Deer in the Ravine

This is an addendum to the last post. When I woke up yesterday morning the deer were very visible. In fact, for the first time I was able to count 4 deer bedding down in the thicket. Hopefully you can see them in this picture.

Snow

It's that time of year when snow brings mixed feelings. Well, maybe 'mixed' is a nice way to put it. Truth is, it's that time of year when the prediction of snow makes one sigh and want to pull the covers over one's head.

The truth is, how I feel about snow depends entirely on how much we have, and how often we've had it. The first snowfall is beautiful. A heavy snowfall can be fun. Sledding, snowmen, snow days are the best parts of winter. But while kids cheer when they have a snow day, after a week of snow days they are more than ready to get out of the house and go back to school and parents are holding that door wide open! After 4 months of cold weather and snow covered ground, we are all ready to see the bulbs poke through the ground and buds appear on the trees. We may have another several weeks of snow covered ground, so before it leaves I'd like to remind myself what I really like about the white stuff.

There are 4 things I really like about snow.

1) Snow fall softens the world. Stand outside while it snows and the world is silent. Snow doesn't make a sound as it falls. The birds and animals are quiet. And when it is over, the edges of the world have been smoothed over in a blanket of white. (I'm referring to a gentle, normal snowfall, not a Blizzard so keep that in mind!) When the sun comes out, the world sparkles.




Deer in the ravine



View of the ravine below our house.

 2) I can see the deer! This is probably my favorite thing about snow. There is a small herd of deer that travel around and through our neighborhood. They usually move at night and bed down during the day. Frequently they settle in the ravine below our house. I rarely see them most of the year, but when the snow is on the ground I can sometimes pick them out in the underbrush. Their camouflage is very effective, but I've learned to look for the 'rocks' on the hillside and pick out the ones that change location from day to day. There is one tree stump with underbrush that can look remarkably like a buck, but I've never seen a buck down there and it never moves. Rarely can I see all 4 deer in the herd, but I know if I see 2 the other 2 are there somewhere. When the snow is gone, the 'rocks' are well hidden in the underbrush and my deer viewing is over.



Close up of  ravine hideaway. Deer like to hide in the thicket during the day. Sometimes I can see them. Other times....not so much!

3) The exercise--The first winter we were here I was really annoyed by the daily inch or two of snowfall. By the end of that winter I had to admit all that shoveling helped keep me in shape. A little snow fall is as good as a 2 mile walk for getting the blood moving. After enduring 3 heavy snowfalls last winter, this year we bought a snow blower. I still shovel when we get just an inch or two. The snow blower on the other hand is a psychological boost when we get a good snowfall. So far this year, it has kept my primal scream at bay and proved it's value.


4) At night my view of the neighborhood reminds me of a Currier and Ives picture. We live on a hill and when I look out our window I have a great view of the town below. Houses line the street as it winds down the hillside. The night view is one of lights; lights in windows, by front doors, on lamp posts. The lights tie us together in a sense of community. Cover the terrain in white snow and the night takes on a brighter glow. It reminds me of the old Currier and Ives pictures of New England neighborhoods, minus the horse and buggys.


I've lived in the sunny south too long for winter to ever become my favorite season, but that doesn't mean I don't enjoy certain aspects of it. So for the next few weeks, I'll continue to watch the deer and get my workouts, even as I count the days until I head to Florida for a two week warm-up!

15 Minutes of Sun

Today we had sun. After spending a winter here in this part of the world, I learned it was important to notice the sun when it came out. The second winter we were here I put a blue line on the calendar every day we had a few hours of sun, and a blue circle every day that was mostly sunny. It definitely made the winter easier to deal with.

Today is also February 2nd, Groundhog day, and the day of the Storm of the Century. The news is full of stories about record snows, record cold, record ice. The storm is massive. The satellite shows cloud cover from Texas to Maine. It reminds me a little of hurricane coverage. In Chicago the storm had hurricane force winds, but this isn't what caught my attention. The graphics on the weather map show a curving line between the cold, northern and western edge of the storm and the warmer, southern, eastern edge. A hurricane has a windward and a rainy side. Whichever side you are on as the hurricane passes by affects whether you should prepare for high winds or flooding. In the case of this storm the line was the delineation between extreme cold and heavy snow, or warmer temperatures and lots of rain.

We are in the southern, eastern side of this storm. In Dallas they had temperatures recording -2. Oklahoma had ice so thick people were ice skating on neighborhood streets. Chicago Airport can't move. People north of us had snow. In Pittsburgh, yesterday it rained all day. This morning the sun came out. It was 49 degrees!

As I looked outside the window dark green grass was visible in large patches. The sun lit up a glorious blue sky. It was so easy to think spring was right around the corner. I finished getting ready for an appointment. As I pulled my coat on, I looked out the window again. The horizon was dark...very dark. The sun was blazing through borrowed time.

I pulled out of the driveway and viewed a gray sky through the windshield. Banks of clouds scudded across the sky. The wind had arrived. Thirty minutes later as my hairdresser cut my hair we watched the snow blowing horizontally outside the window. The rest of the day the wind rattled the siding and taunted the birds as they held on to perches on bushes and feeders. By tonight the temperatures will once again be buried in the 20's.

 



It's Groundhog day. For 15 minutes we had sun! I saw it! Punxsatwny Phil says that means Spring is right around the corner. I hope he's right. I'm ready for more than 15 minutes of sun. But I've learned that weather is a fickle friend.

A Buccaneer fan in Steeler Nation

The view from here today is definitely Black and Gold! The truth is, the view in Pittsburgh year round is Black and Gold. There may be a football season, but in this part of the country you would be hard pressed to identify it if you didn't watch TV. Those treasured jerseys are worn every day. The people around here bleed Black and Gold. Visit my church on any Sunday morning and you will see jerseys in the pews. The church custodian considers it part of his work uniform, AND his dress attire. Meetings, programs, practices--all are scheduled around 'the game'.

The problem is, I am a Buc's fan, first and foremost. I like Red and Pewter. When we first moved here I got excited when I heard the sports guy on the news refer to the Bucs only to discover he meant the Pittsburgh Pirates. Boo. What a way to burst a bubble! I vowed I would stay a Bucs fan no matter what. I even promised a friend she would never see me in a Steelers jersey. So far she hasn't.

Living in Tampa in the 80's and 90's football was more of a hobby for fans, than an extension of their personal lives. Games were never sold out, so if you didn't go to the game you had to listen to it on the radio. I've jokingly said the only time I ever got the ironing done was during football season. Every Sunday I'd set up the ironing board next to the radio and listen to the game. The team wasn't great and lost more games than they won, but I was a fan. Excitement picked up when we welcomed Tony Dungy as team coach. The change was subtle, but the turn around was real. It was exciting to watch the games as the Bucs finally entered the playoffs. It was the beginning of events being scheduled around 'the game'. Even at that point, it wasn't until we won the Super Bowl (a high point in my life!) that I finally noticed the red jersey's appearing in public. Kids were asking for jerseys for Christmas gifts. The average joe wore them shopping. Team spirit was finally becoming tangible.

There is a vast difference between the Steelers and the Buccaneers.  The Bucs were a pretty poor team for many years. And in sunny, warm Florida, there's a lot to do on a Sunday afternoon besides watch football. The Steelers, by comparison are heading to their 8th Super Bowl and has won 6 of them so far. That can generate a lot of excitement. Cold and icy days are the perfect reason to stay inside and watch the game. But that's not the big difference.

These people don't stay inside! What makes them bundle up in 3-4 layers of clothing and stand outside for hours in the coldest weather of the year? Why did they start tailgating 10 hours before the game--when it was only 8 degrees out? Why would they still be standing there after the game is won to watch a trophy presentation? Why didn't they head for the warmth of their car as soon as the clock ran down? It was below zero for pete's sake! Maybe this is what Brain Freeze really means! I mean, there's only so much alcohol can do for a body.

The answer is they are nuts. Nuts for their team, crazy for the game, die-hard fans with a will of steel. The team is well named. Yes, Steeler Nation is real. Travel to any town and you are likely to see a sign of black and gold. When we were in Talkeetna, Alaska  a  man ran out of a store to talk to us when he saw Larry in his Steeler sweatshirt. Travel to London or Paris, and you will probably find a Steeler bar where fans can gather to watch the games.

I'm still a huge Buc's fan. They will be number one for me for a long time to come. I've stayed true to my promise to my friend. She hasn't seen me in a Steeler's jersey. But that doesn't mean I haven't worn one. Black and Gold Osmosis is unavoidable. Sooner or later you come around. The team, like my Bucs, has a lot of integrity. Most of the guys are nice. There may be a few bad apples, but they don't stay around long. In short, this is an easy team to like. And they certainly have learned how to win. I have to be honest. It's easy to like a winning team.

Now it's Super Bowl time and the locals have kicked it up a notch. To me, 6 rings is enough, but they are bent on getting #7. Personally, I don't mind sharing. I won't be sad if the Packers win the Super Bowl this year. That is another great football town. But I will be rooting for the local guys. It's just part of living here. Sooner or later we all bleed Black and Gold. But they still don't get my heart pumping the way my Bucs did. .

Sieze the Moment

The sun rose this morning over a frosty landscape. The thermometer registered 6 degrees and the birds were hitting the bird feeder early. Inside we were warm wrapped inside our bathrobes and once again I gave thanks for the comfort of a cozy bed. This is Larry's busy time of year. He got home last night after several days away and he will take off again in just a few days, so this morning we decided to skip church and have a leisurely morning together. Seize the moment.

This afternoon the temperatures had risen to a bearable 24 degrees and the sun was out. The projected flurries had not appeared, nor the accompanying cloud cover. It was time to walk the dog. My neighbor thought I was nuts. There was only one other set of dog and people prints in the snow, so maybe she was right.

Growing up in the northeast, I was accustomed to that reality of life. Regardless of what I may have had planned for the day the weather frequently dictated what I actually did. If the day was sunny and rain was predicted for tomorrow, then the vegetable garden would be weeded, and the beans picked. Hot days meant a day at the lake. Indoor projects were saved for rainy days and winter time.

When we moved to Florida it took me a long time to adjust my mentality about sunny days. I had a hard time not taking advantage of a sunny day. Eventually I learned my To-Do list could reflect whatever I felt like doing. Sun was the norm. Rainy days were an anomaly. The weather no longer dictated what I did.

As you know if you've been following this blog, one of my big re-adjustments to living in Pittsburgh was the lack of sunshine, even more than the cold weather. But today was a reminder that I have adjusted. There are many days the weather just isn't conducive to walking. Wind, sleet, deep snow or ice on the sidewalks, lots of salt on the streets; all of these are reasons to stay home.  But mid 20's temperature isn't one. That's what long underwear is for! So I bundled up and watched the ears perk up as Maggie watched and waited for the final signal. I picked up her  leash and she started to wriggle and dance. I could just hear her say...

YES! Sieze the Moment!

A Great Neighborhood

"It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood,
A Beautiful day for a neighbor,
Would you be one?  (words changed--original are 'would you be mine, could you be mine)
Won't you be one?"  (words changed)
Amended Lyrics from the Theme Song for Mr. Roger's Neighborhood

Something odd is going on outside my window. Maybe 'odd' isn't the best choice of words, but in many places it would defintely be considered Odd. What I am watching is one man with a snow shovel clearing the sidewalks for two of his neighbors. It seems odd at first, but it's actually pretty normal in this neighborhood. The longer we live here, the more I love my neighbors. I might add, here, that all of the people involved are  young, healthy, strong and quite capable of clearing their own sidewalks, but they happen to be at work now, and he is home. I guess he figures, he's home so why not?

From the beginning snow has seemed to bring out an attitude that is somewhere between Pay it Forward and Random Acts of Kindness, and I have often been the recipient. Larry has almost always been away when a snow storm hit. While I cleared my own driveway, my neighbor Mike always walked across the street with his snowblower and cleared my sidewalks. When we had a lot of snow, my neighbor Chuck was out with his Kabota tractor with a front end bucket clearing the snow of anyone who needed it. Originally, I was going to make light of this and call this post "A Boy and His Toys!". Give a man a snowblower or snow plow and a snow day is just as much fun for a man as it is for a kid.

But what I am watching is much more than that. I have lost track of the number of times when a neighbor has provided a helping hand without ever being asked. Just recently, we left for the weekend and missed a package that was delivered after we left. When Kristin saw FED-EX drop the box at our door she had her husband bring it in 'because we were supposed to get a lot of rain that night'.

The school bus stop was recently moved to the common area next to our home. Suddenly I was waking up to see that someone had cleared the sidewalk in front of several homes, including ours. A few weeks ago I saw Laurie shoveling the snow from her home across the common area to ours.

Friend Beth was gone for the weekend and I was helping to look after her dogs. When she asked me who cleared their driveway I told her Mike did the first snow fall, I did the last, and Cindy cleared the steps every time she stopped to feed the dogs.

The point is, I don't have a good neighbor. I have a great neighborhood. Although I am close with several, I'm not acquainted with all of my neighbors. But it is a place where people take turns looking out for one another. At the end of the day we often don't know who helped us out but we do know the people here look out for each other. Mr. Rogers (a lifelong Pittsburgh native and a real local hero) would be proud.

The view out my window may not be odd, but it is special. Random Acts of Kindness are so simple yet they can make such a difference in the life of a person, or a neighborhood. This neighborhood is proof positive of that.

A Full Nest

The Nest is once again Empty. We had a wonderful week with our kids and their families. They arrived right after Christmas so no sooner did we end our Christmas Day celebration as empty-nesters than we started to run through the final preparations involved when one is expecting 7 extra people. The day after they arrived, we had 3 more guests as Larry's mother, brother and sister-in-law came for a 2 day visit.
It was also one of those times when nothing worked out the way I had planned. There was a lot of shuffling of meal plans as the turkey was still frozen when it arrived here from Iowa and the in-laws came earlier in the week than I thought they would. We had plans to go to a park but it poured. We also thought the kids would enjoy a day at the Children's Museum in Pittsburgh, but the only day it would have worked for us, was the day the NHL Winter Classic hockey game was held downtown. I have learned the most important part of planning is remaining flexible and going with the flow, so none of those things slowed us down. I was just amused at how useless scheduling can be!

The best part of the visit with the kids was the littlest kids themselves. Seeing Samantha again and getting to know her as an infant, but no longer a newborn was the best. But those 3 year old boys....! What a hoot. Warren and Nicholas picked right up where they left off last Christmas. They remember each other even though they only see each other once a year. They have the best time playing. They might be full of giggles, but the adults get lots of laughs.

Some of my favorite images are:
2 little boys, trucks and tractors in hand, standing in the laundry room looking UP--at the laundry chute. The image was clear. As soon as they left the room I put a pile of laundry under the chute in case a tractor suddenly made the ride down! Unfortunately for them Paberry had closed the bedroom door so they never found the other end.

2 little boys playing hide and seek with Dave. They were hysterical! The best was when they ran into the laundry room and lay down on the floor, heads together against the washer, light on, door open, feet sticking into the hallway, HIDING (and giggling).

And perhaps the most heartwarming memory of all is of us all around the table saying grace and hearing two little voices clear as a bell saying "God is great, God is good. Let us thank him for our food." In fact we learned we'd better be ready because when someone said the word GRACE, they were off and the rest of us just had to catch up.  Which pretty much sums up life with a 3 year old.

It's quiet now, but what fun it was!