Blizzard of 2010

We have lived here long enough to have been through these record snow storms:
3. February 18-19, 1979 ... 18.7 inches
4. January 6-8, 1996 ... 17.1 inches
5. February 15-18, 2003 ... 16.7 inches
6. February 11-12, 1983 ...16.6 inches
7. December 19-20, 2009 ... 16.4 inches (Snowpocalypse)

and now a new number 4 Feb 5-6, 2010 ... 17.8 as measured at National (Snowmageddon)

The storm also brings D.C. to number 3 in the top winter totals on record.

Here in Alexandria we had 22+" on the porch table.

Friday night

 

 

 Saturday morning, still snowing.

 

  

  

  

  

 Damaged magnolia and still snowing.

Saturday night, stopped snowing.

Sunday morning, sunny blue skies.  Poor boxwood.  I cleared them of snow three times during the storm, otherwise they'd be flat on the ground.

Lots of branches off the huge old magnolia.

Here's the car we left in the drive.

Cleared out, but no where to go.  There's street under that snow.  They may plow by ????

 At least we have a path out to walk to the store.

Sping's a Dream

We just had a blizzard with record snowfall...23" in my backyard.  Spring may be late. 

 

I had forced these forsythia in the kitchen.  Visit TODAY'S FLOWERS #78 to see more blooms.

Leaves of Green

From the Elizabethan Gardens in Manteo, North Carolina, September 2009

Join TODAY'S FLOWERS # 77 to see the world in flower.

Puzzle Quilt

I am not compulsive. Repeat that three times please. 

I just like puzzles, love mysteries and I want to know the history of things. This quilt came from an estate sale this past spring. I loved the colors, but it was just a top I bought ($25) for a table covering. The colorful fabric included a red and blue plaids, geometric patterns, cute flowers and little people (vaguely 40's designs).


The first time I used it I found the back, which I had not really focused on, had newspaper stitched into the seams. When I washed it the paper started to pull off.

I could read some words, so I carefully picked off the larger pieces and like a puzzle (or a quilt) pieced them together.

I got enough to determine the paper was from Atlanta GA, 1942. The larger sections advertised a "full time classes, television technical (probably repair), G.I. Approved", 'Lotion 79 cents", comics..."Tarzan" title but no picture and one mentioned "World War".

So I'm guessing that solves the puzzle of when and where this quilt top was made.

While you are here let me direct you to  Eddie Ross and the Apartment Therapy Window Challenge take a look and vote for Eddie's  ELLE DECOR window.

Looking for Spring

These images are from Spring 2007. 

Spring 2010 will be here soon.  Stop by TODAY'S FLOWERS # 76 for some great shots of flowers on floats.

In the Red Zone

Here's a collection of reds for Today's Flowers # 75

Stop by Today's Flowers to see great shots of a cheerful yellow orchid.

News from Haiti

Our friend Maurice Geiger, Director of the National Rural Justice Center ...  (New Hampshire Bar Association,  NH Union Leader News article, Consortium for the Advancement of Haiti) ...  is currently in Haiti.  Happily he has been in contact with home and is OK.

I have not been to Haiti, but I have been to the Dominican Republic.  Here are some pictures from the country side taken in 2006.  They are not the best since I was on horseback at the time.  But I think they show the conditions up in the hills in the DR.  These were the "good" houses.  In the rain these roads are rivers of mud.  The poverty is striking, but I'm sure no where near what is found in Haiti in the best of times.

Can you imagine what Haiti was like...and is like now?

You can text 90999 with the word "Haiti" to donate ten dollars to the American Red Cross; the charge will appear on your phone bill.

Another friend works with Bill Clinton and his foundation.  You can text Haiti 20222 to donate ten dollars to the William J. Clinton Foundation.