In Like A Lion, Out Like A Lamb

     This is our "castle", our home in the woods, in late winter. Every day this week, we've had snow on the ground in the mornings but by afternoon it's melted off.
     Do you remember the old saying about March? "In like a lion, out like a lamb"? Since childhood I've hoped that March would begin windy and wild, because that would mean April would begin softly. Since my birthday is only one day into April, then I would have a pleasant day--at least weather-wise.
     That hope has only intensified as an adult since we often get a hard freeze the end of March, first of April, that kills blueberry and azalea blossoms which makes me grit my teeth. It will even set back peony, iris, and daylily growth, not kill it but the plant will have to start over again.
     Now this year confuses me. The first couple days of March haven't been windy, but they have been cold with snow on the ground every morning so far. Does that mean the lamb of April will bring warm temperatures with gusts of wind? 
     Well, I'm sure you remember what Mark Twain said about the weather, "Everyone talks about it but nobody does anything about it." (Sort of like our national economy!)
     Since that's the case, then I'll just keep on hibernatin' until it's time to exchange my wool cap for a head scarf!

Hibernating Isn't Just For The Bears

     We're hibernating here at Castle Yonder. The first 12 days of January set a weather record by staying under 32 degrees. It's barely warmed up since then. 

     In addition, Rocky continues having pain of one sort or another. Gall bladder pain seems to have diminished, but now he has lower back and hip pain. To the point, he is having difficulty walking. The pain meds he was given for the fractured bones in his back last summer do help so he gets some relief.

     I have been crocheting up a storm. I had a lot of unused yarn from projects never completed or I had bought too much. I took all of that and have completed two small afghans, one for a baby and one for a toddler. Now I'm working on a multi-color full size afghan. I think I am getting the crocheting out of my system as I am beginning to think of other projects I want to do yet this winter.

      Yesterday, I saw daffodil leaves coming up through the compost in the flower beds.

I knew they would come back, and their shining yellow faces will be most welcome. That may be a while yet as a snow storm is predicted for this weekend, and indeed it has started snowing very finely outdoors now.

     Time is passing so rapidly. It's hard to believe January is almost over.