Welcome to Friday where we share scenes from nature around our ‘Hood. Today is the last Friday of the month and its gone full circle crazy. Once again we join our weekly hosts, Rosy, Sunny, Arty and Jakey from LLB in Our Backyard to see exactly how crazy it has been. Don’t forget to click on the link to check out to see what all Blogville has shared.
The week started out with the promise that spring was getting ready to make a glorious entrance. We’ve been keeping an eye out for subtle signs and indeed, things seemed to be moving along nicely.
The sky had been brilliant blue and sunny and highlighted the moon early in the week.
We pass by a certain magnolia tree every day on our daily walks, it being just a few houses away. Magnolias are not common around here so they always captivate my fascination whenever I see one. For weeks it’s looked like all the other trees in the “Hood and then practically overnight, it began to signal a bit of a change. Check out those buds.
A couple of days later another garden we walk past also suggested a change might be coming…reticulated irises and a few more crocuses. Despite a sea of brown, those little irises with their vivid pop of color always provide me hope that change is coming.
On that same walk, the dogs and I noticed a new visitor and one I don’t see very often. He caught all of our attention because he was fairly low to the ground but moved up the trunk quickly once I pulled my phone out. Apparently he’s a bit camera shy. If I’m not mistaken, he’s some kind of Flicker woodpecker. His little red ‘hat’ provides a nice contrast, don’t you think?
So the week moved along heading toward the weekend. A weather forecast said we’d probably have a brief storm with 1-4″ of white stuff blowing through. No biggie, this is February, the driest month of the year in the Mile High. Check out what 1-4 looks like to weather forecasters.
Well shut my mouth! I can’t recall a February where this much snow fell at one time. How deep was it? Well here’s some perspective from the front walk.
Were it not for a good Samaritan neighbor on the next block over, I’d still be shoveling the heavy white stuff. Bless him; he brought his snowblower and made two passes over the whole corner lot along with the rest of the block…on both sides! It gave me time to bake up some cookies for all his efforts as a small token of appreciation.
So from 70ºF early in the week to low teens this morning, reticulated irises to a white landscape, we’ve kind of seen it all this week. The weekend looks promising again though with temps moving toward the 50’s by the end of next week. Excuse me now while I put a neck brace on from the whiplash.
We hope you have a groovy Friday and weekend and enjoy a bit of nature, whatever she doles out.
Live, love, bark! 🐾
last week we had about the same amount as you had fall here. It is much warmer now, but being that we’re in Michigan, winter is NEVER over until at least May lol.
Same here. We’ve had snow Mother’s Day week for the past 3 years! We should reach the 60’s by the end of the week which probably means a blizzard should follow next week. 🤣
Loved the moonshot. In your world everything is coming up new and fresh – even the snow looks good. Here things are starting to decline as today (Sunday 28th) is the last day of summer. Autumn (Fall) begins tomorrow. However, as from this morning, here in South Australia, most of the imposed Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted, so that’s a reason to be thankful.
Hurrah for Australia! We count take a lesson or two from you guys. Thanks for the kind words. By week’s end we’ll be back in the 60’s. Yo-yo weather!
Miss Monika an sweet Norman an lovely Elsa what lovelee blue sky an such purrty Irisess (LadyMew’ss fave) an Crocussess!! Efurrything was comin up ‘rosess’ so to meow….
An that iss THE BIGGEST 4 inchess of snow wee seen!! Lookss more like 2 feet Miss Monika….. an cold an heavt 2 feet. Wee are gratefull THE nayburr snow blowed youss’ out…bakin cookiess iss a lovelee gesture two!!
Guud luck with yore weather this week mee frendss….
**purrss** BellaDharma an {{huggiess}} LadyMew
It’s all good, dear kitty. By the end of next week we’ll be in the 60’s. We needed the snow (just not the shoveling) and we ever so grateful for the neighbor’s help clearing the sidewalks.
My goodness… you guys really do get it all in one week, don’t you?
I absolutely adore magnolias and I can assure you… we won’t be seeing our buds for a good while yet!
Just came back from a walk in the heavy, sticky new (sigh) snowfall. I was walking in a snow globe for 75 minutes.
Up and down weather is the norm here. I’m a bit jealous of you walking in snow globe fresh snow. Well, almost. Stay safe and warm and know spring WILL arrive soon. At some point.
It’s been gorgeous. I can’t really complain. And I think my coat is dry now 😉
You certainly do have some extremes there! We have to settle for temperatures getting just above freezing as our sign of spring, and our snowstorm today changing over to rain (though with temperatures hovering right around freezing it’s not that impressive after all).
We’d give almost anything to just see 50 degrees, but apparently we need to be more patient. February is early for that, but we’re ready anyway! 🙂
We’ve have it all in February, from below zero to 70. If you can handle whiplash, February can just be the month for you. 😉
Lovely. Our snow is mid thigh level.
Yikes! Good thing spring is supposed to arrive in 3 weeks though I expect yours might me ‘somewhat’ delayed.
Charlee: “Bird.”
Chaplin: “Bird.”
Charlee: “Bird bird bird bird bird.”
Lulu: “I think that bird might knock you cats on the head a little if you got too interested in it.”
He was pretty crafty to avoid their attention. Clearly a wise ole bird.
Bless that neighbor of yours! We have wonderful neighbors too who help us out when we need it. We use the snow-thrower but they come over with shovels and do the “final clean up” which is so nice. Love the Spring shots before Winter landed on you again though – that moon shot is magic!
Hugs, Pam
For being in the heart of a large city, I too am blessed at living on a street with the best neighbors who help each other out in all kinds of ways. We all help out with shoveling in winter and raking in the fall. They’re the best!
Well, I am late….but wow, that is one huge dump of snow. How sweet of your neighbor to take pity on you and get you dug/blown out!
Judging by the size of that woodpecker’s beak, I think its likely a male hairy woodpecker. Females don’t sport the red spot.
Those are lovely trees when they blossom, those magnolias!
Thanks, guys. That storm sure caught me off guard and hope it doesn’t damage the magnolia tree. That neighbor who dug a bunch of us out is a big hero to many people. I’m very lucky to have such kind neighbors.
Crocuses and irises – holy moly that’s truly spring! I was down in your area on the day after that storm. I think that you got more than we did at 9000′! And the city snow removal is horrendous. I can’t wait to see more flowers from you!
I’m looking forward to sharing more spots of spring but suspect there’ll be a few more storms being shared as well. Yeah, snow removal down here is a complete joke which makes travel even for short errands painful. Have a great weekend!
Too bad those iris and crocus are now buried in snow. We won’t see anything like that for at least a couple of months.
It’s funny, they may be buried, but as soon as the snow melts, we’ll see them again. I’m grateful to have spotted them before the snow though. Spring bulbs are fairly hardy (tulips being a notable exception).
The pristine snow is so pretty, but Mom prefers the beautiful signs of Spring. She loves magnolia blooms and wishes they lasted longer.
Woos – Lightning, Misty, and Timber
Too often the buds are frozen here so I’m keeping my fingers crossed. They sure are beautiful.
What a good neighbour you have!
He’s a major league hero in my books!
That isn’t a flicker woodpecker, it’s my Aunt Agatha.
🤣
Just when you thought it was safe to go outside….
We are glad you got out to enjoy some Spring blooms before the messy white stuff hit!!
Pretty much though I suspect we’ll have a few more starts and stops. We had snow on Mother’s Day week the past 3 years!
So who needs to travel when you get all the seasons delivered within a week to your own neighborhood! And as for the weatherman not knowing 4 inches and well, however much you had, just remember the last part of his title is “man.”
Only thing missing is a palm tree or two.
As for the ‘weather person’ I don’t think either gender is very good reading Doppler radar. Then again those eastern upslopes can be tricky to calculate.
Can’t wait for Winter to be over!
It shouldn’t be too much longer. Have a great weekend.
From your lips to God’s ears. Have a great weekend too!
🤣
We have a few Downeys hanging around from time to time here, too. I love the striking red coloring on their heads! We had temps in the low 70s on Wednesday and yesterday, too. Now it’s down to the 50s again and raining. Yuck. If I knew how to send you the rain, I’d gladly trade it for some snow!!
That’d definitely be a far trade! It rains so infrequently here; it was even years before I ever owned an umbrella.
Super walk, Monika. Nice neighbor too. 😁
As always, thanks for coming along on our adventures. Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
You as well, Monika.
Love all of the signs of spring! FYI, the bird is a Downey Woodpecker. It was very nice of your neighbor to use his snow blower to clear all of the driveways on the block. Glad you were able to repay him with cookies. I’m sure he appreciated it.
Thanks for the bird identification. I can always count on you guys for steering me in the right direction. Have a wonderful weekend.
Tippy and I hope all of you have a wonderful weekend too!
And to you both. Enjoy that sunshine!
YOU HAVE A MAGNOLIA TREE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD???!!! My husband has always waxed poetic about the magnolia trees around his house in Maryland when he was a kid. Let us know when it blooms!
That is either a downy (small) or a hairy (a little bigger) woodpecker. They are the most common true woodpeckers along the Front Range.
Flickers are much larger, and have a spotted chest with a black ‘gorget’ at the neck; often they have a streak of read coming from the corners of their bills. https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/norfli/cur/introduction
Love the post!
I know, right?? Will definitely give you a heads up. I just hope the cold doesn’t kill the buds-that too often happens. Thanks for steering me in the right direction about Flickers vs. woodpeckers. I know so little about birds and rely on my smart readers to set me straight. Have a lovely weekend, Amy!
Love those pictures, if it’s snow or flowers. 🙂 A really great shot of the moon in the blue sky!
Have a great weekend, too,
Pit
Thanks, not too shabby considering it was taken on a cell phone. Hope you have a splendid weekend.
That’s the thing with this time of year. One day you’re looking at spring and the next day you’re looking at winter. It’s hard to keep up.
Have a fabulous day and weekend. Scritches to the pups and a smooch to Norman. ♥
Spring is definitely the yo-yo season. It’s all good and we can certainly use the moisture. Have a great weekend, Sandee!
Always nice to see flowers and birds to make winter seem less depressing!
Isn’t that the truth! Have a lovely weekend.
Thanks, you too!
The Magnolias will win it in the bottom of the ninth, even if the shovel worthy big innings might seem a tad bit daunting for them to overcome. 🙂
They truly are spectacular, around here we just have to hope those buds don’t freeze. 🤞🏼 Here’s to a a great weekend.
Let’s root em on.
And same to you Monika, have a beautiful one.
Will do. On both counts. 😉
🙂