Monday 22 March 2021

Mundane Monday - March 22, 2021

 We Canadians talk about the weather a lot, especially rural folk. 

When Spring hits, even if it's temporary, we get incredibly excited. People literally come out of the woodwork. 

Today's Mundane Monday is about signs of Spring (capitalized to signify the importance and reverence it should have) in your part of the world (unless of course, your part of the world doesn't emerge from winter like ours does, in which case you can still talk about the weather).

Here is a handy dandy fahrenheit to celsius converter if you are are going to include your day time temperature, so everyone understands. I still have no clue what you mean if you tell me in fahrenheit. 

I shall begin: Yesterday was go outside without a coat on weather. It supposedly got up to 17 degrees! In late-ish March! I have seen (and heard) robins and I have also seen starlings, although I've not witnessed a mass flock of starlings on my lawn which sometimes occurs. I did a burn in the burn barrel and while I was out there, I was charmed by four little chipmunks racing over and under a pile of cedar rails. They weren't the least bit bothered by my presence. Spring flowers are starting to emerge.

My little clump of snowdrops has wandered to a different location on the lawn, but they are still my first sign.





As well, my little dark purple crocuses (yes, that is the plural form, I checked) are also emerging. When I took this photo it was a little early in the morning for them to be open.

Lastly, along with the robins and starlings, my chickens are very happy to be outside, scratching around through the leaf cover that I dumped in their run last fall. 


March 20th was the first day of Spring, so please join in and contribute with a list of signs of this hope-providing season in your neighbourhood. 


41 comments:

  1. Oh my! Where to begin! The snow is disintegrating. We can walk on bare ground again. (Mostly) The first deer track has shown up, heralding the beginning of the migration out of the yard. Ruby red tulip nubs are emerging, right through some small remnant of snow in their bed. The red maple buds are rosy and swelling, and the scent of boiling sap permeates the air in the neighbour's sugar bush. The woodpeckers are tapping more and more and the chickadees are singing their two note, 'Sweet Spring' song. In the still morning silence, the far off sound of water beginning to break free and rush through the rapids of a small river to the NW. Robins in the apple tree. Red wings 'oke-a-lee'ing in the trees around the edge of our clearing. Geese nattering as they fly around looking for open water. That joyous feeling in the air, the smell of wet soil in my emerging garden beds.....

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    1. You've reminded me, yes I have also seen / heard red-winged blackbirds. I love their sound. I would love to be able to smell a sugar shack in full working order!

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  2. I saw tiny little violets blooming in the grass (altho, we don't want them spreading as they will take over the lawn!) And the daffodil shoots are growing taller but no flowers yet - probably by Easter Sunday tho!
    We took 2 of the grandkids to the park nearby yesterday and we could take our coats off! So that was a treat!

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    1. Some kids shed their coats as soon as it's a sunny day, even if there is snow on the ground. With all their running around, they don't seem to feel the cold like the rest of us. I haven't check on daffodil shoots yet. I'll have to go have a look.

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  3. I'm wearing my Spring coat now! But I'm not fooled. It's only March. We'll have at least one more big snow storm.

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    1. True. There are some snowflakes in the seven day forecast (as much as you can count on a seven day forecast...), but I still have that "I've survived another winter" feeling.

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  4. It was gorgeous here yesterday. I was able to go outside for quite a while without a coat. And, I spotted two daffodil plants with buds on top of them. Woo Hoo! You have a wonderful day, hugs, Edna B.

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  5. We had 19C (66F) last Friday but it has cooled down since then. Signs of spring around here are slower than yours, no robins yet though I expect that could happen any day. When I was a child we lived near a slough, and the first sign of spring was the opening of the pussy willows. I don't see them here in the city.
    I'm definitely seeing more small birds, and sadly, the hawk that likes to feed on them is back in the neighbourhood as well. The geese have arrived at the nearby pond even though it is still mostly ice covered. Signs that spring is definitely on its way and even if we get snow in the next few weeks, it won't last. Hooray!
    Take care, stay well.

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    1. Is a slough like a pond? We've had lots of Canada geese flying around, too.

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  6. Wet soft soil with patches of snow. Sprigs of green showing signs of the lawn to come. Buds swelling on the Magnolia and Dogwood trees; no flowers yet but will come in May. Warmth in the sunshine and coolness in the shade. Flocks of robins. Blue jays in pairs. Don't be fooled, as one more snow fall is often likely.

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    1. Magnolia and dogwood - they sound like such sweet southern trees (shrubs?). I am under no illusion that spring is here to stay. We've had snow at the beginning of May!

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  7. Went for an early walk through High Park this morning and as we are fairly close to Lake Ontario it was still -1C when I left. Wore my Spring jacket but with a heavy sweater, scarf & gloves and that was quite comfortable.

    Saw my first snowdrops on Friday but haven't noticed any other buds or flowers as yet.

    Some new birds have arrived although I haven't seen a robin as yet.

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  8. I meant to comment on your last post and congratulate you on your retirement, so I'm doing it now. Congrats!!!

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  9. Happy chickens! Yesterday was 27 C (82 F) but tonight they say it will drop to freezing! The desert has wild swings.

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  10. Congrats on your retirement! Signs of Spring - kids on bikes, chalk drawings on the sidewalk, street hockey and motorcycles roaring up and down the streets

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  11. I just put up a post on my blog on our very early and strange spring time weather. On my walk-a-bout yesterday I checked on the rhubarb and chives which are usually the first to show signs of life but, so far, nada. Under the mulch on the peppermint bed and strawberry rows the ground is frozen solid yet.

    I had meant to comment on your previous blog, too, but actually had to stop reading at one point because it was such a lovely, heartfelt, sentimental send off for you by students and staff and my eyes got too teary to read on. It reminded me so very much of when my husband retired from teaching. Even he had a little trouble holding it together when he marched his last third grade class outside where the whole elementary school was assembled to present a little program for him.

    Congratulations to you, Jenn. I know you will enjoy your retirement to the utmost!

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  12. Signs of spring for me are the garden is planted. The dogwoods are blooming and the grass got its first cut last week. Chickens have started laying again. We can also eat outside on our back porch.
    Happy spring

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  13. Our village in Lincolnshire is awash with daffodils right now.

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  14. Spring is on the way when the grass starts to grow. It is now growing and is ready for its first cut. 9C here today.

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  15. I think I see some of the lilies starting to break through. I don't like to get my hopes up much before the second week of April. I also thought I could see leaves starting to bud on the trees, but that could be floaters. At my age, you never know!

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  16. Ground is still frozen here in southeast Saskatchewan, but the temperature is rising and we are happy about that. The only thing that would make us happier is a good, soaking rain. It is very, very dry here.

    God bless.

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  17. Hi from Down under, we have had 3 days of rain and the temperature is going down, only getting to 19 today.
    I was at the beach most of last week and swimming in the ocean was glorious and the days were warm and sunny so we are making the most of this time of year before Winter hits in a few months....not that our Winter is anything like yours 😂

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  18. Chipmunks!! Too adorable. I've immediately fallen into a Chip 'n' Dale reverie ... Spring, when it comes around here in 6 months time, is heralded by hay fever.

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  19. My signs of spring are the sparrows chirping incessantly in the mornings and the frogs at night. Or else my ears are ringing.

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  20. Congrats on your retirement!
    Enjoy the beautiful weather!

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  21. The sandhill cranes have arrived in Wisconsin.

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  22. We like the bright colours on the earthy background in your photos. Nothing mundane about that at all.

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  23. Hello....just come over to see you from Rachel's blog. I have seen your name on comments often...we seem to read many of the same blogs! I am in UK. About 25 miles north of London ( Harpenden)
    I was surprised to see that you use centigrade ( as do I ) as USA are all fahrenheit users, and I don't understand that anymore!
    Our snowdrops are mainly over, daffodils in the middle of their flowering season, and I have low buds coming on the tulips in my pots. Temp yesterday was about 12c , but still a chilly breeze.
    We have relatives in Canada. 2 in Toronto ( where we visited nearly 30 yrs ago,) and another in Kingston.

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    1. Welcome, Frances. I'm glad you left a comment. Canadians have been using the metric system since the 1970's. I have some readers from the United States and, of course, they will describe their temperatures in fahrenheit, so I thought the little conversion chart would be handy.

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  24. All chickens are shut in here in the UK at the moment because there has been an outbreak of bird flu. My friends hens are absolutely desperate to get out now that the sun is out most days.

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  25. 17 degrees!!! Yikes!!! My girls tell me that I talk about the weather too much. It must be hereditary - my Mom did too. Stay warm Jenn.

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    1. Hi Katie, the 17 degrees was in celsius - that's warm. I think talking about the weather is a perfectly acceptable topic. Everyone can relate.

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  26. People in Florida don't talk about the weather: 'It is hot and humid today and will rain at five-o-clock.'
    I know. I once lived there.
    the Ol'Buzzard

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  27. Here in Maine, if you don't like the weather today, it will change tomorrow. That is why we talk about it. It was 29f (-1.666667c) three days ago and 69f (20.55556c) today. Sunny with patches of ground showing throw the snow. Black flies are out, but it is still early enough that we might get more snow.... maybe not.
    the Ol'Buzzard

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  28. Spring has come quickly my crocuses are in bloom too!

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  29. Snowdrops have been out for ages then crocus and now the dwarf daffs. All the girls that lay have started laying. Only my elderly retired girl and one other starting and stopping. Last years two new girls now laying and plenty of eggs. Longer daylight too. A few days where no coat was needed in the garden.

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  30. Three cheers for spring! We are having similar signs as you -- crocus are up and also some pretty dwarf iris. The temps are warm -- no coat for me yesterday, either. I have heard Harry the Heron is back but I haven't seen him yet!

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