The Day After the Storm is So Much Better

People are probably sick of snow and ice. I know I am. It’s one of the main reasons we moved from the Midwest. But it is very disappointing to know it snows a lot more here than we thought. And all the winter clothes we needed in the North are needed here - including snow boots. Yesterday was a pain in the neck walking - all the added junk one needs to wear as well as carry an umbrella. I don’t even feel like taking pictures when it’s like that outside. Today was very different. A hint of sunshine (what is that!?) made all the difference in the world. And most of the sidewalks were cleared. Things always look so much better to me in brighter skies - even if it involves snow. It all makes spring seem so much more appealing. We saw our first daffodils, and the little bird baths all seemed to have a snowball in them - they were perfectly placed. The snow design on the bench was different on each one. The path through the rose garden looked all too perfect. The little bulbs were trying very hard to pop. It’s always harder to walk with rain and snow boots so I was happy to get home. Spring can’t come soon enough! 

Hawk Taking A Bath by Union Station

We seem to see more wild life in the city of DC than when we take trips to the great outdoors. Every once in a while we will see hawks flying around the Capitol and Mall. But they are usually perched up on a tree limp watching every move. They are quite large and look fierce. And, while walking home a couple of years ago in a very suburban neighborhood right by the House Office Buildings, I heard something rustling in the trees and seconds later a huge bird scooped up a squirrel off the sidewalk. It was just awful! Now I know why the squirrels are always looking around themselves. One of these birds sat on our bird bath that was on the patio in Wisconsin, and another essentially tore a bird to shreds. So the other day we were walking towards union station. In the Park next to the senate office buildings and parking lot attached, we noticed something sitting on a tree branch. But we were more astounded when the huge bird flapped down to the pool of water on the sidewalk to take a bath. I must have been about ten feet away and it didn’t even care. It just took it’s time and then flew over to the parking lot and sat on a car roof. I don’t know if he/she was young, or sick, or just bold. All I know is I didn’t want to look at it straight in the eye. It was an amazing sight - as long as he/she kept its distance! 

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Crocus, Clematis and Another Storm Warning

It will be really upsetting if the predictions for another winter storm are inaccurate. It sounds ridiculous, but I'll take another day off anytime. Since the weather report last evening, I am psychologically geared up to sleep in. We took advantage of the calm before the storm this afternoon and took a short walk. One small reminder that spring is on the way are the few and far in between crocus groups we stumbled upon on the way home. Before another several inches of expected snow falls on our little patio garden, we cleaned up the clematis vine by cutting it back to the original stems. That thing takes over the fence by the end of the season and provides a beautiful array of - dare I say - snowy white blossoms. But in winter, the stems and twine keeping it in check look rather ugly. It is ironic that I can't stand the real snow on the fence, but love the snow effect of the clematis show in late summer. We're planning to change up the garden a little bit this year by adding grass around the edges next to the house. It's getting harder and harder to crawl around the back to trim the weeds, but not much of an effort to swing a weed wackier to trim the lawn. But I guess I won't have to think about that for awhile. I feel like I'm back in Wisconsin with each winter storm. The difference is that there I always had to get to work regardless of the situation. Here, I'm keeping my fingers crossed.