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Posts Tagged ‘spring’

The May 24 Frost Warning

Posted in Columbus, weather, tagged , , , , on May 24, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

We were at a nice function tonight when my phone buzzed and I got another “alert”:  frost warning tonight.

Huh?  Frost warning?  What the hell?  It’s May 24, for God’s sake.  It’s well past time for it to warm up, already.

Sure enough, when we left the party tonight, the temperature on the car thermometer was 45 degrees and falling, and you could feel a distinct autumnal chill in the air.

Why don’t we have spring anymore?  You remember that delightful season, when low temperatures were in the upper 50s and high temperatures were in the mid-70s?  I’m convinced that season no longer exists.  We just move abruptly from winter to summer at some random point in April or May, so within a matter of a day or two you go from wearing a coat to wearing shorts.

I miss spring.

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Petals In The Breeze

Posted in Columbus, Photography, weather, tagged , , , , , on May 4, 2013 | 2 Comments »

IMG_1209The flowering trees in our neighborhood are beautiful, but they are losing their petals with every gentle gust of spring breeze.  Be careful as you walk and talk — you might end up with a mouthful.

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Motorcycle Weather

Posted in Columbus, Ohio, Photography, weather, tagged , , , , , on May 1, 2013 | 1 Comment »

IMG_1181In central Ohio, when spring arrives and the temperature goes up, the motorcycles come out.  Chopper owners take off the tarps, wheel their rigs out of their garages, and let the bikes wind out in the fine spring weather.

Seeing motorcycles is a good sign that it’s going to be a nice day, because most bikers know to check the weather and only ride on days that are certain to be dry.  Once you ride a motorcycle in the rain, getting soaked to the bone and splattered by passing cars, you’ll do just about anything to avoid it.

And speaking of motorcyclists, let’s all be sure to keep an eye out for them, give them plenty of room, and let them share the road without incident.

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Birdsong In The Morning

Posted in Columbus, Photography, tagged , , , , , on April 27, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

IMG_3649Saturday morning is special.

On weekday mornings, our walks occur under cover of darkness.  I listen to my iPod as we make our way along the familiar, darkened route.  On Saturday, however, we sleep in and begin our walk as the sun is rising.  With the coming of spring the birds have returned, and they greet the dawn with song.  On Saturdays I walk without iPod and rely on the cheeps and tweets, the chirps and the twitters, for my musical accompaniment.  Their happy sounds make the morning a bit more glorious.

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Welcome Colors

Posted in Columbus, Ohio, Photography, weather, tagged , , , , , on April 13, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

IMG_3511When spring finally arrives (and we in central Ohio are keeping our fingers crossed that it’s here to stay) is a feast for the senses — particularly the eyes.  It’s such a pleasure to see flowers, and bright colors on the landscape!

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Back Yard Bitches

Posted in Dogs, Humor, Kasey, Penny, weather, tagged , , , , , on April 7, 2013 | 1 Comment »

IMG_3490It was a beautiful day in New Albany today — bright and sunny, with the temperature reaching the mid-70s.  The lure of the patio and the back yard was irresistible to me, and to Penny and Kasey as well.  They enjoyed the chance to gambol in the grass and squint into the brightness, and I liked sitting out on the patio, doing some work and feeling the breeze ruffle my hair.

It felt good to get out into the sunshine and expose that white, dry skin to the sunshine.  As for the questionable headline for this posting — well, I like alliteration, and technically the description is accurate.

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Anticipatory Attire Syndrome

Posted in Columbus, Humor, weather, tagged , , , , , , , on April 6, 2013 | 1 Comment »

This morning Penny, Kasey, and I saw a good example of Anticipatory Attire Syndrome.

IMG_3474It was about 30 degrees, and the sun was still below the horizon.  I was bundled up and wearing winter hat and gloves as we made our way along the Yantis Loop, when suddenly we saw a female jogger trundling past wearing only running shorts and a t-shirt.  Her bare legs looked about the color of a boiled lobster and her face did, too.  She was obviously freezing, and I don’t think the shivers and good bumps were helping her running style.

Her predicament is not uncommon this time of year.  Winters in Columbus tend to be so gray and glum that, with the first hint of spring, some people go all in for the expected change in season.  When the skies are clear but the temperature is still on the south side of 50 you’ll see people out in shorts, acting like it’s high summer.  They are so eager for a little warmth they just can’t help themselves.  Then they catch a cold.

Let’s be smart, people!  Spring is a transitional period, made for sweaters and light jackets.  Hold off on the shorts and t-shirts and flip-flops for a little while longer, will you?

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The S Word

Posted in Columbus, Photography, weather, tagged , , , , , on April 5, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

IMG_3470This afternoon the temperature came close to 60 on a bright, sunny day.  We barely dare think it, much less say it:  but could Spring finally have Sprung?

A would-be angler at the number 5 pond apparently thought so, but his casting hit a snag or two among the buds on the tree limbs overhanging the boardwalk.  He’ll have plenty of time to work on his technique in the coming months.

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A Curious Celestial Phenomenon

Posted in Humor, weather, tagged , , , on March 30, 2013 | 2 Comments »

Residents of central Ohio were astonished today when our accustomed cloud cover vanished and a large, flaming orb unexpectedly appeared in the sky.

IMG_3450The object is so bright that it is creating sharp, dark outlines of objects, like tree limbs, mailboxes, and even people, on the ground.  It is so dazzling that mortal man cannot look at it directly without being blinded.  If you wish to walk around in the brilliance, you must shield your eyes to avoid being stupefied.

It is unclear whether the object is dangerous, but there are warning signs that it may be hazardous.  It appears to radiate some kind of energy, because exposure to the object leaves the back of your neck feeling warm and tingly.  It also exerts a curious attraction.  People seem to want to go outside and bask in the object’s brightness.  Neighbors who have long remained indoors are outside and have discarded their coats.  Have the authorities been notified?

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Waiting For Some Buds

Posted in Photography, weather, tagged , , , , on March 23, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

IMG_3428According to the calendar, spring has technically arrived . . . but we know that spring isn’t here just yet.

Last year the bushes in our back yard became overgrown and we asked a tree service to trim them back.  They did, and then some!  Now we look out the kitchen window and see the barren shoots and branches thrusting out of the ground like skeletal fingers, and it’s a bit depressing.  Here at Webner House, spring will be declared only when we see some buds on those stark, sharp, bony bushes.

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The Last Snow Cave

Posted in Ohio, Photography, tagged , , , , , , on March 9, 2013 | 1 Comment »

IMG_3350Our most recent snowfall was conducive to building snowmen and snow forts, and their remnants dot the landscape, even though the temperature has soared into the upper 50s.  This well-made snow cave still stood this morning as we took our walk, glinting in the sun’s morning rays.  It was still standing when the dogs and I took a stroll this afternoon, a totem of this transitional period between winter and spring.

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On The Storm Front Watch At The Big Bend, March 4

Posted in Columbus, Photography, weather, tagged , , , , , on March 4, 2013 | 1 Comment »

IMG_3234Those evil meteorologists are saying that another big winter storm is bearing down on Columbus, ready to drop multiple inches of snow and prolong winter for a city that is oh-so-ready for spring.  Just when we get a welcome glimpse of grass, it’s to be covered up again by another icy white blanket.

And so, on our evening walk, I look to the west and see the clouds low on the horizon.  Is that the leading edge of the storm?  Only time will tell.

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Time To Satisfy Your Summer Reading Jones

Posted in Books, Ohio, tagged , , , , , , on May 5, 2012 | Leave a Comment »

Sure, summer is great for activities — but it’s also great for reading.

Get a good book, stretch out on your patio furniture with a cool beverage, and read a little in the bright sunshine.  Or take your current paperback to a nearby park, sprawl on the cool grass under the leafy spread of a tree, and really get into the story.  Enjoy the sultry air as you reread a favorite novel and relish, anew, every beloved word.  Lose track of time and lose track of everyday cares as you lose yourself in a great story.

Central Ohio readers can start to get their summer reading jones on next weekend, when the Ohioana Book Festival rolls into town.  Events will be going on all week, and the Festival itself occurs on Saturday, May 12 at the Fort Hayes Metropolitan Education Center.  This year’s Festival will showcase nine featured authors and dozens more who will read from their creations and be available to sign books and talk about their work.

I’ll be there, somewhere, but don’t let that dissuade you!  The Ohioana Book Festival is a great time for Buckeye readers who want to stock up for those long, languid summer reading days — and nights.

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Like Monster Fingers Dipped In Ink

Posted in Columbus, Photography, tagged , , , , on April 22, 2012 | Leave a Comment »

As usual, we’re seeing lots of spring growth in the pine trees in our back yard.  They started as tiny sticks planted in a muddy new development, now they are fully grown and the tallest trees in our neighborhood.

Every year we see a few more feet in height, as well as the soft, neon green sprouts on the branches that always make me think of a monster’s splayed fingers, dipped in lime-colored ink.

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Spring, On Our Kitchen Table

Posted in Photography, tagged , , , , on April 18, 2012 | 1 Comment »

To my mind, nothing says that spring is here like the blooming of bright-colored tulips.  Kish’s sister Heidi sent us this lovely array of tulips, which have brought spring colors and fragrances inside to our kitchen table.

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