Let It Snow!

Because  what the hell can you do about it?

It is official!

We did indeed get our average total annual snowfall in one storm, which, if it means it doesn't snow again until next winter that is okay by me. I know it doesn't mean that, but what are you going to do, eh?

We had a nice sunrise this morning, which is nice.

Here is my cousin Carson when he replaced Booker T in the MGs.

Don't really have a story, just some pictures

It snowed here today. First snow this winter. It could have been spread out over a couple of storms and that would have suited me just fine, but you get what you get:

My catalpa tree got snowed on:

My dog got snowed on:

I dug a path out to my shop, eventually:

Once there I worked on a red maple table top that I milled flat yesterday:

That slab is 28.5mm x 60cm x 99cm. I sawed that out of tree that grew in a county south of here, probably 15 years ago or more. Time to use it up.

Sure, I have posted this before, but it never gets old...

It's been a good week

Got some work done, it is only 92 degrees now and it will cool off nicely this evening. While posting a picture I noticed a picture I took on January 17th - how quickly we forget.

That snapshot made me think to take another one right now from the same vantage point:

What a difference five months makes.

No particular reason but I do like the Staple Singers.

Was Mr. Lucky the worst show ever to have a theme song written by Henry Mancini?

I say yes, yes it was. Mr. Lucky himself could not be more wooden were he played by Kaw-liga. Ross Martin, who in real life spoke more languages than Chicklit put together, could not maintain a fake accent for the duration of a single episode, sometimes, not even for a single scene. The fights all had the same schematic - Lucky and Andamo get the drop on the cardboard cutout bad guys, then they lose their advantage, then after valiant fisticuffs, triumph in the end. Rocky movies made millions with that shtick. All Mr. Lucky needed were some Batmanesque "Biff" and "Pow" graphics to reach true camp.

Lucky had a boat which he anchored 3 miles off the coast, in international waters. Somehow that was a viable location for gambling. But the local sheriff still wanted to arrest him for running a casino. Then he switched to being a restaurateur, which, in reality was caused by show sponsors not wanting to be seen as supporting gambling, and somehow, his boat remained 3 miles off shore and yet he was able to keep the joint packed. Curious. Not a restaurant for those prone to sea-sickness, I suppose.

Frank Gorshin showed up in one episode, did his bit, it was entertaining, and that was a bright spot. The mention of eating marlin and truffled grouse was, well, I don't know -- I had no idea that bill fish were good eating. Or did they say "ruffled grouse"? My hearing isn't what it once was, plus I was cooking lunch.

But as fascinating as a nearly 60 year old failed tv show is, that's not what I am here to talk about. We are currently experiencing a snowstorm. First day of spring and it is snowing. I saw a bluebird working on nest building, so that is a positive sign. She must know something I don't. It is warm enough that the snow isn't sticking, but come on -- it's nearly April, enough with the snow already!

*Click to embiggen picture*

My catalpa tree this morning.

He's no Ennio Moricone, but I always liked this tune.

Some soil is impervious...

...and a play on words can never gain a purchase.

One more snow picture - I finished shoveling inside the compound and will allow the upcoming heat wave to deal with the 100 feet of the driveway that remains untouched by my shovel.

Aw, what the heck, here is a picture from Wednesday - some have said that they like how it looks:

A study in monochrome.

Tales from the Snowpacalypse

I spent much of the day shoveling snow, an activity I dislike, not because of the labor involved, rather due to the transitory nature of the results. When I shovel dirt it stays where I put it - it doesn't melt.

We got a stupid amount of snow here, and even though I shoveled as much as I cared to, I am still at least another day's worth of shoveling away from being able to drive out my driveway. That will get me to the road, which, as those of you who live in snow country understand is another set of problems. Has the road been plowed? Did the plow push an impenetrable mound of snow across the end of the driveway? Can you bust through that? And so on.

Here is Saint Francis, pining for warmer days:

This is probably a good place to tell the story of how that statue came to reside at my house. A friend and I walk our dogs on a quiet nearby street, and up at the top of the hill is a former hospice - now closed to patients. While walking by it one day I saw Saint Francis, broken in two, lying in the brush. I got the sense that vandals had taken him from the grounds and dashed him against the hillside. After finishing the walk I came back and picked him up - he was broken clean in two, and once I applied some super strength outdoor masonry epoxy and mashed him back together he was as good as new. Now he lives in a bower, under a dogwood tree where I can see him out my kitchen window. He reminds me that kindness to animals is an important part of life. Thanks, Frankie, you da man.

Updated, because who doesn't like the Pre-Raphaelites?

Sublimating bombogenisis

Yep, we got some weather. Tedious subject, I know, as this is now the second post in a row where I have mentioned it. Oh well, it's too freakin' cold to talk about anything else.

Went for walkies Wednesday evening, it was brisk out, a bit dampish, and when I got home I found that the recliner was calling my name. I wrapped myself up in a blanket, started watching Serpico, when next thing I know I get a call that there is a blizzard going on. No way - I was just out there, what are you talking about - sure enough - there was already over an inch of accumulated snow.

Next day dawned clear and bright:

But since then it has been below freezing, with temperatures drifting into single digits. Those whose job it is to sensationalize the weather are now saying that we will set a record for the longest sustained period below freezing EVER! Well, in 30-something years, anyway. It won't get above 32 until Monday, and I know many of you are all like "Dude, heatwave!"

So, how cold is it? I just went for another walk and it's so cold that everyone I saw out walking was wearing a parka. That's how cold it is -- we are wearing freakin' parkas! In the South! Cue Ron White! We all look like freakin' Frosty over here! 

But enough about that -- how about something completely different, Renee Fleming singing Casta Diva from Norma. The architecture, the 3+ minute long pan shot that opens this video, not to mention the sublime singing warms my heart.

Renee Fleming is an American treasure. What coloratura - I am in awe.

I have no idea if the coast is clear...

...but it is snowing here.

I don't much care for snow, or winter, for that matter. I have work to do and this kind of weather makes me want to stay inside. It will be precipitating for the next 24 hours - not good, I have somewhere to be on Sunday, and from what I have seen in previous winters, the snow plow is broken.

However, I did get a nice surprise this afternoon - two boxes showed up on my front porch - inside were two big blocks of koa wood from Kurtistown on the Big Island of Hawaii. Talk about a wonderful slice of the tropics right here in the snowy Southeast. 

The wood is highly figured and the ends are treated to prevent cracks from forming, which is good as it might be a while until I can rough turn it. In the past I have used wood from local trees almost exclusively, including such local exotics as dogwood, crape myrtle, deodar cedar, golden rain tree, apple, Bradford pear, persimmon, southern sugar maple, Atlantic white cypress, plum, red mulberry and so on, but this will be the first koa I have ever worked with. So look for a koa bowl or two on this page sometime in the future - they will be stunning.

This evening's musical selection seemed  appropriate both for the season and the weather: for all you snowflakes out there...

WKRLEM: WE HAVE TO GET THE BREAD AND MILK PART 2 !

Everybody seems to be taking a snow day. There is not that much snow in Brooklyn but it is very windy and bitter cold. Nobody is out. Schools are closed. Everyone is hunkered down and riding it out.

Luckily I got the bread and milk already. Coconut milk and gluten free baguette but waddayagonnado?

WKRLEM: Annual Snow Advisory!

Why is milk and bread...

....the main thing people feel they need to have in preparation for a snow storm or other weather event? You ever noticed that?

But wait there is more... Not just a solar eclipse!

"Today sees THREE astronomical phenomena take place as the supermoon and spring equinox align"

While people in the UK were treated to an eclipse, other events took place

Today marks the spring equinox, when day and night is roughly equal

And it is also a supermoon, with the moon at its closest point to Earth

It is very rare for the three events to occur at the same time

Closer to our neck of the woods.... 36 Million Americans Under Some Type Of Winter Weather Advisory On First Day Of Spring.

Boston goes snow crazy

#BostonBlizzardChallenge: Mayor urges locals to stop jumping out of windows in their underwear http://t.co/q6sk3cZUtS pic.twitter.com/gouTVmqH15
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) February 18, 2015

A hero is coming to save all of you stuck in the snow. pic.twitter.com/g4bIv404ku
— Henri, Le Chat Noir (@HenriLeChatNoir) February 18, 2015

More snow for Boston this weekend

More snow for Boston this weekend! @pictureboston @BostonDotCom @BostonTweet @JoeDunn8 @CharlieBakerMA #mapoli pic.twitter.com/mlRyQBwd1N
— Maxine (@Maxinerunner) February 12, 2015

Snow Forest, Sweden

Balance of Trade (Open Thread)

And in East Knoxville, things just couldn't be better! #knoxwx pic.twitter.com/JGJIjZgx7l
— Mike Donila (@MikeDonila) February 13, 2014

"Snowmageddon"

"Traffic apocalypse: Snow in the southeast leaves commuters, schoolkids stranded all day on the roads"

"And by “all day,” I mean 18 hours or more. Some people were out there overnight. The lucky ones were close enough to a Home Depot or supermarket that they simply pulled over, walked to the store, and slept in the aisles."

Hot Air

UPDATE: 13 Examples Of People Being Awesome In The Middle Of The Atlanta Traffic Jam
(If Atlanta was anywhere near California, you know Bags would have been there helping out)

Via Instapundit

We interrupt this blog...

To tell you it's snowing like a banshee out there tonight. Ladies and gentlemen please, please, if you are indoors, stay indoors... driving is very hazardous tonight. We are now talking "10 to 14 inches for the five boroughs". Very hazardous. "We are expecting a greater volume of snow." The mayor said. "It will be very windy tonight". And "the combination of snow and blowing snow will make driving very very dangerous."

No Quickie Mart scratch-off Tonight 

 

If you are on the road, drive very carefully. We don't want anything bad to happen to you. Watch out for the plows. Visibility is below normal. Slow down. Use your blinkers. Start braking way before reaching the intersection. Turn the heat all the way up, if you are cold.

 

If you have anymore suggestions please share them with us in the comments.

Snow melt fog



This Morning

It was beautiful.