Category Archives: Weather

Lucky side of the storm

April 13, 2020Sunnybook Farm, Weather, Wisconsinsusanmanzke

There was a winter weather warning last night. Sunnybook Farm was on the edge between the rain and the snow. We ended up with more rain, but we did get snow, about an inch.

From the upstairs window of the front yard

Some places to the northwest of Seymour got a lot more snow, ten to twelve inches. Luckily, that missed here.

There’s no shoveling here.

The worst part of the weather is the wicked wind. Good thing the chickens are fed and watered. I do not have to rush out to tend to them.

Old farm tales say that spring snow is good for the growing season. I don’t know what the people who got a foot of snow think about that, but somehow I believe they might debate the usefulness of spring snow.

Happy Spring!

March 20, 2020gardening, Sunnybook Farm, Weather, Wisconsinsusanmanzke

It’s still March in Wisconsin, but officially spring is here. It arrived late last night, so this is the first full day of spring.

Other springs haven’t been so cold. Some years spring came too early and messed up the blooming of our apple and pear trees. The blossoms came and then came a frost. That was the year without fruit.

It’s hard to say what weather will come next, but no matter, you can’t do much about the weather.

We can look forward to better days. I’m positive those will come, too.

Patience is what we need.

Flowers from another first day of spring on Sunnybook Farm

Dance, even if in your living room. (Our dog Sunny thinks I’m crazy when I’m dancing around the kitchen, but that’s okay. I got him to move, too. He followed me around from room to room trying to get the treat I offered him, so he was dancing with me even if he didn’t know it.)

Have a good first day of spring.

Don’t jump the gun

March 15, 2020Weather, Wisconsinsusanmanzke

Spring is on the way, though I felt chilled after walking with Sunny today.

When we got back from our walk, I noticed that two snow shovels still hung on the fence, ready for the next snow.

I thought about stashing those shovels away, and then I thought better of it. Every time I’ve been too optimistic about spring’s arrival, we’ve had setbacks, sending us back to winter. Remember last spring? Not inches, but feet of snow. No, I don’t want to repeat that.

Those two shovels will remain where they are until I’m sure snow is not on the horizon, which could be June.

I recommend to friends to not tempt fate. Do not put away shovels, or salt. Keep heavy jackets and boots at the ready. They aren’t hurting anything hanging close by. Wait for the all-clear before replacing winter gear with summer stuff.

Don’t become the person who brought on a late winter/early spring snowstorm by jumping the gun.

Take this as a warning.

Walking

February 23, 2020Sunny, Weathersusanmanzke

Our dog, Sunny, hasn’t been getting as much exercise as he should. If I take a walk on our treadmill, he just watches.

Of course, Sunny goes outside, but he doesn’t run around by himself in his fenced yard.

Today I was able to take Sunny for a walk down the road. The icy road and shoulder had melted yesterday and today. It was 48 degrees here.

We both enjoyed our outing.

Sunny kept looking for a way over the plowed snow. He never found anything that suited him so he stayed close to the road and me–he didn’t want to get stuck in deep snow again. When that happened to him a while back he panicked, thrashing to get out.

Today was a much better walk for both of us.

Old winter memory

February 20, 2020Columns, Memories, Weathersusanmanzke

I see on this photo that it was developed in May 1959 but obviously it was taken earlier in the year. At least, I hope so.

The people in the snowy photo are our neighbor, Marilyn, my sister Karen and me.

We didn’t care if it was cold. We loved to be outside in winter. For that matter, we loved to be outside at any time of the year.

We would wear anything to keep warm. I remember Mom putting socks on our hands when we didn’t have mittens. The absence of thumbs made play challenging, but that didn’t stop us.

I wish I could find the photo of my sister when she wore an old fur coat and miss-matching socks. She was quite the sight, but no matter. Karen was outside having fun.

We never seemed to get cold back then. I wish I didn’t chill so fast these days. Right now, I prefer looking out the window at the cold snow.

But if grandchildren happen to visit on a sunny winter day, I’ll join them in making snowmen or building a snow fort. There’s still a bit of kid in me yet.

Susan Manzke

Writer, Speaker, All-Around Good Person