It’s a natural phenomenon which I’ve only seen here.
The icicles coming down from the garage, turn back up, and end up sideways, or turned up.
These photos were taken on the 16th day of March, last year … only 5 days from Spring. “The Ides of March” was a day in the Roman calendar that corresponds to March 15. It was marked by several religious observances and was notable for the Romans as a deadline for settling debts. The expression ‘Beware the Ides of March’ is first found in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, in 1601. The line is the soothsayer’s message to Julius Caesar. “The Ides of March” didn’t signify anything special in itself; this was just the usual way of saying “March 15th.”
Interestingly, these photos were taken one day after, on March 16.
It was Friday … yesterday … and … it was the First Day of Spring 2015!!!
The day dawned like any other … it was below zero … and … the customary/standard “Weekend Snow Storm” was in the forecast … For the last couple of years, I have shared pictures depicting what it is like up in the Great North Woods of New Hampshire during the Winter … and, especially what it looks like, up here … as the rest of the country celebrates Spring …
I spent the last few days working on a new character … a comedy featuring our weather up here compared to the rest of the country. I thought it was really funny, and, had set up the cameras to do the video … worked on the script and camera angles … However … I decided against it … I felt like it may have been taken as making fun of New Hampshire, and casting the wrong “light” on those who live up here in the Great North Woods … It was pretty funny stuff, but I thought the idea of portraying “if you think you’ve got it bad … you should be here” may be taken the wrong way, as a negative about living up here.
The fact is, it is beautiful up here, and the fact that we get good weather on so rare occasions makes us really appreciate the good weather we do get. We really do look forward to the change of seasons … especially the “Spring to Summer.” I have traveled, and lived, in many different parts of the United States, and there is one thing they all share in common: They wish the Winters were shorter, and the rest of the seasons were longer. So, we share that common bond with everyone. Plus, I’ve never lived anywhere that people were happy with the weather all the time. Too hot! Too cold! Too rainy! And, how about that humidity? I really do understand why weather is always a topic of discussion, regardless of where you live. I must also say that there are many people I’ve met who … let’s face it … aren’t happy anywhere … And, won’t be. God has placed people all over the country, all over the globe, really … and, as long as you are “in the right place,” that’s all that matters … not the weather.
It’s true: You can be miserable anywhere!
That is not a segue into this paragraph! But, it’s time to share a few pictures from our first day of Spring, 2015! I guess the reason I do this is for our friends all over the globe who find it so hard to believe what our weather is really like … That we are “making this stuff up,” etc. Well, it really was below zero the first morning of Spring, a snow storm is really expected, and … this is something else I get “I can’t believe it’s” about: We haven’t missed any time from school this year because of the weather …Not a “snow day,” not a “delayed entry,” or anything … Well … there’s always the hope for the next Monday morning … And … I’m not making this up … our “Frost Line” is at 7 1/2 Feet … For our friends all over, it’s really not a big deal, because “that’s what it is.” I remember hearing Loretta Lynn talking about how poor she was, when she was growing up … She didn’t know she was poor … she thought everyone lived like they did, and that everyone only had redeye gravy and biscuits for supper … So, that’s the way it is here … I must say that the hardest part of our weather is the fact that we have access to the knowledge of “how it is” everywhere else …
While this was reported to be the second-coldest February on record (for example), I also saw a report from the Weather Channel that this was the warmest Winter on record … around the world … Maybe not over here … but, that just shows that it’s always just a matter of perspective …
Here are some photos for you, taken at home, the First Day of Spring, 2015:
Our back steps: Looks like we’ll have to find another way up.Our Clothesline: Better double-check to make sure the dryer is working. Did I mention this is the first day of Spring?Our beloved “Wall:” My Summer-long project looks pretty “cool.”Love that wall! This is the side of the driveway-Makes me wish for “The Dunes of the Cape!” Did I mention this was the first day of Spring?These are young pine trees trying to come up … they are completely covered in ice, but growing!A better picture of the trees.I always have a picture of my boot, to use for “scale.” This is the other side of the driveway (opposite wall). Note that, due to consistent slow-blowing, the sun was able to “break through” to the pavement.These boots have walked all over, from Georgia to New Hampshire. I can’t wait to go barefoot all Summer! Guess I should have waited, though, to take these off.I always have a picture of how high the snow is, relative to the roof of the garage. Look at this!Why … It’s up to the roof! I’m so glad we didn’t get as much snow this year!You can see the back steps and the clothesline to the right: It’s finally Spring!!!Earlier, I wrote a story about why the snow was white. Thought I’d research about icicles … but, just couldn’t get interested in the “behind the scenes” story … But I took lots of pictures of icicles. These are baby icicles … ooohhh!!!These are teenage icicles.Here’s one full-grown!Another shot for scale. This is about 8 feet long.This is the whole family!This is the largest one so far … hanging from the roof, over the front porch …10 feet long. Did I mention this was the first day of Spring?This is from the front porch railing … We don’t call it an icicle … we call it a post!At the local Library, they have a display of historical artifacts which they have all laid out, side by side. That inspired this picture. Again, to show scale. Well … it is a nice collection!This is the big one from the roof … looks like someone may have dropped it, or it hit the ladder or something … on the way to the display table …Another view showing the thickness of the icicle … And … by the way … the towel is from our Spring Collection!!!Boy! That’s a nice towel!Both the icicle-and the towel-really stand up nicely. Hope Carol doesn’t see this!I think I hear someone yelling “Has someone seen my blue towel???”
P.S. Just so you’ll know … since I started writing this post, the temperature has dropped nearly 20 degrees … and, it is snowing … hard … I wanted to take a picture for you, but it was snowing so hard, I couldn’t keep the snow off the lens … That’s ok … it is the weekend … we have that hope for Monday … and, after all … it’s finally Spring!!! To quote part of what we didn’t say … “You think the weather’s bad where you are …” Blessings R.V.R.
pastorappreciationblog.com 