Weather Flip Flop

A week ago we were preparing for a record snow storm. Today we may set a record high for the date. Spring in the Midwest!

While Elma did not receive record snows (we were on the outer edge of the heavy snow band) several nearby cities did set records. Rochester, Minnesota received over 15 inches. Rochester is about an hour and a half north of us. Further north, and into central Wisconsin, the total snowfall was even greater, up to 24 inches. We received around 5 inches of the white stuff.

Our biggest problem was the high winds that accompanied the storm. Blowing and drifting snow was a problem, particularly in rural areas. Here in town we had some drifting in the alley and on sidewalks, making clean up a bit of a chore.

The snow was preceded by freezing rain. While this did not last long it did leave a layer of ice on walkways. Snow falling (along with the sleet) froze into a rough surface instead of glaze ice, making it bad but not treacherous.

The storm had been forecast several days in advance. I made a grocery run just to top off our supplies knowing our regular shopping day, generally a Monday or Tuesday, would be delayed. A stop at the gas station left me with enough extra fuel to run the snow blower and lawn tractor. Food and fuel to prepare.

Today the snow is gone except for a very few place where the city had created huge piles. With a forecast high of 78 the remaining snow will not last long. However, a cold front is coming through tonight and the extended forecast has high temperatures in the mid-40s for the next several days, much closer to average for this time of year. We will enjoy the warmth today and look forward to the arrival of true spring.

Speaking of spring, greenhouses are beginning to open. I stopped at a newly-rebuilt shop called the Plant Peddler located in Cresco. While the bulk of the annuals had not yet arrived, it was pleasant to walk through the facility and look at the gifts and plants on display. I took a few photos.

I am getting supplies together in preparation for a trip to New York. Felicity and Peter have a list of projects they would like addressed, including the replacement of their mailbox (destroyed by a snow plow during the winter). My trip will be made during the end of April.

The new box will be mounted on a ‘swinging arm’ post, hopefully preventing a repeat of the destruction. This is part of the advertisement from source Etsy:

Other small tasks have kept us occupied. I have pretty much finished going through my 35mm slides, grouping them by topic. There are a few left to get though, one binder left out of 15, and I hope to complete the project in the next week or so.

I have published a new Gallery, made up of waterfalls and other water features.

Pam had ordered a new sisal pad for the cat scratching post which I installed this morning, as well as reversing an existing pad so the cats could scratch on an unused portion. This approach is far more economical than buying a new cat post every time the scratching surface needs to be renewed. Pads have been replaced a couple times now and are available from Chewy.

A new “No Kings Day” rally is scheduled for March 28th and I plan to attend. While I try to keep politics out of this blog, I am very concerned about recent events (attack on Iran) and the proposed SAVE act. The country is on the wrong track. I need a new sign for next week’s rally, so if anyone has ideas for a good one, let me know.

That’s it for now. Thanks for looking in!

Pam’s Penny

Why am I trapping mice out of the basement stairwell? What happened to that foundation barrier blown on the house only six years ago? This is very irritating.

With the snow-warmth-cold temps-heat cycle comes the mud. Grayce loves the mud. The dog run is churned into a mud pit already. Yuck.

What do I enjoy the most — additional warmth or additional daylight? Luckily I don’t have to choose.

Rock on.

Today’s Humor: