Friday, November 21, 2008

What is up with the Weather?

The photo that won't go away.


Before I rant, I am going to post my funky pod photo one more time in hopes I can get an identity on it. Sharon, I did send an email to Steve (as you suggested in your comments) and I am hoping he can tell me what it is. http://shootingmyuniverse.blogspot.com/

Now onto my favorite subject for the month. Weather.......Now I consider myself a hardy New England gal, I have lived here my entire life and should be used to extreme cold by now, but not this year. I HATE the cold. I am thinking it has something to do with the fact that it was warm last weekend and then we jumped to the direct opposite. Every morning is brutal. First I have to get out of bed and turn my heat up some because it's so cold that I don't want to get out of bed. Then it's time to get ready for work. After I have gotten ready for work it's time to feed the birds.

This is a chore in itself because the birds are hungrier now and word has gotten out in the squirrel community about my many offerings. I think Squiggy sent out a 411 to others that I have good eats in my back yard and he brought his gang. So now I spend 10 minutes every morning putting out various foods in various feeders to make sure everyone is happy. It's more difficult to do now because the lids are frozen onto the feeders so I have to pry many of them open. I can't wear gloves while doing this because I can't open anything with them on so I have to rough it out for the birds.

Now onto the bird bath. I really thought I was clever with my idea of adding hot water to my bird bath every morning. My reasoning was that all of the ice would melt and I would be left with fresh warm water for my thirsty little friends. Naive on my part. I now have a honkin ice cube mixed with bird seed sitting in my bird bath. I saw a house finch trying to chip away at the ice yesterday morning and my heart broke. Out I went with a spatula in an attempt to chip away at the honkin cube and I couldn't do it (I did cut my hand though). I had to resort to putting a small plastic dish out there with water in it and filling it up every morning. A heated bird bath is the first thing on my Christmas wish list this year.

My temper is short at this point and now it's time for me to go to my job. I hop in the car and I can't see out of the windshield because I didn't warm it up long enough. I am still in denial at this point and figure all the ice will melt by the time I get down the street. Naive again! I can only see through the very bottom of the windshield which forces me to crouch down while driving so I can see where I am going (I look like Egor and my son is mortified). I have to pull over and use my AAA card to chip away at the ice because I lost my scraper.

When I get home it's dark out and the birds are gone and it's cold in my house. I put on my three layers of fleece and waddle around like an Oompa Loompa because of the extra padding. I refuse to set my heat to anymore than 62 degrees so the Oompa Loompa look will be very much in fashion in my household for the remainder of the winter.

Tomorrow is supposed to be the worst. Wind chill, cold, more ice on the bird bath. What is wrong with this picture?? It is November not January......Pray for me please.......

Peace

Edited to Add: I got this link from 10,000 birds and it's really fun to do.
You type in the url of your blog and it will analyze your personality type. The scary thing is that they were spot on regarding me. I often take the Internet tests and they seldom get it right so this is a hoot! Try it out and see what you get.
This is what I got

ESFP - The Performers
The entertaining and friendly type. They are especially attuned to pleasure and beauty and like to fill their surroundings with soft fabrics, bright colors and sweet smells. They live in the present moment and don´t like to plan ahead - they are always in risk of exhausting themselves.

The enjoy work that makes them able to help other people in a concrete and visible way. They tend to avoid conflicts and rarely initiate confrontation - qualities that can make it hard for them in management positions.

4 comments:

Unknown said...

It's funny to hear the winter stories ... especially from a native northerner. The only known solution is to move to Florida ... that not being an option, the heated bird bath is a good alternative.

A New England Life said...

Darlin, it sure is a tough time for you lately. I agree, this cold weather is horrid. I hate it with a passion. Seems I'm cold constantly too because we have also turned the heat down. However, we bought 2 portable heaters and they work wonders. Especially if you have a room you can close off.

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100652235&N=10000003+90401+500967

My husband put the bird bath heater in yesterday. The birds were walking around on top of the birdbath as well as the pool searching for a drink. They say it's very hard for birds to find anything to drink when it becomes this cold.

Stop in somewhere and pick up an ice scraper before you get in an accident ; ) Don't worry, it will warm up next week. I see guys outside building the new local Target and I don't know how they do it. They are probably just thankful to have a job at this point. Nice new picture of the tree! Don't worry, we'll figure it out.

Stay warm tomorrow! Brrr . . .

Sharon

Jayne said...

Oh Kallen... what a day! Today is a new day (and it's Saturday) which is great unless you have to work like me (on call)... boo hiss. Have a wonderful day and hope you get the tree mystery solved. :c)

Rambling Woods said...

I don't work anymore, but the critters all get fed before my coffee. Is there anyway to put enough food out so that you don't have to put more out everyday? I put seed in the tray feeders in the morning, but the other feeders don't need to be filled everyday.

I use a pair of waterproof gardening gloves to do the feeders. They give you enough dexterity to open things, but still protect and keep your hands warm.

About the squirrels. I love em and I do put out corn for them. They will take what you give and look for more. The wintertime says..eat..eat..eat.. You could try corn, pumpkin seeds, even dog chow that might be easier and cheaper.

Rambling Woods

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