It's the Little Things

OAFS Photo

After finishing dinner yesterday, I had the urge to take a picture outside, in the dark. Why? Well, because I can and the photo might serve as the opening to a post. So, out I went.

The temperature was 28°, by no means cold by some standards (like Wisconsin or other northern tier states) but it's cold enough for me. No wind, which was a big plus, the wind off the water being a constant thing here in Little Rhody, nor was there any precipitation. The weather guessers said "snow showers possible" overnight and the air did indeed "smell like snow¹." But a slim chance is what my nose told me.

I do like the camera on my cellphone (Android for those who fixate on such things) and I was not disappointed last night. No flash was needed as the camera lens managed to suck up enough ambient light to take the shot (I had the camera set to auto for the flash, let it decide) and what came out above pleased me.

The photo has a rather ghostly aura, yet the faded green of the backyard comes through.

You might notice that our Wellington arbor (that thing betwixt the shed and the fence in the background) is leaning back a bit. Well, back in December we had some rather high winds overnight - one of those nights where I lie awake wondering if my roof will still be there when the sun comes up² - and the thing just kind of leaned back. There's enough surface area in the thing that a 60 mph gust will have an effect!

I've been meaning to tilt it back up again. The legs aren't set in concrete (as the specs called for) as The Missus Herself and I do have some experience with anchoring stuff in the yard with concrete then having to dig it up, dispose of it, then fill the hole, once we tired of the item (or time and the weather ate it away). Nope, it's anchored much like a tent would be anchored, stakes driven into the dirt and zip ties. Stood up pretty well I think.

I'll straighten it up soon, when I feel like it.

So yeah, the little things.

Walking out to get the mail today I could hear a couple of wee birds down the street, chirping away as if the winter was nothing to them. Oh, I'm sure they feel it, but there are birds which winter in Little Rhody. It sure isn't as cold here as it is further north.

Just hearing the wee beasties made my heart sing, those who ignore Nature don't know what they're missing.

Driving to Worcester (MA), where all three of the progeny went to college, is about 60 miles, mostly uphill, and into a whole different meteorological zone. It can be 50° here in Little Rhody with the sun shining and be 20-something in Worcester with a driving snow. I've seen it. (For those who know the Colorado Front Range, think blizzard in Denver while playing golf in Fort Collins, I've seen that too.)

Now I grew up in Vermont, saw subzero temperatures as a callow youth (-40° was the record, and that's with no wind at all), when I retired I did look around the area I grew up in for work, but there wasn't any of the sort I was looking for. Had an interview and then an offer in Little Rhody for exactly the work I was looking for and moved here in August of '99.

All hands were braced for a New England winter when we got to December. Turned out to be rather mild, all things considered.

Now last winter was rather cold here (again, not Wisconsin cold), I seem to recall the average from December to February being in the 20s, so far it's tracking the same this winter. Cold enough that you need a good coat but not so cold that you need to dress like you were in, let's say Wisconsin.

When I was getting ready to retire, people asked me if I was going to move. As the house is paid for, repeat paid for, I thought it would be insane to move.

"But don't you want to move south where it's warmer?"

"I already did."

"Huh?"

"I'm from Vermont, this is south to me."

And really, it was colder in Maryland at Christmas, and for the last couple of winters they've gotten more snow than we have here in Little Rhody. I'll take this, for now.

I can handle cold, I have a problem with hot ...

Yup, I lived on the Mississippi Gulf Coast one summer, one long, hot summer.

Thinking about that keeps me warm enough.

¹ Those who know, well, they know what I mean.

² I can't say enough good things about the fellow who did my roof, chap named Marino. He's retired now but he did a few roofs in the neighborhood, and they've withstood the test of time. Back in 2003 I chose someone cheaper and guess what, you get what you pay for. First wind storm and I had shingles all over the back yard. That was about two months after I had it done. I should have gone with Mr. Marino the first time! I was smart enough to go with him the second. Who says I can't learn from experience?