Monday, March 11, 2013

Desperate for Spring ... and Brief Mention of a Blogiversary

It rained all weekend.

This is the time of year when a Wisconsin blogger begins to feel a bit desperate. Other bloggers are posting lovely photos from warmer climes (such as Stephanie's plum blossom along the Loire, and Meredith's turquoise water and sandy beaches), but when I look outside I see this:


Gone are the blue-and-white beauties of winter. In their place are muddy driveways and dirty half-melted snowbanks - definitely not inspiring. Add to this a sinus infection trying to stage a comeback, and the world begins to seem a very dull place indeed. (It takes all my philosophy to remember that this happens every year. Despite the drab uncheerfulness of our grey-and-brown world, spring is sure to follow. I WILL be able to take a bike ride soon. I hope.) :)

Far better to focus on these cheerful flowers from Mr. M, which were waiting for me on my return from Colorado last week, and still continue to brighten the room...


...and on the fact that this blog celebrated a quiet birthday Saturday. Two years of blethering on, with the occasional recipe and free crochet pattern thrown in, have garnered 500+ followers and over 800,000 pageviews (thanks mostly to the crochet patterns). Who'd a' thunk it?

A giveaway is definitely indicated. I have a lovely skein of yarn just waiting to be sent to some deserving commenter...


...and all I need now is to rustle up a few other prizes. Chocolate will be one of them, as always, and probably a crafty book of some sort. Watch this space - the actual giveaway post will follow later in the week.

~ ~ ~

Are there any signs of spring where you live? (Or fall, for you Southern Hemisphere gals?)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

53 comments:

  1. We have snowdrops (or something cute and white) in the courtyard where I work! Even though it snowed this weekend and is grey and dreary those little guys keep promising me it IS going to be spring soon :)

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    1. I have NEVER seen snowdrops, though they must grow somewhere in Wisconsin. Lucky you! :)

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  2. Ahhh yes, THAT time of year, is hitting Blog Land, here and there. Doesn't it _always_ come around, though? Different dates for different folks. But usually, that I-Am-Tired-Of-This-Weather sets in...

    Sorry about the sinus infection. In comeback mode, even. Ugh...

    Late to wonder this but, you recently flew. Did you spray your nose with plain ol' Saline Solution, during flight? Air plane air is DRY. It can dry out our mucus membranes. Make little 'cuts' in them, like what happens with dry hands...

    Along comes a *germ,* and happily zaps right into the little cuts, and bammmmm.... WE are sick. -sigh-

    Spraying saline solution, during flights, can help.

    Big help I am hu? Being very, very late, with this bit of possible advice. Sorrrrrrry...

    "Auntie"

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    1. I am fighting valiantly with the help of Vitamin C and I think we are winning....

      But thanks for the saline spray advice - I was very careful to drink about twice as much as usual while flying and while in Colorado (necessary at those altitudes). :)

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  3. We had a little bit of snow yesterday and last night, it's cold at the moment, it was -5C last night and hasn't got above 1C today but the wind makes it feel colder. We have had glimpses of Spring though, won't be long till it's here proper...
    Hope you don't get laid low with any infections. Happy Blog Birthday,
    Anne x

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    1. Thanks, Anne! Here's hoping for a (moderately) warm and sunny spring in Scotland. :)

      And Wisconsin.

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  4. So true... it's so gloomy and rainy, then people are walking on the beach? Took a bit to wrap my brain around that. It really IS springtime for some of the southern states. The only consolation so far is that our streets are widening again with some of that snow melting back. ;-)

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    1. Yes - we hope to see the curb again in a few weeks. And not have to climb up an icy slope to reach the mailbox! :)

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  5. But at least you have beautiful flowers indoors to look at and dream on. Spring will arrive, I am sure of it.

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    1. Thanks, T-A. I'm sure it will too. But on some of those VERY grey days it can seem a little doubtful. :)

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  6. Congratulations on your blogiversary! I love reading your posts and looking at your lovely photos - keep up the good work!

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    1. Thanks, Kindra, and likewise! Your blog always makes me hungry....

      :)

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  7. I love those bright flowers and that gorgeous skein of yarn! It must be nice to be home again after your time away!

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    1. Very nice indeed ... and in my own bed too. Loving it! :)

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  8. MY window to the world looks much like yours, Here in Chicago.
    CONgratulations on your blogaversary~~~~

    Id love to win the yarn too

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    1. Thanks Kathy - watch for that giveaway post in a day or two.

      Hope you get a nice spring there. :)

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  9. Sue, I totally empathise with you.I have HAD ENOUGH of Winter and Mother Nature sneakily gave us some false Spring hope a week or 2 ago and then the snow came last night! Oh well, lets not grumble, we can at least in-door flowers. Yours are a beautiful colour. Happy blog anniversary, time flies when you are having fun :o) xox Penelope

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    1. Thanks Penelope - time does fly especially in Blogland. I hope your crocuses will soon be standing up again with their faces to the sun....

      :)

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  10. I'm in the UK, it looked like spring was all set to arrive! In mid-January we had snow (not much, but enough to grind the country to a stand-still, sigh), all gone by February (I'm near the sea and ours was gone in a day!). The bulbs in my garden came up, some pretty iris, a whole tub of daffodils! Then yesterday was icy-cold and today it is snowing again :( I'm bored of it now!

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    1. Sometimes those late snows are like a slap in the face from Nature....

      Hope it warms up soon for you. Thanks for commenting! :)

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  11. Congratulations on birthday #2 to the lovely Mrs. Micawber. I believe you have created 800,000 happy feelings in the last year and lots of bright spots for at least 500 people more than weekly!

    No real signs of Spring here, but a little extra sunshine has sent that promise.

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    1. Aw shucks. (Hangs head and crosses toes.)

      Thanks Liz! Hope you get some signs of Spring soon.

      :)

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  12. First of all, congratulations on your 2nd anniversary. Like you, Mrs M, I long for spring. My achy joints are so tired of the cold and damp. Sunday was such a warm, lovely day and today, Monday, it has rained and rained and I have ached and ached. I look forward to the blue skies and warm air. The yarn is lovely. Can't wait to see what else you find. Again, congratulations.

    Hugs,
    Sharon

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    1. Thanks so much Sharon - I hope the weather dries up soon so you can enjoy your walks!

      :)

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  13. I have to tell you that the view here is the same. Muddy, grey, yuck. I long for warmth and sunshine.
    Fight that sinus infection! Feel better.
    Congrats on the blogiversary.

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    1. Thanks Beth - I think the Vitamin C is helping. :)

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  14. Dear Sue,

    There is comfort in knowing one is not alone and believe me, after a sunday lunch al fresco (yes, I KNOW), we are back to damp drizzle and grey skies. Yukkk! A nurse told me once that there are more cases of depression and, dare I say, suicide in the month of March; a fact I do not find surprising at all.

    Happy anniversary to you Sue. I think one of the many reasons you are so liked/loved is that your intelligence and humanity just shine through your words and when you leave a comment it is always clear that you have taken the time to read our posts. Thank you for being you.

    Stephanie

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    1. Mille remercies, chère Stephanie. (How very sweet of you to say such kind things.)

      A co-worker just told me yesterday that she hates March more than any month - which seems to uphold what the nurse said to you.

      Here's to more and more lunches al fresco. :)

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  15. 1/2 and 1/2 view here - piles of dirty snow dot the edges while bulbs peek out of the mulch - one day it's winter, next day it's spring-like, repeat. Waiting to dig in the dirt - prepare the smorgasbord for the wildlife who don't share with us unless we are faster than they!!

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    1. Yes, gardening is something to look forward to. I have one tiny plot surrounded by chicken wire to protect its contents from rabbits and deer - and I'm already dithering on whether to plant lettuce or kale there or just go for a huge patch of basil. :)

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  16. OOPS! I forgot to say Happy anniversary and how much I enjoy your blethering on! Thumbs up Mr. M!! =8-)

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  17. "BEING TIRED OF THE SEASON" is setting in, in blog land, in a big way!!! -sigh-

    "Auntie"

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  18. Congratulations on the blogoversary!!! And 500 followers?!? Holy moly!!!

    I'm getting just a little tired of winter, too, but we need the moisture so much. And this morning at the park and ride, I saw the first of the tulips are beginning to poke through the mulch. !!!!!!!!!!

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    1. We do need that moisture, but unfortunately the ground is still frozen and all our rain is just washing away.... but it must be going SOMEWHERE.

      Tulips! Hooray! :)

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  19. We have to be patient. ;-) It has been a bit warmer though, spring is around the corner.

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    1. Yes - it is getting warmer here too. Very s-l-o-w-l-y.

      I am trying to be patient but not always succeeding. :)

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  20. You asked (in my comments) what the "wooden thing" with the square peg in round holes was? An arm on the chair, which 'Uncle A.' just got. :-)

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  21. I am sorry to hear of your sore sinuses. I am very prone to that sort of ugliness myself and it is definitely miserable! As much as I love snow, the muddy aftermath is quite depressing.

    As for the fabrics in my box, I am considering a patchwork of springy pinks mug rug. Not totally decided yet, though.

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    1. It sounds very cheerful - they're lovely fabrics.

      Down with sore sinuses and up with spring! :)

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  22. Oh and p.s. I am looking forward to your giveaway!

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    1. Just a few more days - I would like to have the chocolate in hand before I post about it.

      (Chocolate in hand but NOT in mouth that is.)

      :)

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  23. Hey Sue, when I find the going tough in Summer, I just tell myself at the end of each day, that it is now one day closer to Autumn and cooler temps.....perhaps you could do the reverse of the seasons!!
    The melting snow certainly doesn't look too pretty but obviously the temps are climbing and you'll be out on your bike enjoying the fresh air and countryside views.
    Congrats on your 2nd blogiversary, you're going from strength to strength........
    How sweet of Mr. M to have flowers for you......he must've missed you.

    Autumn colour is creeping into our very dry, sad garden. Still having temps up in the 30's but the cooler weather can't be too far away now......

    CLaire x

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    1. Thanks, Claire - I do enjoy most of winter but it's this draggly end-of-season bit that starts to get everyone down. (And if we have a cold rainy spring you will hear lots of complaints about that too.)

      Thanks for the good advice. :)

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  24. Last week it was very warm (15C) and now there is snow and it's freezing. Can't wait for the spring to begin!

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  25. Happy Blogiversary, Sue! I am so glad you decided to use your creativity in this medium, and that I have the pleasure of getting to know and enjoy you through it :-)
    Blessings to you and yours,
    Gracie

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  27. Happy Blog Birthday Sue!

    Those are huge numbers for just two years! Long may your success continue :)

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  28. I live on a small island below australia and after 6 weeks of mostly 30 degree (celcius) with no air conditioning, I'm dying for a cool change. We've had basically no rain, so its hard to tell if the dried up leaves are a sign of autumn or merely dehydration...

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  29. Happy Blog Birthday! Over here in Minnesota we have nothing spring-like to show. There was some lovely hoarfrost last week for a moment, but your photo captures it all!

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