Monday, March 17, 2014

What's Going On?



SPRING? WINTER! SPRING?

The latter part of this past week brought balmy, shirt-sleeve weather to our part of the U.S.  My daffodils and forsythia bloomed, the day lilies began to send up new leaves, and all was looking well for the world. "About time!", I thought, and began to make plans for working in the flower beds.  Silly me! 

By mid-afternoon yesterday, a light rain was being pushed by a cold north wind at about 50 miles an hour (the gusts turned my umbrella completely inside out, took my breath away [so much that it scared me], and nearly blew me off my feet... really!) and then....

...it snowed last night!  

Not very much; the ground was not even completely covered, just clumps of snow here and there, when I got up this morning.  The temperature is rising, even as I type, and a quick look out the window just now shows that it's nearly all gone.  

We Arkies are wont to say "If you don't like the weather, just wait a few minutes; it will change."



BITS AND PIECES

* This past Saturday, which was a balmy day, my stamping partner and I hosted another successful Stamp Camp, our first of this year. I'm happy to report that a good time was had by all.

* I continue to enjoy my Kindle, and the free books I download from Amazon.  As I've previously commented on this blog, I am a (big) fan of mystery stories. My taste runs to the "cozy" mystery, although a well-constructed thriller also holds my attention.  One evening last week, I began to read Louisiana Longshot by Jana DeLeon.  Once I read the first page, I couldn't stop. This has to be one of the funniest stories I have ever read. If laughter is good medicine, I shouldn't be sick for quite some time! Highly recommended by yours truly, if you enjoy such things.

* My smart phone, a gift from my son-in-law in 2012, is behaving erratically. I've checked everything I know to check, and have had others more experienced than I try to resolve the problems I'm having -- to no avail. Perhaps it has a built-in self-destruct chip. :)  I fear a new phone is in my future.

I am slightly amazed at how much I have come to depend on this pocket-sized piece of technology -- being able to send and receive email when not at home on my computer; texting (never while driving, thank you); taking photos; checking the weather, etc., etc.  I've become so comfortable with it that I have been giving thought to doing away with my "land line."  Today, I'm not so sure!

* Today is St. Patrick's Day. Are you wearing green? Interesting information on the wearing of the green here.

That's it.

Tomorrow is also a day.

12 comments:

Snap said...

I know all about the weather syndrome called "wait 10 minutes" ... ack! Sun is shining, but it is cold again today. I think there will be no more freeze in our future, but with the wind .. not very pleasant to work in the yard. I still don't have a smart phone. I'm going to checkout Louisiana Longshot. Happy St. Patrick's Day! (Yes, I'm wearing green -- corned beef and cabbage for dinner tonight)

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hi Girlie, Yes---I do wonder if Spring will get here.... ha... We didn't get your snow--but we have had rain/ice/COLD temps/lots of FOG all day long... DREARY!!!!

We are going to get an iPhone this spring --and in some ways I'm looking forward to it and other ways, I dread it.... ha

Hugs,
Betsy

bittenbyknittin said...

Oh, I'm addicted to my smart phone, too. I bought mine in 2012, but so far the only problem I have had is it comes up short on storage. I moved as many of the apps to the SD card as I can. Now I need to go through some of the old files to see if I can either move them or delete them. Hope your starts behaving soon.

Hilary said...

I definitely focus on my phone or tablet/e-reader when away from my computer. And I do love reading at night. I've not bought any books but I do download from the library.

StitchinByTheLake said...

Thank you for the book recommendation - it's still free on Amazon so I've downloaded it. It may be a while before I get to it because I've downloaded so many now I could read a book a day for a very long time and not be through all of them...what a treasure it is to have that many! I too love my smartphone and don't want to do without it. We keep our land line for many reasons, like our security system being tied to it, but there's a certain comfort still for me in having it there. blessings, marlene

rhymeswithplague said...

A newsy, informative post! We didn't get snow here, but in all other respects are weather has been like yours. 70 one day, 35 the next. We have daffodils and forsythia too, usually our first sign of spring. Our landscaper friend Phoebe always says Georgia can have frost as late as April 15 and she ought to know.

We got our smart phone (iPhone 4) in January 2013 and life has not been the same since.

It's so good to see you posting more often.

rhymeswithplague said...

I'm slipping..."are" should be "our"...horrors!

Pat - Arkansas said...

Rhymeswithplague Could it be that you were talking aloud while typing? Perhaps an Arkansas drawl in my honor? Such as "Are famly haz ben livin heer fer fordy yeers."

rhymeswithplague said...

Are famly haz ben livin heer (in Jawja) fer only 39 yeers.

Jackie said...

Love LOVE my smartphone...and they are verrrry smart (and make me feel pretty smart, too!)
The daffodils are beautiful. I've often wondered how they look "in person" covered with snow.
It doesn't snow here...and I just know that yours flowers are lovely all draped in white.
Hugs to you,
J.

Reader Wil said...

Hi Pat, it's so annoying when a device doesn't work. We depend so much on computers or other modern things.
Thanks for your visit!
Wil, ABCW Team.

Peter said...

There is a song called "Four Seasons in One Day", that was co-written by Neil and Tim Finn, New Zealand brothers from Te Awamutu in the North Island. According to Wiki, this song is about the weather in Melbourne Australia, but I like to think that the song reflects the Finn brothers New Zealand roots! Down in the South of the country we usually have a warm day (or afternoon), just before it snows. In fact I tend to watch any warm day in autumn, winter, or spring, with a degree of suspicion! What is it hiding?! I was amused to see that you have similar expectations of weathers changeability in Arkansas! Sometimes the world seems a small place after all! I have avoided even cell phones as yet, but I can see the attraction of smart phones. Some of those things have more "brain" than my current desktop computer.., quite amazing what they pack into those gadgets! Pxx