THE MAGIC OF SPRING

The Life of flowers (Жизнь цветов) from VOROBYOFF PRODUCTION on Vimeo.

Happy Spring!

The vernal equinox has been celebrated since ancient times.  It's the celebration of Oestre or Eastre the teutonic goddess of spring.  It's from this pagan goddess that the Christians got the word Easter.

Here's a beautiful video to celebrate the start of the season.  It's SPRING IN NORWAY.





And, another beautiful video of SPRING IN HOLLAND.

Winter (what there was of it) is GONE!

Spring has arrived in Rapid city too.

DUANE REPORTS
"Honeysuckle bushes are leafing already.  Iris coming up.  Grass is greening.  The deer are drinking the bird bath dry every day."

IT'S STILL TOO EARLY TO PLANT

Early Summer Warmth Into Next Week

Record warmth is possible nearly every day into early next week as temperatures rise to readings more typical of mid to late-May.

In addition, given the unprecedented forecast warmth, there is a chance to approach or exceed the all-time warmest March at La Crosse, WI and Rochester, MN.

Despite the very warm conditions, we are far from our average last freeze. For La Crosse, the average last freeze is around April 26. Meanwhile, the average last freeze for Rochester is around May 7. With the average freeze date well over a month away, planting is not advised.

Here is a listing of some record highs around the area:

Record High Temperatures
	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun	Mon	Tue
	March 14th	March 15th	March 16th	March 17th	March 18th	March 19th	March 20th
La Crosse, WI	68/1990	68/1995	75/1930	78/1894	71/1903	76/1921	71/1918
Medford, WI *	62/1995	64/1927	68/1930	67/1966	68/2003	69/1910	61/1910
Sparta, WI *	69/1990	68/1990	69/2003	75/1966	70/2003	69/1918	72/1918
Prairie du Chien, WI *	72/1995	73/1894	82/1894	76/1894	79/1894	76/1921	74/1918
Austin, MN *	60/1990	70/2003	72/2003	68/1945	68/1945	67/1976	68/1938
Rochester, MN	70/1910	67/2003	73/1930	66/1930	60/2010	69/1910	72/1910
Winona, MN *	69/1995	71/2003	75/1930	75/1894	73/1966	77/1921	74/1976
Charles City, IA *	73/2003	72/2003	74/1930	69/1966	75/1918	77/1921	73/1918
Oelwein, IA *	70/1995	71/1935	75/1930	73/1966	74/2003	75/1976	71/1938
Decorah, IA *	67/1990	70/1995	78/1930	77/1894	70/1938	74/1921	77/1938
* Records are from cooperative observers not the airports

Here is a listing of some record warm low temperatures around the area:

Record Warmest Low Temperatures
	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun	Mon	Tue
	March 14th	March 15th	March 16th	March 17th	March 18th	March 19th	March 20th
La Crosse, WI	49/1990	44/1898	46/1930	51/1894	48/1968	59/1921	45/1918
Medford, WI *	41/1995	51/1990	40/1927	38/1946	49/1894	44/1903	40/1918
Sparta, WI *	49/1973	52/1990	40/1946	48/1966	46/1968	45/1968	39/1942
Prairie du Chien, WI *	61/1990	47/1920	44/1946	50/1966	55/1894	58/1921	49/1976
Austin, MN *	48/1973	42/1977	42/1946	48/1966	45/1968	37/2003	35/1991
Rochester, MN	44/1973	41/1946	43/1930	45/1966	46/1968	38/1976	42/1918
Winona, MN *	48/1990	43/1945	43/2003	49/2009	43/1968	59/1921	47/1918
Charles City, IA *	49/1973	46/1946	43/1946	49/1966	48/1903	57/1921	40/2011
Oelwein, IA *	49/1973	50/1945	44/1927	47/1938	44/1968	44/1979	41/1976
Decorah, IA *	55/1990	43/1898	41/1927	53/1966	47/1968	54/1921	44/1976
* Records are from cooperative observers not the airports

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ONE OF MY FAVORITE HOLIDAYS

The forecast calls for dense fog this morning so if the little fellow pokes his head out early this morning he won't see his shadow which will mean spring is right around the corner.  On the other hand, if he sleeps in late, the fog will burn off by 10 and bring sunny skies.  So if he sleeps in late he'll see his shadow and we'll be in for six more weeks of winter.

I just have this feeling that we've got to get one big snow storm before this mild winter is over.  I hope I'm wrong but I'm not wrong very often.

By the way, the groundhog is also known as the woodchuck or whistle pig.  They're the largest member of the squirrel family (if you don't count me).  Their front teeth keep growing for life so they have to keep chewing to wear them down or face serious health issues.

They are true hibernators who burrow into the ground, as deep as five feet, and go to sleep in late fall after setting the alarm clock for early spring.

Click here for the Punxsutawney-weather cam

IT'S OFFICIAL

Image by FlamingText.com

The official arrival time was 11:30 PM (CST) December 21, 2011.

ONE OF MY FAVORITE DAYS IS HERE!!

At 11:30 tonight (CST) the sun will have gone as far south as it's going to go.

At that moment it starts its trip back north with the promise of another spring to come.  And, the best part of all is that the days start getting longer!  As soon as we get this Christmas crap out of the way we can start waiting for the seed catalogs to arrive.


Image by FlamingText.com

THE LAST TIME IT SNOWED??

I couldn't remember when our last big snowfall was so I did a search in my email and it was April 26 that Roger sent this photo of winters last hurrah.

THE OLDER YOU GET THE FASTER TIME MOVES

Seems like it was just yesterday that I was walking around in a T-shirt.  This morning I counted the days and we're just 23 away from the WINTER SOLSTICE.  Then the days start getting longer and I can start counting the days to spring!

JUST IN CASE YOU FORGOT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE

This was Rita and Rogers deck after our last spring storm on April 26 of this year.  We'll soon see this again!

DON'T FORGET

Image by FlamingText.com

THE LATEST FROM LYNNE

 "I am working hours and hours each day editing photos and camcorder films from the past 1 1/2 years.

We have a yard full of leaves but the trees still have lots to fall.  I have used the leaf blower three times so far so Bob could do his final mowing.  The cleanup is done by a few guys we hire.  No more back breaking work for us."

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: ANGELA LANSBURY-86 TODAY

Great minds think alike. And, I can't think of two greater minds than Rita and me.

Anyway, I mentioned, yesterday, that I was making chicken soup (which was absolutely DELICIOUS, by the way) and Rita sent me an email: "I also am working on some chicken soup!"

As soon as the leaves start turning I used to start thinking about chili but, since my chili days are over, I now have to settle for chicken soup.

The "Travel Wisconsin" website shows the fall leaves at their peak of color around Viroqua while, here in La Crosse, we're past our peak. The show's about over.

I've got chicken soup bubbling in the crockpot.

Temperatures dropped into the low 50's, this morning, as far south as Florida.  That's pretty cold for Florida this early in the season.

I looked out the window at 7 A.M. and it was still dark out! I can take the ice, snow and cold but the long nights are just too much.

DUANE REPORTS:
"Wind has come up. Some strong gusts. More leaves and needles are coming down on the decks. Definitely fall temps now. Glad the furnace has been serviced."

THANKS TO ROGER FOR ANOTHER GREAT PHOTO



The colors are starting to come alive on the hills surrounding Rita and Rogers home.  And, before we know it, this will all be white with snow!

I'm going to make a run to K-Mart today and spend some time outside.  I'm thinking this is going to be about our last day to enjoy that "summertime feeling".


The temperatures will start falling tomorrow, we'll have rain by Wednesday and highs will only be in the 50's by Friday.


I know it's time for that sort of thing but that doesn't mean I have to like it.