159: Reversing the process

(Frosty kitchen window sunrise.)

When I woke up this morning my thoughts were about spring.  The reality was frost and ice.  It had gotten down into the 20’s overnight and there was a sparkly layer of frost coating everything.  Had the rain not melted most of the snow, we might have had another round of hoar frost.

(This morning’s view of the pond.)

As I stood at the window sipping on my cup of tea, it occurred to me that the scene I was looking at was very similar to how it looked in the late autumn when frost began to appear in the mornings on a regular basis.  Winter is reversing itself.  We started frosty in November and we’ll probably end frosty.  I’m not sure when that will be, though.

(An autumn leaf frozen in time.)

I had a nice walk this afternoon.  The sun is shining, and it feels relatively warm (almost 40 degrees).  I didn’t take many photos.  I meandered around the property with no particular destination in mind.  I eventually circled back around to the front of the house to check on the flowers.  I wanted to see if they’d opened their little heads yet.

Aren’t they gorgeous?  I think they may well be the most beautiful flowers I’ve ever seen.  They look like warmth, springtime, and hope.

What’s new in the Bogs

• The heavy rains and snow melt have caused quite a bit of flooding in northeast Ohio (other than our basement, of course, which is now pretty much dry).  I had a look at some of the local creeks this afternoon while I was out and about running errands.  I think this is the highest I’ve seen some of the creeks, including the one that is currently flooding our woods.  It’s possible they have been higher in previous years, but this year I am paying attention.
• Some folks apparently don’t understand the phrase “Turn around, don’t drown.”  A woman my age, who should be old enough to know better, decided to try to drive through flood waters and was swept away in her car.  The poor woman died as a result.  Another woman on another road did the same thing but she was lucky enough to be rescued.  The deputy who rescued her, however, suffered from hypothermia.  The moral of the story:  If there is water on the road, turn around.  There is no way of knowing how deep it is or how fast it’s moving.
• A few roads nearby are covered with water.  There are plenty of high and dry alternate routes.
• The Ohio Senate has delayed a vote on the union (busting) bill.  It will be interesting to see what they do with it.  One of the things we the people of Ohio can do if we don’t like a law or a section of a law that our Assembly passes is have it put on a statewide ballot.  IF they pass the union bill, it’s highly likely it will show up on the ballot in time for the next presidential election which might bring out those independent and progressive voters who stayed home during last November’s elections.  So, it should be kind of interesting to see how this all plays out.
• I noticed that the drivers in this part of the world have not improved their driving skills since my last outing a week or two ago.  I don’t know what it is with Ohio drivers and driving at least 10 mph under the speed limit, not using turn signals, and driving while texting or talking on their cell phone.  You can always tell who is texting or talking on the phone.  They are usually driving about 15 mph under the speed limit and swerving.  Sometimes it is difficult to tell them apart from drunk drivers.  They are probably almost as dangerous.
• Most of the snow has melted.  There are still some patches in shady spots, and the huge mounds of snow made by plowing will probably be around until April.  There are few that may even last into May.  (Not really, but they sure are big.)

Well, that’s about it from the Bogs for today.  I’ll have some slightly more exciting news soon.  Or at least something different to write about.  I hope.