When it's this kind of weather, when the temperature is in the low 80s and there isn't a cloud in the sky and a sweet breeze is blowing, I get all like, "Man, I have GOT to hang something on the line."
I've even been known to get clean clothes out of drawers and wash them, just so I can hang them up to dry.
Not really.
But there is something just so deeply soul-satisfying about hanging Downy-scented laundry in the sun, seeing it swaying gently in the breeze. And I love the way the things smell when I bring them in.
I would prefer drying clothes this way even if it wasn't the most energy-efficient, ecologically-responsible method. So knowing that I'm doing my part makes it all the better.
And really, could Al Gore hope for more than that? (Do you think he has a clothesline in his back yard?)
Showing posts with label weather. Show all posts
Showing posts with label weather. Show all posts
Friday, April 24, 2009
Thursday, March 27, 2008
March comes in like a lion, goes out like a tiger?
I should be believing it, but somehow it seems like a cruel joke. Another snow advisory is appearing at the bottom of my screen. An AccuWeather alert! An urgent winter weather message! A snow advisory in effect for 3 to 5 inches tonight. No way.
This is coming on the heels of last Friday's near-blizzard that dumped close to a foot on our area. Darned global warming.
The good news is that the track scrimmage was canceled for this afternoon. The bad news is that we'll all have to sit around tonight and watch our wallpaper peel since there's no Lost on TV.
Edited to add: The men in my family would want me to acknowledge that they will, obviously, be watching college basketball. What was I thinking?
Since I seem to be fresh out of blog fodder, I figure it's time for a little Mimi update. I think I've been remiss in bragging about my grandbabies. I know. You're shocked that such a hip, stylish diva as myself could be old enough to have kids, let alone grandkids. But it's true, and here they are:
This is Tessa. She gets top billing because she's 9 months old today. She's a petunia pants, that's for sure.
I bought them all matching jammies for Christmas, with images dancing in my head of how darling they'd all look lined up on a couch together, smiling adorably into the camera. Hmmm....
Anne Geddes, I'm not.
Here's James, wondering what kind of family he has been born into:
He'll be 7 weeks old tomorrow. He can't wait to be big enough to eat pancakes with real maple syrup at Mimi and Pop's house. We actually did get about a pint from the first batch, after Jim took matters into his own hands, and not counting one tragic boil-over. We may not quit our day jobs quite yet, but it did make some surprisingly tasty syrup.
This is coming on the heels of last Friday's near-blizzard that dumped close to a foot on our area. Darned global warming.
The good news is that the track scrimmage was canceled for this afternoon. The bad news is that we'll all have to sit around tonight and watch our wallpaper peel since there's no Lost on TV.
Edited to add: The men in my family would want me to acknowledge that they will, obviously, be watching college basketball. What was I thinking?
Since I seem to be fresh out of blog fodder, I figure it's time for a little Mimi update. I think I've been remiss in bragging about my grandbabies. I know. You're shocked that such a hip, stylish diva as myself could be old enough to have kids, let alone grandkids. But it's true, and here they are:
This is Tessa. She gets top billing because she's 9 months old today. She's a petunia pants, that's for sure.
I bought them all matching jammies for Christmas, with images dancing in my head of how darling they'd all look lined up on a couch together, smiling adorably into the camera. Hmmm....
Anne Geddes, I'm not.
Here's James, wondering what kind of family he has been born into:
He'll be 7 weeks old tomorrow. He can't wait to be big enough to eat pancakes with real maple syrup at Mimi and Pop's house. We actually did get about a pint from the first batch, after Jim took matters into his own hands, and not counting one tragic boil-over. We may not quit our day jobs quite yet, but it did make some surprisingly tasty syrup.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
if I remember correctly, it's left foot, right foot, left foot, right foot
I'm going for a walk. !! A walk! It's true.
I called Annie to see if we could get together today, just because I haven't visited with her in about fourteen years. I was seriously imagining something involving sitting, and coffee, and maybe a brownie or two.
She just called me back and said "why don't we go for a walk?"
" ..............." "............?"
Granted, the sun IS shining, but
a) It's 22 degrees out there and
b) I haven't done anything even remotely resembling exercise since....ummm.... last fall, maybe? When Jim and I were on a bike-riding kick, back in the days before permafrost covered the land.
Assuming I survive without my legs falling off, it will probably end up A Good Thing, this foray into the outdoors. I've been needing to do something about getting off my duff and shedding some of this winter insulation, otherwise known as "floof." I know that eventually there will be warm weather, and I will be happier if I am able to actually button my capris. Santa pants can only take a girl so far into spring. Alas.
The only downfall, aside from the potential loss of limbs, is that we won't be able to do much visiting. Between gasping for breath and having my lips freeze solid, it won't be very conducive to conversation.
I called Annie to see if we could get together today, just because I haven't visited with her in about fourteen years. I was seriously imagining something involving sitting, and coffee, and maybe a brownie or two.
She just called me back and said "why don't we go for a walk?"
" ..............." "............?"
Granted, the sun IS shining, but
a) It's 22 degrees out there and
b) I haven't done anything even remotely resembling exercise since....ummm.... last fall, maybe? When Jim and I were on a bike-riding kick, back in the days before permafrost covered the land.
Assuming I survive without my legs falling off, it will probably end up A Good Thing, this foray into the outdoors. I've been needing to do something about getting off my duff and shedding some of this winter insulation, otherwise known as "floof." I know that eventually there will be warm weather, and I will be happier if I am able to actually button my capris. Santa pants can only take a girl so far into spring. Alas.
The only downfall, aside from the potential loss of limbs, is that we won't be able to do much visiting. Between gasping for breath and having my lips freeze solid, it won't be very conducive to conversation.
Monday, March 3, 2008
spring thaw?
Astute readers will notice my header picture has changed ever so slightly. That's because today it was up to 47 degrees outside, and much thawing has happened. My driveway is peeking through the snow.
Michigan winter, however, is not such an easy pushover, because already we've dropped back to 38 and I see a severe weather alert lurking at the bottom of my computer screen. Six more inches are predicted for our watch area.
I know. Weather talk. This is the kind of riveting drama, thought-provoking commentary, and coffee-snorting humor you've come to expect from my blog.
But my topics were limited this afternoon: the weather, laundry, grocery shopping with my mom (always entertaining), and a dental x-ray. My life, it's one big party.
I did accomplish one timely task, namely taking down the garlands and white lights from the top of my china cabinet, and the snowmen display from the shelf above my couch. I figured now that it's MARCH and all -- Easter month, for heaven's sake -- it might be appropriate to move on, decorationally speaking.
Maybe that in itself will be enough to summon spring weather.
Michigan winter, however, is not such an easy pushover, because already we've dropped back to 38 and I see a severe weather alert lurking at the bottom of my computer screen. Six more inches are predicted for our watch area.
I know. Weather talk. This is the kind of riveting drama, thought-provoking commentary, and coffee-snorting humor you've come to expect from my blog.
But my topics were limited this afternoon: the weather, laundry, grocery shopping with my mom (always entertaining), and a dental x-ray. My life, it's one big party.
I did accomplish one timely task, namely taking down the garlands and white lights from the top of my china cabinet, and the snowmen display from the shelf above my couch. I figured now that it's MARCH and all -- Easter month, for heaven's sake -- it might be appropriate to move on, decorationally speaking.
Maybe that in itself will be enough to summon spring weather.
Monday, February 25, 2008
you know you're in Michigan when...
... the sun comes out over the weekend and the temperature climbs to 36 and it's feels downright tropical. You go out in just a sweatshirt and are completely comfortable. The cashiers at the grocery store mention how nice the weather is, and the radio hosts talk about getting out and enjoying the weekend.
....the severe weather alerts that pop up at the bottom of the computer screen don't even warrant a second look. yeah, yeah, so what else is new?
...you just hope that the predictions of 2 - 5 inches of accumulated snow overnight add up to enough for a snow day so you can sleep in.
...the workmen show up after missing a couple days and say they had to wait until the temperature got above 12 degrees.
... all the little sleeveless Easter dresses with their pretty floral prints seem ludicrously out of season. Maybe they could be worn with a turtleneck and leggings underneath?
...not even crocuses would dare stick their heads up yet.
...your mom complains that she couldn't sleep Saturday night with all the drunks out yelling and driving their trucks all around -- ON THE LAKE -- and it doesn't strike you as odd.
...you can't remember the last time you saw your bare driveway.
...your daughter in law's sister in law is coming to visit her from California and your posts strike fear in her heart.
Don't worry K, we'll try to have a nice thaw for you. It will be just like spring break. You can go out on the lake and catch some rays, Michigan style. :)
....the severe weather alerts that pop up at the bottom of the computer screen don't even warrant a second look. yeah, yeah, so what else is new?
...you just hope that the predictions of 2 - 5 inches of accumulated snow overnight add up to enough for a snow day so you can sleep in.
...the workmen show up after missing a couple days and say they had to wait until the temperature got above 12 degrees.
... all the little sleeveless Easter dresses with their pretty floral prints seem ludicrously out of season. Maybe they could be worn with a turtleneck and leggings underneath?
...not even crocuses would dare stick their heads up yet.
...your mom complains that she couldn't sleep Saturday night with all the drunks out yelling and driving their trucks all around -- ON THE LAKE -- and it doesn't strike you as odd.
...you can't remember the last time you saw your bare driveway.
...your daughter in law's sister in law is coming to visit her from California and your posts strike fear in her heart.
Don't worry K, we'll try to have a nice thaw for you. It will be just like spring break. You can go out on the lake and catch some rays, Michigan style. :)
Thursday, February 21, 2008
get me Bill Nye on the phone
Explain this, if you can -- we have had simply frigid temperatures this whole month, with abundant snowfalls. I haven't seen the grass in ages. The lake is frozen solid (the above photo is actually the view down my driveway.)
So how in the name of all that's logical was there a ladybug on my bathroom windowsill this afternoon? What in the world?
We used to suffer hideous ladybug infestations, so I wasn't at all charmed -- just perplexed and miffed. It's been a good two years since our last outbreak.
I know what you're thinking. Ladybugs are cute and sweet, right? They're on greeting cards and wallpaper and baby clothes.
But don't buy into the deceptive P.R. hype. Take it from me. If you've ever lived through a ladybug plague, you know that they're really evil. They bite! Yes they do. They stink. They reproduce like crazy.
So I did what any right-thinking woman would do in defense of her home. I squished him in a wad of toilet paper, then flushed him away.
I'd just like to know how he got there to begin with, in the dead of winter like that. Winter is supposed to be the season we don't have to deal with flies, mosquitoes, ants, wasps, earwigs, and ladybugs. Had he been incubating for the past several years or what?
Please submit all theories to our research department STAT.
So how in the name of all that's logical was there a ladybug on my bathroom windowsill this afternoon? What in the world?
We used to suffer hideous ladybug infestations, so I wasn't at all charmed -- just perplexed and miffed. It's been a good two years since our last outbreak.
I know what you're thinking. Ladybugs are cute and sweet, right? They're on greeting cards and wallpaper and baby clothes.
But don't buy into the deceptive P.R. hype. Take it from me. If you've ever lived through a ladybug plague, you know that they're really evil. They bite! Yes they do. They stink. They reproduce like crazy.So I did what any right-thinking woman would do in defense of her home. I squished him in a wad of toilet paper, then flushed him away.
I'd just like to know how he got there to begin with, in the dead of winter like that. Winter is supposed to be the season we don't have to deal with flies, mosquitoes, ants, wasps, earwigs, and ladybugs. Had he been incubating for the past several years or what?
Please submit all theories to our research department STAT.
Friday, February 1, 2008
snow day -- the sequel
OK. I withdraw all my snarky cynicism about the weather forecasters. The "Storm Team" had been forecasting all manner of dire weather conditions for last night and today. Winter Weather Advisory. Heavy Snow Warning. Severe Weather Alert. Yeah, yeah, yeah.....I've heard it all before.
Out my window I saw nothing falling from the sky. It usually happens that the snow falls all around us, but misses our township.
But this morning there are probably 5 new inches of snow out there -- enough to cancel school again. It would have been another golden opportunity to sleep in, except for the four phone calls I received in the span of an hour.
I always thought that old people liked to get up early. It would seem I haven't outgrown that teenage urge to sleep until 10:00 or later.
So now I'm mildly grumpy. It doesn't help that I have a dentist appointment today. Bluh.
But it's February! (Pinch punch first of the month and no returns.) Baby month -- unless HB decides to come 19 days late. For our daughter-in-law's sake, I hope that's not the case.
Out my window I saw nothing falling from the sky. It usually happens that the snow falls all around us, but misses our township.
But this morning there are probably 5 new inches of snow out there -- enough to cancel school again. It would have been another golden opportunity to sleep in, except for the four phone calls I received in the span of an hour.
I always thought that old people liked to get up early. It would seem I haven't outgrown that teenage urge to sleep until 10:00 or later.
So now I'm mildly grumpy. It doesn't help that I have a dentist appointment today. Bluh.
But it's February! (Pinch punch first of the month and no returns.) Baby month -- unless HB decides to come 19 days late. For our daughter-in-law's sake, I hope that's not the case.
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