant PhD graduate from University of Melbourne and an outback Aborigine from Waga Waga, estimated to be about 75 years old.

The word selected by the judges was ‘TIMBUKTU’.

The graduate won the coin toss and elected to recite his poem first. Stepping to the microphone, he said:

 

Slowly across the desert sand,
Trekked a lonely caravan.
Men on camels two by two
Destination - Timbuktu .

The audience applauded loudly, no way the old aboriginal could top that they thought.

Without a sound, the old Aborigine slowly and calmly made his way to the microphone, took a deep breath and recited in a deep voice:

Me and Tim a huntin' went,
We met three whores in a pop up tent.
They were three, and we was two

So I bucked one, and Timbuktu.

Needless to say, the elected Poet Laureate for the next five years will be an original Australian native.

 

 

Snow Days

We've had some more snow and enough of a good thing is enough!
But since I'm inside and don't drive in this mess, I've been quilting and watching some old movies.  I have a VCR and I know - don't even go there - I'm way behind with technology but VCR tapes are 39 cents at the Salvation Army.  That's cheap entertainment any way you look at it.  So here's a sampling of what I've been watching the past couple of days. I love Cher in most anything and Three Amigos is so dumb.  Sarah Jessica Parker and Helen Hunt are great in Girls Just Want to Have Fun.  Love Birdcage and What About Bob?  - hilarious! And for serious stuff - Cast Away - what a great movie. Sixteen Candles - I love all of Molly Ringwald's movies.  

I'm easily entertained and this is cheap entertainment.