As you can see things aren’t very green yet, but at least Kaitlin’s pussy willow is starting to come out.
March is usually windy in New Mexico, and now that the trees are gone the wind can be especially fierce up on the land:
We’ve had this outdoor fireplace since shortly after we bought the land 36 years ago, and this is the first year it’s blown over. Andy put the big rock on it so it won’t be blown down the hill. He says he’s probably still strong enough to tip it back up, but not strong enough to carry it. When he gets time he’ll put it back up and try fixing it so it won’t blow down again. We haven’t had a fire in it in years, but it has sentimental value and it’s a great way of measuring the depth of the snow in those years when we get any. 🙂
Another oopsie was the attic stairs getting jammed again. Andy had thought if he closed them carefully the cable wouldn’t jump off the pulley and wrap around the axle. No such luck. So he climbed through the vent again to unjam the stairs, and he added a hook to keep the cable on the pulley. Presumably that will solve the jamming problem without having to reinstall the pulley so it’s not at an angle.
So that’s what early Spring is like here. What is it (or the first of Autumn for Cathy and Evan) like where you are? Have you needed to make any repairs lately?
It is 33°F with a possibility of freezing precipitation. Spring is certainly slow in coming this year.
Our spring is actually harbinger for the summer with temperatures moving up. We have had to get our air conditioners serviced and ready for the increased heat. Other than that, very little needs to be done.
We bought into the land (2,500 acres with a group of 20 Los Alamos-ians) 39 years ago. (Your’s was 36 years ago.) Built our cabin 30 yrs. ago. Interesting –to you & me. The land has cliffs, pastures & a stream but the rest, 100 ft fir & spruce trees. No fire YET. Cross my fingers.
Now everyone knows that Andy is a nice weight & not obese like people are nowadays. He fit through the vent opening. 😀
Still warm in Sydney. We have had a little Autumn but back to Summer for a couple of days.
My parents want to paint some windows but are worried that the old paint is lead based. (Very likely they haven’t painted them since they moved in 50 years ago and they weren’t freshly painted when they moved in.) They will probably just paint straight on top of what is there.
The whole of North Island (the island I live in) and part of the South Island have been declared “drought stricken” which means farmers and the like can apply for gov’t assistance.
Or course, there won’t be many in Auckland (my city) claiming that…
We did have some rain last week, but it won’t have done much as the ground was ‘dry as’ – I have noticed that very few leaves are falling. I have large non-fruiting cherry tree that usually starts falling early…it hasn’t made any attempt as far as I can see!
However, this morning when I was up to be at Uni well before daylight got going…it was a bit colder so I dug out some leggings, assuming I would take them off at some point (under a skirt) but I didn’t take them off until I got home this afternoon…I wasn’t overly hot. So maybe it is cooling down, even though it’s not really Autumny 🙂
Mike,
Our temperatures have been on a bit of a roller coaster here. It’s been above or well above normal lately but is now switching to below or well below normal for a few days. We have the wind either way.
Rummuser,
Thank goodness for air conditioners!
bikehikebabe,
That’s neat. Did you split the land into individual plots or is some of the land communal? How often do you go there? How long a drive? Good luck about fires!
Evan,
Not sanding the paint sounds like a good idea. Although years ago when I decided to paint I bought a little lead-testing kit to check the old paint. It didn’t find traces of lead—from what I read the product wasn’t a scam, but one never knows.
All the land is communal except for 5 acre lots scattered, for each to build a cabin. Only 5 built cabins. The mountain is 100 miles away. We used to go there about 10 times a year counting skiing. We haven’t been there skiing in a few years.
Charlotte seems to have it’s on cycle from year to year. This is one of those early spring fakes… you’ve got buds on trees and bushes one day, gone the next from a frost. Forget groundhog day; I go by the jonquils and when they pop up.(smile)
Lately I’m building a curved wall of gray blocks to improve drainage and aesthetics. Slow going with the arm, but it’s been be great! There’s a photo on my blog of the blocks I’m using, but that is not my yard…(would love to have the boulders in the photo.)
Getting through that vent size is impressive!
Dixie,
Yes, the early warm weather can really wreak havoc with the poor plants. And yes, we’re glad Andy could fit through the vent so he didn’t have to cut a hole in the ceiling of the living room!