Happy Spring!

Chris on the Tractor
March 19, 2016

Although it may not feel like it this morning, Spring arrived overnight. The season of darkness is officially behind and warm sunny days lie ahead. 

Chris Clearing the Yard

Yesterday, before the rain and snow began falling as Winter made its last attempt to control the weather, Chris and I began the process of clearing the yard of the winter debris. Although below freezing temperatures had been forecast overnight, they did not materialize. The storm is proving to be much milder than originally projected.

That included getting the tractor out of the shed and running--which was surprisingly easy. There is something reassuring about hearing the tractor burst to life when the key is turned. Well, it did grind for a while--but then came alive.

The yard has already taken on a bright green color and the buds on the trees are everywhere. By this time next week, Easter, everything should be in full bud and bloom. We needed to get some of the leaves and smaller twigs off the lawn.

This is a great time of year as everything springs back to life. 

Spring has Sprung!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Flowers Arrive Despite the Weather

Crocus in my Garden

Springtime has arrived in Maryland. 

The trees are budding and flowers are blooming throughout the region. And even in my own yard. I make that point because my house is situated in a low area that is a bit colder and also receives less sun than some other areas. Forsythia are blooming along the highways, but mime are barely budded.

Daffodils in the Garden

It is good to see the weather turn warmer.

Although, there is a significant snow maker on the horizon for Sunday! Ugh. Presently it is calling for 3-5 inches of snow. Hopefully it moves off shore between now and its arrival in the region. 

I am distressed at how the temperatures nosedive through the rest of this week and below freezing conditions return. I have already moved a few of the plants we have been wintering outside to get reacquainted with the sun and they will need to be brought back inside.

Oh well--Happy St Patrick's Day anyway.

Spring officially begins on Sunday morning at 30 minutes past midnight in the Easter Daylight Timezone--during the snowstorm! It will be Winter's last hurrah!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

In the Win Column Again

Ed Smith Stadium
March 12, 2016

The Orioles made it into the win column for the first time this Spring Training yesterday.

Ny Spring Training trip mission is accomplished!

Hopefully the Orioles new found winning ways will continue today with another win in Fort Myers against the Twins!

I did briefly meet General Manager, Dan Duquette, yesterday. Seriously, it was a brief hello and hand shake at the stadium and we mentioned hoping for a good season from the team and I felt that they had the players and staff to every successful.

Getting Ready for the Game

That is one of the great things about going to Spring Training, you never know who you are going to meet while prowling the stadium. 

To recap the game, the Orioles starting pitcher, Ubaldo Jimenez, allowed a run early in the top of the first inning and over the course of the game the Orioles scored eight unanswered runs to make the final score 8-1. It was exciting to be there for the first win of the campaign.

The concern of the day was when catcher Matt Wieters left the game after the first inning with elbow soreness and given his recent surgery there is come cause for concern. The tests should be back today on the elbow. I noted that on the one throw to second to stop a steal that his throw was unusually high. 

The pitchers who relieved Ubaldo did their jobs and included some of the ones I expect to see back at Camden Yards once the season begins and included Zach Britton and Darren O'Day who each pitched one scoreless inning. 

It was a great baseball day with a nice breeze and temperatures in the mid-80's. 

Do I have to come home?

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Springtime Arrived

The temperature climbed to 77 degrees yesterday. It was the region's first foray into the 70's since Christmas! We had a beautiful Christmas day, but since then it has been nothing short of miserable.

Cat in the Gym Parking Lot

I was happy to enjoy the temperatures outside, despite having a racquetball match in the evening. So no, I didn't get out to swing my clubs in preparation for my upcoming trip. I could have some ugly golf outings. 

One of the things I did treat myself to was driving in Cat with the top down! I love to take that initial image of Cat once the weather warms enough for a drive. Actually, we had the top down in late February for an afternoon, but that was pushing it a but. I feel like it is really Spring now!

Spring Peeper

It was awesome to feel the warm breeze in my hair as I sped down the parkway. 

Last evening on my way home from the gym, I even heard the peepers beginning their springtime songs. 

Springtime has arrives--and not a bit too early for my way of thinking. Looking at the weather forecasts, the region is not expected to be below 40 at least the next 10 days! I need to get some of the wintering plants outside to get used to the sun again!

I can almost hear the mower revving up in the shed.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Crazy Busy Day

No good deed goes unpunished.

I have heard that phrase repeatedly during my adult work life. It seems that it also applies to home life as well.

Newly Painted Family Room

Yesterday was a Saturday with nothing specific planned. That meant painting the family room! We had purchased two gallons of our new favorite color a few weeks ago, but had not yet had time to change the wall color. 

Yesterday was the day! And the painting went well. So well that we were also planning of refreshing the trim as well--right up until water began pouring out from under the kitchen sink after the brushes were washed.

Newly Installed Faucet

What seemed like a simple leak quickly turned into a trip to Lowe's and a $10 repair to the sprayer hose became a $350 new faucet assembly! I have to admit the existing faucet did have a drip, too and needed some work. I did have a lot of fun working under the sink installing the new faucet. To begin with, it took over an hour to get the old faucet deconstructed. 

But the new one is installed and fully functional. A new sink may be coming soon, but fortunately, Lowe's did not have the desired replacement in stock! 

By the end of the day a simple job devoted to painting the family room quickly became a new faucet! What a day!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Last Snow of the Season

Yesterday I woke up to the world repainted by the brush strokes of snow highlighting the trees and bushes. 

I am not a fan of snow, but nearly everyone I talked to during the day stopped for a moment to appreciate the beauty of the snow on the branches of the trees. Even I, a person who finds few redeeming qualities in snow, thought the scenes played out before me were especially pretty. I enjoyed the constantly changing landscape during my drive to work.

I think it was the clear, wet roads and sidewalks framed by the trees covered with the white snow that made the scene so stark and enjoyable. I took the images in the predawn light, but the day became more beautiful as the sun rose.

I am glad that I was able to enjoy the beauty, which lasted for only a few hours. 

And now it is gone!

I was a fitting end to winter! 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Longer Days

Friday at Dawn in Columbia, MD

I noticed it the Friday morning while leaving the fitness club after a racquetball match to start the day. It was light outside at 6:45 AM. This represents a significant change from just a few short weeks ago. 

Friday the sunrise was building in the east and the dawn was in full glorious array. Although I have to drive into the dawn and rising sun, I am not complaining because I am happy to get to work in light instead of darkness.  

Coupled with the beginning of Spring Training, the dark season is beginning to fade. The daylight up to 10 hours and 58 minutes per day, which is already 1 and 1/2 hours longer than on December's  Winter Solstice.

Of course, with the longer days comes more activity! And that is awesome. Yesterday was warm and I enjoyed doing some work outside the house. Although the lawn was soggy, it felt good to be beginning to live outside again! I am hopeful that there will be no more snow this season and we can soon slide into the early Springtime predicted by Punxsutawney Phil!

For now, I will enjoy the day at hand and revel in the lengthening days.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

The Difference is in the Day

Yesterday morning the world was frozen. The snow that had fallen since Sunday evening and all through Monday was covered with ice and the falling rain was freezing at it hit the ground. It was a mess. The temperatures crawled past 30 degrees and began their slow climb ultimately into the 40s as the morning wore on. 

No Snow in the Yard

The rain picked up intensity and the ice turned slippery making driving almost impossible. The schools closed, businesses delayed opening, accidents were everywhere. Fortunately, I too was delayed in having make my daily trek to the office. Travel was very difficult. But the temperature kept climbing as the rain fell harder. By 9 AM it was already 40 degrees! That was up from 8 degrees on Sunday morning.

As I made my way to work, suffering in snarled traffic which doubled my commuting time, the rain fell harder. I even took my umbrella with me. When I went into my building the weather was terrible.

Driveway Devoid of Snow

But then, a few hours later when I left work to head home it was completely different. All traces of the inches of snow and monsoon-like rains had disappeared. The sky was a brilliant blue and clear. The early evening was, in a word, idyllic. I was amazed at the difference of just a few hours. 

As I drove home in the brilliant sunshine, I marveled at the change in the world from just a few short hours earlier. The day had transitioned form dreary to bright and with it my mood had changed as well. 

The only snow that remained were the piles created during the blizzard of a few weeks ago. Every trace of the past few days' storm had vanished. I forgot to take a picture, but even in the images I shot this morning, it is clear that the snows of winter are receding.

Maybe, just maybe, springtime is on the horizon and the groundhog's prediction of an early spring will come true!

All happening in just a day.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - February 15, 2015

1. The discussion about replacing Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia should not occur until after he is laid to rest. The difficult political posturing are premature.

Riordin Looking to Keep Warm

2. How cold is it? It was so cold that our cat Riordin was in my chair praying for warmth and fire. It was cute to see.

Valentines Day Dinner

3. I am enjoying the idea of a quiet Valentine's Day dinner at home more and more. For the fourth year in a row, and extra special bottle of wine and a dinner prepared in love graced our table. Can't beat that.

4. I can tell that the sports seasons are in the in-between mode, the lead sports story in the New York Times was about the judge at the Westminster Dog Show. 

5. Pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training this week! Baseball is almost here. Let's Go O's.

6. The spring Training trip to Sarasota is all set. Golf and baseball, here I come!

7. It is President's Day! And it is snowing, again. And cold. And too miserable to go outside.

8. Why is it that 8 of the 10 holidays are crammed into the 6 months from September to February? The next Federal holiday is over 2 months away at the end of May! Ugh!

9. Here is a scary thought: nearly 20 percent of all of the cars on the road are under some kind of recall. I think our Toyota has three recalls. Maybe we should get them fixed.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Squirrel Thievery

Squirrel at the Feeder

They are creative thieves--squirrels. 

Chris bought a unique bird feeder to provide peanuts for her favorite bird--the bluejay. 

The squirrels figured out how to get the peanuts out of the feeder.

It is amazing how quickly they can get the nuts out of the feeder and create a huge mess on the deal. I am really looking forward to cleaning it all up when the weather gets warmer. 

Well, at least we are helping the critters enjoy a beautiful day.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Snow Plow Freedom

The Street before the Plow

It may seem like a very small thing. A snow plow finally opened the street in front of my house yesterday morning at about 7 AM. With that important event, the neighborhood could begin to find an ending to the "historic" storm.

When the morning began, although it was dark, the street was jammed with ice and snow. The driveway was open, but there was nowhere to go. 

Snow Plow Salvation

And then--out of the pre-dawn darkness it appeared. The sounds of scraping and flashing yellow lights. I imagine the entire neighborhood cheered. I know I did. Freedom from the snowy prison was in sight.

And then, of course, the real work began. Clearing the plow snow form the drives. It was a funny scene late on Monday. The driveways were clear to the pavement which was drying, yet about 30 inches of snow presented anyone form actually going anywhere. Yesterday, after the plow cleared the street, the job was to remove the snow dams remaining in the driveway to allow full access to the street. My neighbor and I started up the street with her snow blower and began clearing the driveways. 

It felt good to work up a sweat, and having to take my coat off, by freeing our neighbors from the snow.

And then it was off to work to resume some normalcy and make Winter Storm Jonas a by-line in the history books.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Surviving a Snow Day

Snow Days, when I am trapped in the house because the roads are impassable, happen only rarely. It is interesting what I find to do to fill the time.

To pass the time, Chris and I decided to watch the birds. 

Chris put some peanuts atop the snow pile on the deck hoping that  the blue jays would come and feast. It was a nice diversion. The sky was blue and the sun was bright.

We had pulled out all of the cameras and video gear that we own and laid in wait for the blue jays to arrive--and they did!

They are cautious birds, but fun to watch as they begin to get familiar and comfortable with a situation. Even after we had put the dogs out, they quickly came back once the dogs were inside.

Of course, at the feeders there were some "non-birds" doing their best to snatch a snack. Squirrels are creative creatures. This one almost was posing for the event, looking straight into the camera. But, undeterred, it continued feeding.

I retrieved my GoPro and took some video of the blue jays arriving and departing. I admit, it is not a great video but it took over an hour to process and edit and that helped take use some of the time I had with precious little else to do.

Something to enjoy.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - January 18, 2016

Snow on the Heavenly Bamboo Berries

1. Snow, in small non-accumulating amounts, can be pretty.

2. Football is an unforgiving game. One fumble can change the entire game. 

3. I was able to get in a round golf this weekend--amazing. the conditions were wet, but it was good to get out onto the course.

4. I am happy to see that Iran may be attempting to participate on the international stage responsibly. Releasing the US sailors and yesterday releasing the prisoners. 

5. Winter may have arrived. It snowed yesterday and it is 17 degrees outside this morning.

Makayla on the Floor

6. I wish I could lay on the floor and relax like I used to when I was a kid. At least Makayla has no problems. 

7. It is the day we celebrate the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. 

8. I read an interesting article about Tesla and their cars having the ability to park themselves in the garage. Someday, they may be able to drive themselves across the country to pick you up! I just wish they weren't so expensive.

9. The first major snow of the season is forecast for this weekend.

10. On this day in 1778, Captain Cook discovered Hawaii! Wish I was there now.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

A Cat's Life

Riordin, one of our cats, is strange. 

Riordin in a Box

It is humorous how strange he is.

He loves boxes. I had a box on the counter last night and while I only turned my back for a few short moments, he crawled inside and claimed it. 

I had only just opened the box and removed the contents moments before.


He was completely inside the box. I had to work to get him out so that I could recycle the container.

Last week during our Friday evening party, he decided that one of the guests needed his hair washed. And he washed his hair.

I'm not sure it was necessary, but it surely was funny.

Riordin has a way of making his presence known. 

I guess that is what makes him such an interesting cat.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Decoration Downer

The Tree is Gone

The Christmas decorations are  in their boxes and ready to be stowed.

That has been the activity of the past couple of nights. It is almost fitting that we have nearly completed removing the Christmas decorations just in time to remember Three Kings Day. 

Well, it is also a bit sad. Removing the decorations puts a period at the end of the paragraph that is the Christmas season. All of the preparations that run from before Thanksgiving until the big day. The house was festively decorated and has now returned to its almost normal state. 

A few vestiges of the holiday remain, the poinsettia, for instance. I still need to remove the exterior lights--it has been too cold since our return from upstate NY to get that task completed. 

I guess it is time to begin looking forward to Springtime and Spring Training. Which are good things.

Although the days are supposed to be getting longer, I'm not seeing it yet. Christmas is behind me and I'm waiting for the sunshine!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - January 4, 2016

1. Happy New Year! And it is already four days old. Many of us are back to school and work today for the first time this year. 

2. I think I have discovered the two most difficult words in English when put together: Thank you.

3. Holidays take so long to arrive, but then pass so quickly.

4. The NFL regular season is thankfully over for the Ravens and 19 other teams in the league. Congratulations to the Redskins, Steelers, and Texans--specifically among the 12 teams that made the playoffs. 

Crossing the Susquehanna River in Harrisburg, PA
January 3, 2016

5. The sun was out yesterday and at times the sky was clear and blue! I appreciate it more after a long week of overcast and gloom.

6. I snapped a quick image, while traveling at about 60 MPH of the beautiful day and the reflections on the Susquehanna River yesterday--it made leaving the dark and gloom of Central New York even more pleasing.

7. It is just 45 days until Orioles Pitchers and Catchers report for Spring Training!

8. How much longer can we continue to say "Happy New Year?"

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD