Minnesota

Signs of spring

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Spring has arrived in the north, and we are marveling in it’s colors and textures. It is all a great awakening from the cold and quiet of winter. Spring rains have brought green to our grasses, and caused the flowers to open and burst into bloom. The daffodils, magnolias, and crocus are all basking in the warm sunshine. The rains have brought gentle showers and also thunderstorms that roll through quickly and seem to clear in an instant. If we’re fast enough and the conditions are right, they also grace us with wondrous rainbows of color – sometimes even complete double rainbows!

Hints of spring

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We are dancing between winter and spring. The calendar says mid-March which can mean any type of weather and conditions, especially since last year at this time we had over two feet of snow on the ground. This year is a much different story with record-breaking high temperatures and no snow, only brown grass and drought conditions. People are taking advantage of our early spring temperatures, and it seems everyone you see outside is smiling as though we’re getting away with something.

The lakes are loosing their ice, the birds are calling, the days are lengthening, and heavy coats, winter boots, gloves and hats are not necessary. I’ve marveled at daffodils and tulips that have pushed up through the ground, certainly a month earlier than usual. But I was stunned to see blooming crocus the other day while I was out walking in our neighborhood. Granted, they were near a wall that could capture the sun’s heat and keep it much warmer than the air temperature, but the crocus were a wonderful welcome to spring’s promise.

Deep down I know we have not turned the page completely as our forecast for the next few days shows a return of more seasonal temperatures and even some snow. But I’ll hold on to the crocus’s promise and know that spring will be here soon.

Snow sculpturing

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It’s Winter Carnival time in Saint Paul, Minnesota. But there are challenges to be met this unusual year. With temperatures in the 30s and 40s we are most un-winterlike. To date we have had a paltry 7.3 inches of snow, whereas last year we had already shoveled over 53 inches. We’ve had a couple of subzero temperatures, but not the norm. For those people, events, and businesses that rely on cold and snow this winter has been a bust so far. Many lakes are not completely frozen yet, and those lakes that are frozen do not have the ice thickness to support cars, trucks, and the permanent ice houses. Skiers are flocking to areas with man-made snow, ice fishers are only walking onto the ice to fish (if even that), and some pond hockey events have been cancelled.

As of today, the Winter Carnival is going ahead with their snow sculptures. There were not nearly as many groups sawing and shaping their blocks of snow when I was at the fairgrounds earlier, although I did see snow sculptors wearing short sleeve shirts and no jackets (which is a statement of itself about the current conditions).

In Winter Carnival legend, King Boreas presides over the winter world of Saint Paul. He declares ten days of celebrating all things cold and wintry which he oversees with his wife, the Queen of Snows. But on the final day, Vulcanus Rex, the god of Fire, and his Krewe subdue the cold with heat, spring and summer are welcomed, and they rule until the following year when King Boreas and winter return. This year it appears Vulcanus Rex has a head-start and King Boreas will be retreating much sooner than usual!

Into the new year

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2024 – a new year and a clean slate. But maybe all the “newness” isn’t quite as important. I’m choosing to look forward with “freshness” and an openness to what the future holds. Experiences to relish and roads to travel, skills to learn, tastes to savor, sounds to hear. It’s not necessarily new year’s resolutions, but an intent to open my life, be aware of the loveliness that surrounds me.

This delicate and soft-hued hibiscus seems to be blooming into freshness, opening to the light around it. I hope your new year is a lovely one, filled with experiences to delight all your senses.

A last look at fall, plus calendars & holiday cards

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Fall was here last Sunday, in all her resplendent colors. The sun shone brightly and illuminated the reds and yellows. That night the temperatures dipped, the frost came and the leaves dried, taking their brilliant colors with them. Monday was gray and chilly, and it snowed overnight. And just like that fall is gone and winter is here.

That also means that the winter holidays are fast approaching, and I’m again offering my holiday cards and desk calendars. There are four unique card scenes to choose from – two winter landscape cards and two poinsettia cards. These are a special way to send your greetings and to connect with family and friends.

There are two 5×7″ calendars – one of nature scenes and one of floral images. These easily fit into a frame that can sit on your desk, or a magnetic frame you can place on your refrigerator – a quick way to reference the month and day, and to brighten your surroundings.

Information about both the holiday cards and calendars can be found on my website under the respective tabs/headings. Please reach out to me if you have any questions or comments.

And in the vein of our upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, thank you for following along to my blog. It’s a real pleasure for me to share my adventures and the views of my surroundings.