January 1. Rain. Rain. Three fat snowflakes flying sideways. Wind. Wind. January 2. Snowdust on the deck. More wind. Lots of snow somewhere last night, but not here. I didn’t even bother to sweep off the deck and the steps this morning before trotting across the road for the paper. No real snow but lots of real cold. Grouse, grouse. Off to the Elk Rapids Library. Grouse just once – can’t stay cranky sitting on that porch. Glance out the windows and see a gladsome thing. Kids sliding down the library hill.
Well, that turned my whole day around. It was like Dorothy landing in Oz – all of a sudden everything was in color. The harbor was looking very nautical in red white and blue.
There were red, red berries on the hedge at Bodywise. I can’t choose. You get two berry portraits.
I found a nice lavender house to add to my Colorful Houses collection. Someday I must do a complete slideshow of those.
So it is an odd sort of winter, but the little kids don’t care. They’re having a good time sliding on half an inch of snow. Four books demanded to come home with me from the library. Who knows where that will lead. And Miss Sadie and the Cowboy assure me that it’s perfectly good walking weather. We’re going to go see whether they’re right.
Torch Lake Views 
Sybil
January 3, 2012
Gerry, you want to see some colourful houses ? Google “Lunenberg, Nova Scotia” and check out some of the houses there.
I am sure that you will soon be inundated with more than enough … In the meantime, enjoy the clear roads and sidewalks.
Gerry
January 3, 2012
I did go look at The Colors of Lunenburg and enjoyed myself very much. J. Dennis Robinson is even crazier than I am, which I gather is rather a feature of New Hampshire in general. Have to like that in a place.
shoreacres
January 3, 2012
Well, I do declare. You’ve redecorated while I’ve been out running the country. It all looks lovely, now that I’ve felt my way around and learned where to click. And I finally got smart, too, and “followed” you, so I’m not coming late to the party all the time.
I’ve so many friends, blog and otherwise, who are grousing a little about lack of snow. Some was griping because of poor Christmas aesthetics, some are truly concerned about lack of moisture. But as you say, the kids are having a good time.
I’m off now to roam a bit more and catch up. I saw something about a book being published, and historians. That’ll be good.
I hope your Christmas was fine – and here we are in a New Year. I just noticed you’ve changed your copyright dates – I need to do that right now, before I forget.
Happy New Year to you!
Gerry
January 3, 2012
Why thank you, ma’am, and a Happy New Year to you, too. I’ve switched things around several times in the last few days so I have no idea whether the place will look the same next time you drop in–but you’ll know us by the dog hair and the preoccupation with the weather and Civil War veterans, not necessarily in that order.
Heather
January 3, 2012
I understand the urge to grouse, as I’ve been doing my fair share (and perhaps yours as well!). Hopefully the four-legged companions were right about the walking conditions – you’d definitely need your yak trax over here today. If you need some fresh snow images, I put up some pictures on my blog, requested by some family. Hoping you get your snow soon!
Gerry
January 3, 2012
You’re just saying that because you’re afraid Mama Nature’s Minions will misdeliver my snow to your house and you don’t know where on earth you’d put it. I got Charlevoix’s snow one time and it took Dale Reedy three days to plow me out. Fortunately I had a good supply of treats on hand.
Dawn
January 3, 2012
Oh I hope you and the pups had a wonderful walk! Katie wants a walk too. I signed her up for 8 weeks of school instead. Guarantees her an ‘adventure’ every weekend! She is very excited. Loved your color in winter. My favorite berry shot is the second one..don’t know why exactly. They are both beautiful! And when we were kids (I was four or five, my sister was three) my mom poured water in the winter on our back sidewalk which had a tiny decline from the door to the street. We rode the dishpan down that icy sidewalk for hours. The mailman hated us.
So I’ve meandered around in my response long enough. Happy January to you Gerry! May the rest of the month be so odd!
Gerry
January 4, 2012
Miss Sadie and the Cowboy had a fine old gallop while I trudged far behind. They were exploring New Territory and loving every minute of it, even though it was very cold. I should sign the Cowboy up for school, too. More likely I am the one who needs to go to school on spaniel management.
Your mom would have loved watching these kids slide down the library hill. All it takes is a dishpan and a little imagination. (In my case I had way too much imagination and didn’t need a dishpan at all.)
uphilldowndale
January 4, 2012
Very fine berries and a very odd sort of winter. Kids can enjoy what ever… grown-ups will grouse, what ever.
Gerry
January 4, 2012
That’s so–although now you’ve introduced me to the Tootlepedals I am going to have to give up grousing altogether. At least for awhile.
Carsten
January 4, 2012
Redecorations. It’s good to see that you have energy for all that work. I see that the curtain rod is ok now. I’m glad you settled with the light tapestry. Personally I find it a little difficult reading white text on a black background.
Maybe a word on the very decorative berries? I do not recall having seen them before.
Weather here just now: A storm is slightly decreasing. Should be gone at the end of the day. Temperatures comfortably above freezing – but cold because of the wind speed.
BTW. The wood sounds fabulously in this weather.
Gerry
January 4, 2012
Thank you, Carsten. I think the white text on black is too hard to read, too. It’s hard enough finding people who are interested in reading what I have to say. No point in making it hard for them to read it.
Margie Guyot sent me an email about the berries. She says they’re high bush cranberries (Viburnum trilobum in North America, Viburnum opulus in Europe – see McPhail Woods Ecological Forestry Project). I think she’s right.
Your wood may sing beautifully in this weather but my wood moans in a threatening fashion. Large branches–and whole trees–crash to the ground. I took the dogs for a gallop up across the open meadows at Bay View farm. They loved every minute of it, and nothing fell on us.
Your next recording project: the wood in winter. That would be interesting, Carsten. (I am full of assignments for other people. I’m trying to persuade Margie Guyot to do a slideshow of her journey along the Inca Trail.)
Joss
January 4, 2012
Happy New Year, Gerry! I’ve just caught up with all your posts and have enjoyed looking at all the photos.I particularly like the harbour, all patriotic. We too have had virtually no snow here. And I’m glad. We were struggling with it so much last year. The garden doesn’t understand all this warm weather though. I was finishing the autumn clean-up yesterday yet it felt like the spring one. Too many buds and shoots everywhere. I like the new look, and yes, I miss the photo on the mast head. But it focusses attention even more on the daily shots. I look forward to seeing more or them. Love to the duo.
Gerry
January 4, 2012
‘Morning, Joss, and a Happy New Year to you too. It’s going to be interesting to follow the progress of winterspring across the world. Whenever we get a warming trend it seems to collapse back into winter in a little while. (The trunk of my car now contains a couple of umbrellas, a rain poncho, extra gloves, hats and boots, a ratty old fleece top, and a spare pair of YakTrax, all of it Just In Case.) We live in interesting times. I’m glad you like the new look.
tootlepedal
January 4, 2012
The first berry picture.
Gerry
January 4, 2012
Another precinct heard from. I think it is definitely the better-quality image.
P.j. grath
January 4, 2012
It IS an odd winter so far, isn’t it? Glad the kids are enjoying the little snow cover. I see today’s forecast is for sun on through the rest of the week, with highs above freezing. Really? Our snow plow guy will not be smiling.
The berries? Both are cheery, but the first packs more punch to my eye. –Ooh, punched in the eye! Gerry, how could you?!
Gerry
January 4, 2012
P.J. you are punch-drunk.
I think the first picture is a better picture–but the second one just looked delicious, and you know how I feel about treats.
La Mirada Bob
January 4, 2012
Thank Goodness my color vision is good enough to see the cranberries in all their beauty.
Also, Thank You for the link to tootlepedal. I enjoyed looking at it and sent the link off to Dadufo for his perusal.
Gerry
January 4, 2012
It would be a shame if you couldn’t get the full effect of the cranberries. They do brighten up the place, don’t they!
chris
January 4, 2012
got another look I see. I like this one too…
I know you will settle down soon and be satisfied with a look. With the faster internet
service you are having lots of fun downloading…
Talking of snow, Sonny and I are going to Boyne tomorrow.
I bet you think we are skiing or something…NOT
We will be babysitting so the parents can ski. I will wear my snowsuit tho,
just in case I need to show anyone how to make a snow angel.
Gerry
January 4, 2012
I am having fun redecorating.
I will be interested to hear if there’s snow anywhere at Boyne except on the runs where the snowguns have been blasting away. It’s plenty cold enough to make enough snow to ski on, that’s for sure. Dunno about snow angels though . . .
If you do get a chance to make one, I hope Sonny takes a picture.
Molly
January 5, 2012
Saw winter through the webcam today — a welcome sight (I’m fine with *looking* at it; I’m not saying I *miss* it). Even more welcome through the library windows, no? Love the new look at TLV. Happy new year.
Gerry
January 5, 2012
Thank you Molly. Happy new year to you too. I like looking at winter through the library windows. Also at whatever else comes up. I could live on the porch at the library.